ROBERT M.

CORNEJO

When Sukarno Sought the Bomb: Indonesian

Nuclear Aspirations in the Mid-1960s

ROBERT M. CORNEJO1

Robert M. Cornejo is a major in the US Army and a graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point,
New York. He recently earned an M.A. in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey,
California, and is currently a student at the Singapore Command and Staff College.

A
lthough Indonesia’s aspirations have been Sukarno’s successor, General Suharto, agreed to inter-
largely forgotten today, in the mid-1960s, it national safeguards, thereby effectively ending concerns
sought to acquire and test nuclear weapons. In- that Indonesia might go nuclear.
donesian government officials began publicizing their The purpose of this article is to tell the story of
intent to acquire an atom bomb shortly after the People’s Indonesia’s nuclear aspirations, study Sukarno’s deci-
Republic of China (PRC) exploded its first nuclear de- sion to support nuclear weapons, and identify variables
vice in October 1964. By July 1965, Indonesian Presi- that may explain why he professed to seek the bomb.
dent Sukarno was publicly vaunting his country’s future The article opens by tracing the evolution of Indonesia’s
nuclear status. However, Indonesia did not have the in- nuclear aspirations, from a US Atoms for Peace pro-
digenous capability necessary to produce its own nuclear gram of nuclear assistance that began in 1960, to
weapon, and as a result, it would have had to secure Sukarno’s declared intention to acquire an atom bomb
assistance from an established nuclear weapon state to in 1965. Drawing on both Indonesian and US archival
achieve this goal. materials, this article provides further details about In-
Speculation on just how Indonesia would acquire the donesian nuclear aspirations than may be found in the
bomb centered on the prospect that Indonesia’s leaders existing literature on Indonesian foreign policy.3
would request assistance from the PRC by exploiting Following this history, the article evaluates the na-
the newly created Peking-Jakarta Axis. 2 Observers ture and the seriousness of Sukarno’s “proliferation de-
feared that Indonesia would ask China to explode an atom cision.”4 It continues by identifying variables that may
bomb in Indonesian territorial waters while allowing the explain why Sukarno desired nuclear status for Indone-
Sukarno government to take credit for the test. Obvi- sia. The discussion concludes with the suggestion that a
ously, Indonesia failed to obtain the bomb from the PRC variety of factors, both external and internal to Indone-
or from any other nuclear state. Yet, Sukarno succeeded sia, influenced Sukarno to inform the world that Indo-
in making his nuclear aspirations known to the world nesia would become a nuclear weapon state. On balance,
before a military coup led to his removal from office. however, the analysis suggests that internal factors—

The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000 31

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

especially Sukarno’s concerns about domestic political The arrangement also included nonproliferation provi-
stability—played the greater role. The simple fact that sions that prohibited the use of transferred materials for
Indonesia talked about the bomb is not widely known weapons or military purposes. Specifically, the agree-
by today’s nuclear proliferation specialists. Therefore, a ment stated that “no material...will be used for atomic
closer examination of the Indonesian case may be help- weapons or for research on or development of atomic
ful in understanding proliferation dynamics, especially weapons.”13
in Asia. A small 250-kilowatt TRIGA-Mark II research reac-
tor, purchased from the General Atomics Division of
EVOLUTION OF INDONESIA’S NUCLEAR the American firm General Dynamics, became the
ASPIRATIONS nucleus of Indonesia’s nuclear program during the early
In 1958, Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr. Subandrio 1960s.14 President Sukarno and US Ambassador Howard
wrote that his country “does not have atomic weapons P. Jones inaugurated the reactor’s construction at the
or nuclear weapons” and “does not have interest in that Bandung Institute of Technology on April 19, 1961.15
direction.”5 Subandrio’s statement accurately repre- The facility conducted Indonesia’s first successful
sented the official Indonesian government position on nuclear reaction on October 17, 1964.16 By coincidence,
nuclear weapons for the next six years. During this pe- this particular experiment occurred just one day after
riod, the Indonesian government created an Institute of China exploded its first atom bomb.
Atomic Energy (or LTA, Lembaga Tenaga Atom) to Far from angering the Indonesian government, a sig-
supervise nuclear research and develop atomic energy.6 natory to the 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty,17
However, the LTA limited its efforts to planning and the Chinese nuclear test on October 16, 1964, was viewed
building reactors jointly with the United States and the quite favorably by many top Indonesian officials.
Soviet Union to conduct research on peaceful uses of Roeslan Abdulgani, minister of public relations, declared
nuclear energy.7 his government’s view that China’s new nuclear capa-
Soviet nuclear assistance did not begin in earnest un- bility “would open the eyes of the West to the fact that
til 1965, when construction was started on a research from now on, their encirclement of the peoples of Asia
reactor at Gadja Mada Research Center in Yogyakarta. and Africa would be of no avail.”18 Minister for Rev-
However, American nuclear assistance to Indonesia enues, Expenditures, and Supervision Hassan praised the
originated in June 1960, when the two countries signed Chinese test as “a matter worthy to be hailed not only
a five-year, bilateral agreement under the Atoms for by the Chinese people but by the Indonesian people as
Peace program. Atoms for Peace was the centerpiece of well.”19 Many other ministers of the Indonesian gov-
US nonproliferation strategy from the 1950s through the ernment extended similar congratulations to the PRC
1970s.8 The program’s purpose was to discourage the through the Chinese ambassador in Jakarta.
proliferation of nuclear weapons by shifting international Two factors may have contributed to such a surpris-
attention from the development of weapons and toward ing response from Indonesian officials: Chinese govern-
the peaceful uses of atomic energy.9 Toward this goal, ment statements about the bomb and Indonesian
the program transferred nuclear technology and fissile President Sukarno’s enthusiasm toward the atom. Sev-
material from the stockpiles of the nuclear states to the eral times during 1963, the Chinese government made
atomic energy programs of the non-nuclear weapon public statements declaring the benefits of nuclear weap-
states. ons in socialist hands, once even calling on socialist coun-
The Indonesian agreement became effective on Sep- tries to develop nuclear superiority.20 Then immediately
tember 21, 1960, and under it the United States pledged after the test, the PRC declared “the mastering of the
cooperation in the civilian uses of atomic energy.10 To nuclear weapon by China is a great encouragement to
assist in this effort, the United States promised a the revolutionary peoples of the world in their struggles
$350,000 grant toward the cost of a research reactor at and a great contribution to the cause of defending world
Bandung once the facility was operational.11 Addition- peace.”21 Admittedly, China’s proclamations were made
ally, the agreement permitted the US Agency for Inter- in the context of the Sino-Soviet split and before Chi-
national Development to send $141,000 to assist nese nuclear strategy had matured. Moreover, Indone-
Indonesia in developing its atomic research program.12 sia was not a socialist country and none of the statements

