terryr@ogicse.ogi.edu (Terry Rooker) (06/06/90)
From: terryr@ogicse.ogi.edu (Terry Rooker) In article <16042@cbnews.ATT.COM> smpod@csd.lerc.nasa.gov (Steve Podleski (Sverdrup)) writes: > >Where not the insurgents mostly of Chinese ancestry/origin which may >explain the lack of support by the native Malayans and also explain >the failure of the insurgency? Yes the insurgents were of Chinese ancestry. Although I doubt that would be sufficient for the failure of the insurgency. If it were, the insurgency probably never would have gotten enough support to justify the "emergency". An insurgency needs some dissatisfaction to generate support. As with many other post-WWII colonies, the Malays (not just the ethnic Malays) were seeking self-government. The British recognized this early, and took steps to transfer power to the Malay people. More importantly, the British didn't renege on promises to transfer power as the Malays proved themselves capable. These situations are incredibly complex, and it is not possible to ascribe events to any single cause. If it were, then history would be a lot easier. -- Terry Rooker terryr@cse.ogi.edu
c60a-3hu%e260-1g.Berkeley.EDU@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Howard Jones) (06/06/90)
From: c60a-3hu%e260-1g.Berkeley.EDU@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Howard Jones) In article <16042@cbnews.ATT.COM> smpod@csd.lerc.nasa.gov (Steve Podleski (Sverdrup)) writes: >: Add a general >:disinterest by the larger population and the insurgency failed. >:Although the last of the CTs only recently turned themselves in. >: > >Where not the insurgents mostly of Chinese ancestry/origin which may >explain the lack of support by the native Malayans and also explain >the failure of the insurgency? The Communist Party of Malaya was dominated by the Chinese but it also comprised Malays and Indians. It received support from China. The failure of the insurgency lies partly in the general lack of support from the populace. The Malays, being Muslim (the staunchest anti-communists) and suspicious of the Chinese, did not support the uprising. Some Chinese supported the communists, primarily for fear of Malay domination. It's also good to note that the guerillas operated mainly in the jungles which were least likely to be inhabited by the Chinese (Malays typically lived in farms while most Chinese lived in towns). The Communists also instigated violent riots in Singapore. However, the rapidly rising standard of living made the communist claims appear ridiculous. Politicians were also able to play down the racial elements in the issue. The contribution made by the British forces at the height of the insurgency was paramount too without which the Malay states would have turned communist. Driving between towns in those days could be a real hazard. It's also good to note that a similar insurgency took place in neighboring Thailand. The CPT at its height reached a peak strength of more than 10000 men under arms but today it's also fizzling out. Thanx to reconciliatory gestures on the part of the Thai government (they also played an instrumental role in negotiating the surrender of the CPM) that promised amnesty to all communists, the rise in the standard of living (Thailand is now one of the fastest growing country in the world) and a severing of weapon supply from Beijing. The basic goals of the communist struggles come from a demand for social justice and fulfillment of basic needs. When these have been accomplished, the communist s find themselves without any major motive to win widespread support. Other racially or religiously-motivated insurgencies are harder to deal with (ie Sikh or Nagano seperatists in India, the IRA in Northern Ireland or the Infitda). From the early 60s, President Sukarno of Indonesia also launched a series of sabotage attacks on Singapore and Malaya pending the merger of the British south east Asian possessions into Malaysia. Sukarno had dreams for forming his own pan-Malay empire and felt the new Malay state would threaten his goals. Indonesian special forces launch cross border raids as well as carried out terrorist acts (bombings etc) in Singapore and malaya causing loss of lives. The British SAS retaliated by carrying out long-range patrols deep into Indonesian Kalimantan. The raids persisted until Sukarno was overthrown in a bloody coup in 1965 by Gen Suharto who remains till today as Indonesia's president.