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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

CIA's Arms Offer to Indonesian Rebels in 1957 Singapore Revealed

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • In late 1957 Singapore, American agents offered weapons assistance to Indonesian figures fighting against Sukarno's government.
  • These figures, including Colonel Ahmad Husein and Lt. Col. Ventje Sumual, were part of the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI), which faced accusations of being a CIA creation.
  • The article references historical accounts and biographies detailing meetings between PRRI leaders and alleged CIA operatives like Foster Collins during the Cold War.

In Singapore during late 1957, a pivotal meeting occurred at a restaurant where American agents approached Colonel Ahmad Husein, Lt. Col. Herman Nicolas “Ventje” Sumual, and Sumitro Djojohadikusumo. The Americans, aware of their opposition to President Sukarno, offered weapons assistance. This encounter is documented in Ventje Sumual's memoir, "PRRI/Permesta: Strategi Membangun Indonesia Tanpa Komunis" (PRRI/Permesta: Strategy for Building Indonesia Without Communists).

They knew we were fighting Sukarno, and because of that they were willing to provide weapons assistance.

— Ventje SumualRecounting the offer of weapons assistance from American agents in Singapore.

During the Cold War, foreign assistance often came with political implications, branding recipients as proxies. The Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI), a rival administration formed by mid-ranking army officers and civilian figures like those at the Singapore meeting, faced specific accusations of being a creation of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The PRRI and the CIA did indeed meet in Singapore. Foster Collins, identified by Sumitro as his tennis partner, was among the Americans who joined the group later. Hendra Esmara and Heru Cahyono noted in "Jejak Perlawanan Begawan Pejuang" (The Resistance Journey of a Warrior Sage), a biography of Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, that Collins was known by many to be a CIA operative, despite his official position at a United Nations representative office in Jakarta.

According to Sumitro, Collins was his tennis partner.

— Hendra Esmara and Heru CahyonoDescribing the relationship between Sumitro Djojohadikusumo and Foster Collins.

The article also references related news, including a former CIA official charged with stealing gold, Mexico's statement on unauthorized agents, a fact-check about CIA data on LGBT populations, the history of US regime change operations, and legal demands for CIA and NSA files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

A number of people knew that Collins was a CIA operative.

— Hendra Esmara and Heru CahyonoIdentifying Foster Collins's alleged affiliation with the CIA.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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