32 The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

indicated that China would lend nuclear support to other absence of evidence supporting Hartono’s assertion.26
countries. Nonetheless, Indonesian officials may have In the United States, the New York Times reported
been inclined to view favorably the October test because Hartono’s boast as well as reactions from officials in
Chinese statements about nuclear weapons appeared to the US Department of State and the US Atomic Energy
support, rather than oppose, the bomb in other countries’ Commission who called the claim “absurd” and “im-
hands. possible.”27 According to these agencies, “Indonesia did
Not until July 1965 would Sukarno publicly declare not have the capability of refining atomic materials for
his support for an Indonesian nuclear weapon, but as an explosion or building of a device to set it off.”28
early as November 1964, the Indonesian president ex- The American assessment was based on the knowl-
pressed his support for using newfound atomic knowl- edge that Indonesia’s only nuclear capability was the
edge to help Indonesia in a new revolution. Indonesia’s TRIGA-Mark II and that the LTA was plagued by a short-
first revolution had been waged against Dutch colonial- age of competent staff. 29 Although the reactor at
ism during the late 1940s. In the early 1960s, Sukarno Bandung had recently conducted its first successful
sought to return Indonesia to revolution, but this time nuclear reaction, the Americans knew that the facility
against the forces of colonialism, neocolonialism, and could not be used to build a nuclear weapon. In fact, the
imperialism (known as NEOKLIM, Neo-Kolonialis, highly enriched uranium (HEU)-fueled reactor at
Kolonialis, dan Imperialisme) that he believed were be- Bandung was suitable only for research and training and,
ing sustained by the Western powers in Southeast Asia.22 for two reasons, was not a viable source for fissile mate-
Sukarno’s revolutionary fervor pervaded his view of al- rial (either plutonium-239 [Pu-239] or HEU) for a nuclear
most all of the important developments within Indone- explosion.30 First, the reactor was not capable of irradi-
sia, including the atom. In a presidential law regarding ating a large enough quantity of uranium fuel to gener-
atomic energy passed on November 26, 1964, Sukarno ate sufficient Pu-239 for a bomb. Even if the reactor did
stated that the materials for producing atomic energy produce some Pu-239, the Institute of Technology did
and the materials for producing nuclear fuel are “impor- not have a chemical reprocessing facility to separate plu-
tant for the people and the nation in finishing the tonium from the unconverted uranium and other irra-
national revolution, and because of that should be pos- diation by-products. Second, the agreement with the
sessed and mastered by the nation.”23 Sukarno’s sup- United States prohibited Indonesia from possessing, at
port for Indonesia’s nuclear efforts in this context may any one time, more than six kilograms (kg) of HEU en-
have contributed to his government’s positive view of riched to 20 percent uranium-235 (U-235).31 Since in-
the Chinese test. ternational safeguards assume that at least 25 kg of HEU
Whatever the sources of enthusiasm for the Chinese is necessary for an effective nuclear explosion (and weap-
test, Indonesian leaders quickly developed the expecta- ons-grade uranium must be enriched to more than 90
tion that their country too could join the “nuclear club.” percent U-235), this measure hindered the Indonesian
Only a month after the Chinese test, Brigadier General government from secretly diverting fuel earmarked for
Hartono, director of the Army Ordnance Department, the TRIGA-Mark II to a nuclear weapons program.32
became the first Indonesian official to express this new Moreover, the Americans knew that the Indonesian
hope. On November 15, 1964, Hartono told the Indone- government lacked nuclear engineers to develop nuclear
sian news agency Antara that by 1965 Indonesia would weapons. The shortage of trained personnel is illustrated
probably be able to explode its own atom bomb.24 by the fact that Dr. G.A. Siwabessy, who served as di-
Hartono’s claim received international press cover- rector of the LTA, was a medical doctor of radiology
age and elicited reactions from several foreign govern- rather than a trained nuclear engineer. Additional evi-
ments. Tun Abdul Razak, neighboring Malaysia’s deputy dence of Indonesia’s limited human resources in the
prime minister, doubted the Indonesian claim but indi- nuclear field can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, which de-
cated that he would make inquiries into the matter be- pict the number of personnel sent for nuclear training,
cause, if true, “it is a serious threat.”25 In Australia, both domestically and abroad, between 1958 and 1965.
Defense Minister Shane Paltridge expressed his According to these figures, the Indonesian govern-
government’s view that the possibility of an Indonesian ment trained less than 300 technicians in the eight years
nuclear weapon could not be viewed lightly despite the prior to announcing its nuclear aspirations to the world.

