COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES, PALEMBANG AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003900450002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 10, 2001
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: April 9, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/11/21 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003900450002-8
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18. Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
CONFIDENTIAL'/CONt'ROL- U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY 25X1A
Communist Activities, Palembang Area
25X1A
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR. 9 April 1954
NO. OF PAGES 1
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
25X1X
1. The Persatuan Buruh Minjak (PERBUM).(Oil Workers Union) controls between 15,000
and 20,000 of the oil workers in the Palembang area but only a fraction of this
number are sympathetic with the Union. Control is the result of tight organi-
zation and the skilled manipulation of trained leaders, and depends at the present
time on intimidation and threats. The Union hopes to complete its "hard-core"
organization in the next two to four years.
2. When a strike or slow-down is called for, which occurs frequently, those workers
who do not wish to cooperate are threatened with beatings. Members of the Sarekat
Buruh Islam Indonesia (SBII) (Moslem Workers Labor Union) and the Organisasi Buruh
Minjak (OBM) (Organization of Oil Workers) in the area often choose to work in
spite of PERBUM orders and, for protection, the members meet together to counter
gang threats.
3. PERBUM's strongest leader in the Palembang area is Darwis, who is approxime.tely
35 years of age. He speaks English, Dutch and Indonesian.
At the Standard Vacuum Petroleum Maatschappij oil refinery in South Sumatra, an
estimated 40 Indonesian Communists are employed, most of whom are known and
watched. The com.Mpy estimates that PERBUM will need between 750 to 1,000 such
workers to secure absolute control over the workers, Sabotage has been definitely
established in two recent breakdowns of the company's equipment,.
5. The Standard Vacuum company has plans for hugely expanded operations and hopes
to find a working solution to its difficulties with PERBUM.
25X1A CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY