TROOPS TOWARDS AIRCRAFT; KELABAKAN POLICE STATION - SCENE OF A MASSACRE IN DECEMBER, 1963; MALAYSIAN SECURITY FORCES IN BOAT HEADING FOR OPERATION AREA; SECURITY FORCES INTO JUNGLE.




Initials RM/V/JH/PC



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Background: THE BORNEO STATES OF SABAH, SARAWAK AND THE BRITISH PROTECTORATE OF BRUNEI, ARE REPORTED TO BE FACING A NEW THREAT - THIS TIME FROM VOLUNTEERS OF THE PRO-COMMUNIST TENTARA NASIONAL KALIMANTAN UTARA (NORTH BORNEO LIBERATION ARMY). IN TAWAU AND KELABAKAN, IN THE SOUTH-EASTERN SECTOR OF SABAH, MALAYSIAN SECURITY FORCES ARE INVOLVED IN A MASSIVE MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST THE "ARMED INCURSIONISTS" AS THEY'RE OFFICIALLY CALLED.

THE OPERATION WAS LAUNCHED TWO WEEKS AGO FOLLOWING INFORMATION GATHERED FROM FOUR INCURSIONISTS WHO SURRENDERED THEMSELVES TO MALAYSIAN SECURITY FORCES MANNING A POLICE STATION IN KELABAKAN. THE STATION WAS THE SCENE OF A MASSACRE OF EIGHT MALAYSIAN SOLDIERS IN DECEMBER, 1963. SO FAR, ABOUT 30 INCURSIONISTS HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES UP.

THE INCURSIONISTS ARE BELIEVED TO BE UNDER THE COMMAND OF AN INDONESIAN ARMY LEADER WHO WAS INVOLVED IN LAST OCTOBER'S ATTEMPTED COMMUNIST COUP IN DJAKARTA. HE FLED TO INDONESIAN BORNEO AND THE PRESENT INDONESIAN LEADERS ARE UNABLE TO FIND HIM. ON FRIDAY, A 48-HOUR CURFEW WAS IMPOSED IN THE MEROTAIKANAN AREA OF TAWAU TO ENABLE SECURITY FORCES TO INTENSIFY THEIR HUNT FOR THE INCURSIONISTS. SOME 41 OF THEM WERE CAPTURED IN MOPPING UP OPERATIONS IN SARAWAK LAST MONTH.