The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000 33

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

Figure 1: Nuclear Training Conducted in Indonesia, 1958-1965

60
50
40 Personnel Sent to the
Radioactive Isotope Course
Number 30
20 Personnel Sent to the
Radiation Protection Course
10
0
1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965
Year
Source: Sepuluh Tahun Tenaga Atom di Indonesia, 5 Desember 1958-5 Desember 1968 (trans. by Robert
M. Cornejo) (Ten Years of Atomic Energy in Indonesia, December 5, 1958-December 5, 1968) (Jakarta:
Indonesian Atomic Energy Agency, 1968), p. 3.9.

Figure 2: Nuclear Training Received Outside Indonesia, 1958-1965

35
30
25
Personnel Trained in Nuclear
20
Number Physics, Radiochemistry, or
15 Radioisotopes in the United
10 States and the Soviet Union
5
0
1958 1960 1962 1964
Year
Source: Sepuluh Tahun Tenaga Atom di Indonesia, p. 3.10; and Daniel B. Poneman, “Indonesia,” in
James E. Katz and Onkar S. Marwah, eds., Nuclear Power in Developing Countries (Lexington, MA:
Lexington Books, 1982), p. 185.

However, technicians trained in essentially unrelated potential. The fact that the TRIGA-Mark II achieved
tasks, such as the application of radioactive isotopes, criticality just one month prior to General Hartono’s an-
were not necessarily qualified to build nuclear weap- nouncement made Indonesia’s nuclear plans to some
ons. Thus, American officials estimated that there were extent believable, even in the United States. The US
probably no more than a dozen people in the country Department of State was sensitive to the connection that
with any real competence in the nuclear field.33 Despite was being made between the newly operational reactor
this small pool, Hartono continued to advertise his and Indonesia’s announced intent to explode an atom
country’s nuclear potential, boasting that Indonesia bomb. For instance, a telegram sent by the Department
“could immediately mobilize nuclear physicists to start of State to the Jakarta Embassy stated the following in
working on the fabrication of a nuclear bomb.”34 reference to the dedication ceremony for the TRIGA-
Mark II scheduled to occur in early 1965:
Despite the American assessment, the technology re-
We [are] concerned over possible repercus-
ceived through the Atoms for Peace program increased
sions [from the] scheduled February 8 reactor
international worries about Indonesia’s actual nuclear

34 The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

dedication ceremony and concurrent turnover Bandung, was a university classmate of

dollar check for US contribution [to the Indo- Hartono’s. He said that if Indonesia were to
nesian nuclear program] to Indo embassy have such capability “it would have to be given
Washington. Last October’s announcement to us.”42
that reactor had achieved criticality followed This telegram reinforced the American belief that
by Indo boast that nuclear weapons in sight Indonesia’s scientific and industrial capacities were too
sparked some adverse public and congressional primitive to support an indigenous nuclear weapon ca-
comment here. Interest died down following pability. Thus, to American diplomats, it was becoming
Dept statements stressing harmless nature [of apparent that if Indonesia were to become a nuclear
the] reactor and facts [of the] US commitment, power, an outside party would have to contribute to the
but there remains public concern.35 effort.
In the months after China’s nuclear test and Brigadier While the Americans were investigating Indonesia’s
General Hartono’s proclamation, the Indonesian govern- nuclear potential, Sukarno demonstrated his belief in the
ment moved closer to political alignment with the PRC. growing importance of Indonesia’s nuclear endeavors
By January 1965, President Sukarno had informally al- by upgrading the LTA to the level of a government de-
lied Indonesia with China in the Peking-Jakarta Axis.36 partment.43 In March 1965, the LTA was reorganized
At the same time, the New York Times reported that the and renamed the National Atomic Energy Agency (or
PRC was training Indonesian technicians at its nuclear BATAN, Badan Tenaga Atom Nasional).44 Dr. G.A.
plants, “presumably to meet Mr. Sukarno’s ambitions Siwabessy, the director of the former LTA, remained in
to develop his own nuclear capability.”37 In February, charge of BATAN and was promoted to the rank of cabi-
Hartono announced that 200 Indonesian atomic scien- net minister.45
tists were conducting tests on the production of an atom Eight months after Hartono began his boasts, Sukarno
bomb.38 He also stated that the Army Ordnance Corps finally declared his support for an Indonesian atom bomb
had been ordered to provide a “surprise” on the forth- to the world. During a speech to a Muslim movement
coming Armed Forces Day, October 5.39 While Hartono congress held in Bandung on July 24, 1965, Sukarno
did not elaborate on the nature of the Armed Forces Day announced that “God willing, Indonesia will shortly pro-
surprise, his statement seemed to indicate that October duce its own atom bomb.”46 Sukarno claimed that the
5 was the target date for an Indonesian nuclear test.40 bomb would serve to “guard our sovereignty, guard our
These reports added to concern in the United States be- homeland.”47 He stressed that Indonesia would not use
cause Indonesia’s continued assertions now appeared to the bomb aggressively against any nation, thereby dis-
threaten the test ban treaty that had entered into force avowing any offensive use of the bomb in Indonesia’s
in 1963.41 revolutionary struggle with the West. However, if
In the meantime, the US Department of State was seek- Indonesia’s independence were threatened by another
ing to deepen its understanding of Indonesia’s nuclear nation, Sukarno asserted that “we are obligated to de-
weapon potential. American diplomats in Jakarta began fend our homeland.”48
asking their Indonesian contacts about Brigadier Gen- Sukarno’s Bandung speech is the only indicator that
eral Hartono and received confirmation that their earlier he, as Indonesian president, made anything approach-
skeptical assessment was correct. In a confidential tele- ing a “proliferation decision.” Taking into account
gram from the American embassy, diplomats sent the Sukarno’s penchant for “high-flown speeches and gran-
following memorandum of conversation to Washington: diose doctrines,”49 his eight-month silence on Hartono’s
Rector of University Indonesia, Sumantri, in ambitious atom bomb proposal leads to the deduction
conversation with CAO [Cultural Affairs Of- that he was undecided prior to July. As J.A.C. Mackie
ficer] said Gen Hartono “doesn’t know what observes, Sukarno was not a daring decisionmaker and
he is talking about” in recent statements about “was cautious or even hesitant about committing him-
Indonesia’s up-coming nuclear capability. self firmly to any particular course of action if there were
Sumantri, who last year toured China’s atomic uncertainties ahead, especially in matters of domestic
setup and initiated the Indonesian military col- politics.”50 Given this tendency, Sukarno’s strong dec-
laboration with the Institute of Technology laration in July 1965 may mark that point in time when

The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000 35

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

Sukarno decided to pursue nuclear weapons. Unfortu- Jakarta indicates that American diplomats were evalu-
nately, there is no record available that reveals exactly ating the “...possibility [of] Chicoms [Chinese Commu-
when Sukarno made this decision, which officials were nists] exploding atomic device on Indo territory....”55
involved in making his decision, and what precisely this On October 1, US Secretary of State Dean Rusk brought
decision entailed. For example, did Sukarno decide to this concern to the attention of Soviet Foreign Minister
commit his country to becoming a nuclear weapon power Andrei Gromyko during a dinner meeting at the United
or did he simply decide to add presidential support to Nations. According to a memorandum of this conversa-
Hartono’s nuclear aspirations? These questions remain tion, Rusk told Gromyko that “he did not believe Indo-
unanswered, and for that reason, we cannot conclude nesia had any nuclear capability; if an explosion did occur
that Sukarno actually made a proliferation decision in in that area, we must conclude that it was of Chinese
the true sense. The most that can be concluded based on origin.”56 Furthermore, Rusk emphasized that “he did
the available evidence is that Sukarno decided to pub- think it possible that the Chinese would detonate a
licly express his desire to make Indonesia a nuclear nuclear bomb in Indonesia.”57
weapon state. Evidently, the international news media reached the
Sukarno’s words encouraged Hartono to speak even same conclusion as American officials had, because the
more avidly in favor of the bomb and prompted other idea of a Chinese connection was reported widely dur-
high-ranking Indonesian officials to join in a chorus of ing the months of August and September 1965. In Brit-
support. Hartono reiterated that Indonesia would test an ain, the Sunday Times reported that China was preparing
atom bomb soon—possibly after the Asian-African an undersea nuclear explosion off the coast of the Indo-
Conference scheduled for October in Algiers.51 Speaker nesian province of West Irian on the island of New
of the Indonesian Parliament Arudji Kartawinata stated Guinea.58 In the Philippines, the Manila Daily Bulletin
that the explosion of an Indonesian atom bomb was cer- reported that the next logical step for the PRC’s nuclear
tain to be welcomed by the Indonesian people.52 Even weapon program was to conduct a marine test and that
Foreign Minister Dr. Subandrio, who seven years ear- possibly, “Communist China may be helping Sukarno
lier had disavowed any interest in nuclear weapons, get the last laugh.”59 In the United States, the New York
voiced his support by asserting that “we have no objec- Times reported that “Peking might set off a nuclear blast
tions that all nations and countries in the world have on one of Indonesia’s 3000 islands but retain complete
atomic and nuclear weapons.”53 control of the test and the resources employed.”60 Even
This increased pro-bomb rhetoric in Jakarta gained the official Indonesian news agency Antara acknowl-
special attention from neighboring Malaysia and the edged the idea by reporting on Filipino speculation about
Philippines, which were concerned that Indonesia as- an atomic blast. Antara reported that the Philippine Pro-
pired to become a regional hegemon. The US govern- vincial Constabulary Intelligence expected the Chinese
ment sought to alleviate these fears by continuing to make to explode an atom bomb underwater near West Irian.61
public assurances that Indonesia could not produce its In the several decades since these reports, some schol-
own nuclear weapon. However, confidentially, the US ars of Indonesian history have further considered the
Department of State was investigating another path that possibility of a Chinese-assisted nuclear explosion. His-
Indonesia might secretly follow to become a nuclear torians David Mozingo and J.A.C. Mackie discount
weapon state. American officials were beginning to take Hartono and Sukarno’s bomb rhetoric and instead focus
Indonesian nuclear aspirations seriously, not because on the Sino-Indonesian talks held in Peking from Janu-
they believed the government could build atomic weap- ary 23 to January 28, 1965. The meetings were attended
ons indigenously, but because they believed Sukarno by a 42-member Indonesian delegation led by Foreign
might gain access to nuclear weapons through China. Minister Dr. Subandrio and a Chinese delegation led by
In light of the new cooperation between Peking and Premier Chou En-Lai and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Jakarta, some diplomats speculated that China, in order Marshal Chen Yi.62 The joint statement issued at the
to cement its political relationship with Indonesia, might conclusion of the talks is the only indication of what
conduct a nuclear test in the Indonesian archipelago and was agreed to by both parties. According to the state-
allow the Indonesians to take credit for it.54 A secret ment, China and Indonesia agreed, “to strengthen their
telegram dated July 29 sent from the US embassy in technical cooperation, expand their trade, develop mari-

36 The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

time transportation between them and strengthen The attaché continued by speculating that Sabur might
friendly contacts in the military field.”63 Both Mozingo have fabricated the story, but stressed that the American
and Mackie identify the reference to “technical coop- government “cannot overlook capabilities and present
eration” as the main source of speculation that Chinese feelings toward US [by] that other great leader, de
nuclear assistance might have been offered. Gaulle.”67 The report was forwarded to Assistant Secre-
For his part, Mozingo believes such speculation oc- tary of State for Far Eastern Affairs William Bundy who
curred mainly because some of Indonesia’s civilian and scribbled in the margin the ironic comment, “A Bar-
military leaders “apparently regarded the alliance with gain!”68 For Bundy, this report was unbelievable, and
China as a means of obtaining the necessary assistance today the possibility of the French providing the bomb
for making a start in the nuclear direction,” and stated to the Indonesians remains implausible in the absence
so publicly.64 Mackie, however, suggests that perhaps of further evidence. There is as of yet no evidence that
the Chinese did discuss nuclear cooperation with the Brigadier General Sabur traveled to Paris. However,
Indonesian delegation. As possible evidence, he cites even if Sukarno only considered asking the French for
the prominent part played during the talks by Wu Heng, nuclear assistance, then this option cannot be ruled out
who was believed to have been the head of nuclear af- as a possible source of encouragement to Sukarno and
fairs in the PRC’s Scientific and Technological Com- his government officials.
mission.65 In any event, the plan to acquire an atom bomb appar-
Mozingo and Mackie offer no first-hand evidence that ently still seemed promising to Sukarno in late August.
China and Indonesia discussed nuclear assistance dur- On August 24, Sukarno told a group of Japanese jour-
ing the January 1965 meetings. More importantly, nei- nalists that “Indonesia’s preparations to explode its first
ther the Chinese nor the Indonesian records of the talks atom bomb are progressing smoothly without being af-
are available. We can therefore only speculate on what fected by international events.”69 In early September,
the Indonesian and Chinese officials discussed. Presum- Sukarno may have been further encouraged by a US
ably though, actions were taken by the Chinese govern- government decision to continue peaceful nuclear assis-
ment that helped shape Indonesian expectations of tance to Indonesia despite the government’s aspirations
nuclear assistance. for nuclear weapons. For obvious reasons, the Johnson
administration was reluctant to extend the original five-
But what if diplomatic and scholarly speculations year agreement for cooperation in atomic energy with
about a Sino-Indonesian nuclear dialogue are incorrect? Indonesia that was set to expire in September 1965.
How else would Indonesian government officials and According to the New York Times, the administration
the Indonesian president develop the expectation that was “persuaded to continue the cooperation basically
their nation could become a nuclear power? One docu- by the argument that there was no way to end the pro-
ment (but only one) mentions the possibility that Indo- gram without the Indonesians taking full control of it.”70
nesia sought the bomb from a nuclear power other than
China. On August 3, 1965, the American defense attaché By the end of September, however, Sukarno’s public
in Jakarta made the following classified report to the boasts about the bomb ceased. Sukarno’s hope that China
Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington: might test a nuclear weapon in Indonesian waters di-
ARMA [army attaché] advised evening 2 Aug minished on September 29 when PRC Foreign Minister
by extremely reliable source that Brig Gen Chen Yi stated in a press conference that “as for the
Sabur, CG [commanding general] palace guard request for China’s help in the manufacture of atom
and person closest to Sukarno, left Jakarta bombs, this question is not realistic.”71 Instead, Chen
morning 2 Aug for Paris on order [from] expressed hope that African and Asian nations would
Sukarno to procure atomic bomb or device for develop their own nuclear weapons on a “do it yourself”
Indos from French. According to source basis.72 The US Central Intelligence Agency interpreted
French already indicated to Sukarno willing- Chen’s comments as designed to “parry pressure from
ness [to] sell bomb or device for eight hun- Jakarta for assistance in developing an Indonesian
dred thousand dollars. Source [is] close friend nuclear capability, or for a Chinese-supplied nuclear
of Sabur who told source purpose of trip.66 device to be exploded on Indonesian soil.”73 Chen Yi’s
statement is noteworthy because it remains the only di-

The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000 37

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

rect evidence from the PRC government that the Chi- perceived by Sukarno, suggest that he pursued the bomb
nese considered providing nuclear assistance to Indone- to strengthen Indonesia’s defense.
sia. Sukarno viewed the formation of the Federation of
Indonesia’s aspirations to become a nuclear weapon Malaysia on September 16, 1963, as a threat to his vi-
state ended on October 1, 1965. On this day, a group of sion of an Indonesian socialist revolution against
dissident Indonesian army and air force officers, along NEOKLIM.81 The federation was formed when Malaya,
with members of the Indonesian Communist Party (or independent from the British since 1957, merged with
PKI, Partai Komunis Indonesia), abducted and murdered the former British colonies of Singapore, Sabah,
six senior army generals, including the top army com- Sarawak, and Brunei.82 The latter three colonies occu-
mander.74 The officers and PKI members announced pied the western and northern fringes of the island of
themselves on local radio as the “September 30 Move- Borneo while the Indonesian province of Kalimantan
ment” and claimed that their purpose was to save Presi- occupied the southern two-thirds of Borneo. The Brit-
dent Sukarno and the Republic of Indonesia from a coup ish, who encouraged the union, believed this realign-
by the generals.75 Within two days, however, Major ment would be in Indonesia’s interest because it was in
General Suharto, commander of Indonesian Armed essence an effort to de-colonize the area.83 Sukarno,
Forces’ strategic reserve, assumed command of the army however, reached the opposite conclusion and viewed
and suppressed the September 30 Movement.76 The sub- the proposal as a neocolonialist plot to “surround” Indo-
sequent backlash against the PKI resulted in the massa- nesia.84 Many Indonesian army officers initially agreed
cre of approximately 500,000 Indonesian Communists with their president and considered the formation of
and Indonesians suspected of being Communists.77 Malaysia “as a means of prolonging British influence”
The aborted coup also discredited Sukarno and ended in the region.85 Their opinions were formed from the
the possibility of an Indonesian atom bomb. On March perception that the federation was a “British project”
11, 1966, Sukarno was forced to transfer presidential designed to create a “puppet state” to perpetuate neoco-
power to General Suharto.78 The idea of an Indonesian lonialism in the region.86
bomb had been so closely tied to Sukarno and his vision In late 1963, Sukarno declared his intent to “Crush
of a new Indonesian revolution that there was no real Malaysia” and initiated an undeclared war dubbed the
chance that Indonesia’s new leader would pursue nuclear “Konfrontasi” against the British and Malaysian troops
weapons. In 1967, the Suharto government formally in Borneo. Sukarno intended the Konfrontasi to support
agreed to international safeguards of sensitive nuclear his goals of driving the United Kingdom from South-
materials and equipment received from the United States, east Asia and eliminating the neocolonialist threat to
thereby eliminating any suspicion that it still intended Indonesia.87 The Konfrontasi continued for three years,
to become a nuclear weapon state.79 Today, Indonesia although it was effectively over in two years when
continues to abide by that agreement in its operation of Suharto began to take power away from Sukarno in late
the TRIGA-Mark II reactor as well as two newer re- 1965.
search reactors. Interestingly, the Indonesian government Not surprisingly, Sukarno also perceived America’s
has yet to move beyond the planning stages for a nuclear increased involvement in Vietnam as a threat to his
power plant. country’s security. The United States escalated its inter-
vention in Southeast Asia in early 1965, when President
EXPLANATIONS FOR INDONESIA’S Johnson, responding to the continuing Communist threat
NUCLEAR ASPIRATIONS in Vietnam, committed conventional military forces on
One possible explanation for Indonesia’s nuclear as- an open-ended basis. On February 25, Johnson approved
pirations follows the traditional premise that countries the deployment of two battalions of US Marines to South
seek the atom bomb for national security reasons.80 Vietnam.88 At the same time, Johnson ordered sustained
During the mid-1960s, Sukarno identified two moves bombing attacks on North Vietnam in “Operation Roll-
by Western powers in Southeast Asia as potentially dan- ing Thunder.”89 By March, the United States was com-
gerous to his country’s security: Britain’s ongoing sup- mitted to a large, conventional war in Southeast Asia.
port for the Federation of Malaysia and US deployment According to Jay Taylor, America’s troop deployment
of combat troops to Vietnam. These external threats, as and bombing offensive in Vietnam “had a major, if nega-

38 The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

tive, effect on the momentous events in Indonesia.”90 However, even if Sukarno’s fears were false or dis-
Among Indonesians, the war supported the belief that proportionate, many Indonesians probably agreed that
US imperialism was their principal enemy.91 For his part, their country’s security was at risk from the West. Not
Sukarno viewed the Americans as a threat to Indonesia’s only were Indonesians witnessing American and British
alignment with the PRC and a danger to his hope for a military intervention in Vietnam and Borneo during the
new Indonesian revolution.92 mid-1960s, but many Indonesians had also observed
Despite British and American assurances that they first-hand the US attempt to subvert their government
were not threats to Indonesia’s security, Sukarno con- during the late 1950s.97 In this context, Sukarno’s pur-
tinued to view the Western powers as menaces through- suit of nuclear weapons could be used to support the
out the mid-1960s. But did these perceived threats cause argument that states seek nuclear weapons because of
him to develop nuclear aspirations? Specifically, is there external threats to their security. Such an argument would
a correlation between the emergence of these threats and be framed as follows: acting out of fear, Sukarno sought
Sukarno’s decision to pursue nuclear weapons? The main the bomb to deter the conventional threat posed by US
evidence in support of an affirmative answer to these and British expeditionary forces in the region.
questions comes from public comments made by While Sukarno preferred the world to believe that
Sukarno on the potential uses of the bomb. For example, external threats to Indonesia’s security caused him to
on the day that Sukarno first publicly supported an In- seek the bomb, these dubious threats alone provide an
donesian nuclear capability in July 1965, he stated that insufficient explanation, particularly because internal
the atom bomb would be used if Indonesia were at- challenges to Sukarno’s authority offer much more com-
tacked.93 Later that summer, Sukarno sent a message to pelling reasons for his nuclear aspirations. Given the in-
delegates at the World Conference against Atom and tense power struggle in Indonesian domestic politics at
Hydrogen Bombs being held in Tokyo in which he char- that time, it seems more likely that Sukarno pursued
acterized the American and British nuclear capabilities nuclear weapons primarily to serve domestic purposes.
as a threat to Indonesia’s security. Sukarno argued that During the mid-1960s, Indonesian domestic politics were
“nuclear arms in the hands of the new emerging forces beset by a struggle between Sukarno, the PKI, and the
are to safeguard peace and liberty, whereas nuclear weap- army. According to Harold Crouch, Indonesian politics
ons in the hands of imperialists are to cause disaster and in 1965 “had become more polarized than ever before
domination.”94 According to Sukarno, the people of the as President Sukarno aligned himself more openly with
new emerging forces “have to strengthen their defense the PKI against the army leadership.” In response, army
with atomic weapons.”95 These statements suggest that leaders began “to consider taking more active measures
Sukarno’s support for an Indonesian bomb was, in part, to protect their position.”98 In these circumstances,
a response to perceived threats from the British and the Sukarno may have hoped the prestige of nuclear weap-
Americans. ons would help him maintain the support of the Indone-
However, there is also evidence to counter the notion sian army and also help increase domestic stability.
that Sukarno seriously believed that Britain and the For Sukarno, maintaining army support for his regime
United States presented an imminent danger to was crucial since the army posed the only real domestic
Indonesia’s security. For example, during the same pe- threat to his planned Indonesian socialist revolution. By
riod when Sukarno sought to label the Western powers 1965, however, Sukarno was rapidly losing the support
as threats, the British were removing their military forces of Indonesia’s army leaders. Many top officers bitterly
“East of the Suez” and the Americans were providing opposed Sukarno’s increasingly pro-China stance as well
nuclear energy assistance to Indonesia under the Atoms as his tacit support for the creation of a “Fifth Force.”99
for Peace program. British, American, and even some The Fifth Force was a proposal by PKI leaders to create
Indonesian leaders did not overlook these facts and be- a formal group of armed peasants and workers to aug-
lieved that Sukarno was greatly exaggerating the threat ment the existing four branches of the Indonesian Armed
his country faced from the West. In fact, during 1964 Forces (or ABRI, Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indo-
and 1965, Indonesian army leaders began to disagree nesia): the army, navy, air force, and the police.100 Lead-
with Sukarno’s policy of Konfrontasi and attempted to ers in the army viewed this proposal as an effort to
obstruct its effective implementation.96 neutralize their power and pressed Sukarno to quash the

The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000 39

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

idea immediately.101 Sukarno, however, exacerbated the order within South-East Asia.”107 From the viewpoint
military’s dissatisfaction by gradually accepting the idea of the army, according to Harold Crouch, officers “re-
as the year progressed.102 garded Indonesia as the natural leader of Southeast
By the middle of 1965, the Fifth Force had become Asia.”108
the focus of a bitter debate between Sukarno and the To fulfill this promise, Sukarno had to provide his
PKI on one side, and the army’s conservative leaders on people with evidence that he would make Indonesia the
the other. Sukarno’s full acceptance of the Fifth Force regional power they hoped for. As such, his decision to
idea in August created a dangerous rift between him and publicly support an Indonesian atom bomb may have
the military.103 Interestingly, during this same period, been part of his plan to foster the belief that Indonesia
Sukarno stepped up his public support for nuclear weap- would become a regional power. This view is supported
ons. In light of these circumstances, Jay Taylor suggests by the observations of American diplomats, who noted,
that “Sukarno may have held out the prospect of a Chi- “there does seem little doubt that Indo political [leaders
nese-provided nuclear explosion and the consequent and the] public likes [sic] to hear about [the] great mili-
enhancement of army and air force prestige as a device tary power they are supposedly developing and evidently
to dislodge the generals from their strong opposition both many are beginning to believe it.”109 Evidently, Sukarno
to the PKI Fifth Force and to the alliance with China.”104 sought to focus public attention on the prestige of nuclear
In other words, Sukarno exploited the possibility of ac- weapons, associate such plans with his leadership, and
quiring the bomb to garner support for his agenda from thereby fulfill his own political interest in maintaining
ABRI leaders. domestic stability. Sukarno’s nuclear aspirations thus
Sukarno may also have leveraged the prestige of support the argument that states seek nuclear weapons
nuclear weapons to sustain the stability of his country. because of domestic political considerations.
Stability has always been fundamental to Indonesian
national security because of the size and diversity of the CONCLUSION
state. In the mid-1960s, Indonesia was already one of The Indonesian case is important because it is rela-
the world’s most populous countries. When the state was tively unknown and examining it may therefore shed
formed 20 years earlier, it joined together four major new light on proliferation theory, especially as it applies
ethnic groups, four major religions, 16 major language to Asia. In general, we can conclude that Sukarno and
groups as well as hundreds of smaller kaum (clan or eth- his leaders talked about the bomb during the mid-1960s
nic group), each with a unique language or dialect.105 and that a variety of factors, both external and internal
The population included the world’s largest number of to Indonesia, may have influenced the president’s deci-
Muslims in one country and a financially strong non- sion to profess to support the bomb. One variable that
Muslim, Chinese minority, while its territory encom- may have contributed to the development of Sukarno’s
passed thousands of islands spread throughout the nuclear aspirations was a perceived threat to
southwest Pacific Rim.106 Without political stability, Indonesia’s security from the West. Sukarno viewed
maintaining the unity of such a large and diverse coun- British support for the new Federation of Malaysia and
try would be difficult at best. American involvement in Vietnam as neocolonialist ef-
One of Sukarno’s solutions to the problem of main- forts to lay siege to Indonesia. Another variable that likely
taining stability at home was to rally the people behind influenced Sukarno’s decision even more was the do-
the promise of regional leadership. This promise was mestic political situation. The mid-1960s were a turbu-
appealing because there was a strong desire among In- lent period in Indonesia’s history and Sukarno probably
donesians for a regional role inspired by their success- promoted the idea of an Indonesian bomb in an attempt
ful 1945-1949 revolution for independence from the to sway the tide of domestic events in his favor. To-
Dutch and derived from their sense of geographic im- gether, both of these factors illustrate that there is no
portance. According to Michael Leifer, “a conscious- simple explanation for Indonesian nuclear aspirations.
ness of vast territorial scale, an immense population, What we cannot determine from the Indonesian case
extensive natural resources, as well as a strategic loca- is whether China ever agreed to support Indonesian
tion, produced the conviction that Indonesia was entitled nuclear aspirations or whether Sukarno actually intended
to play a leading role in the management of regional to commit his country to becoming a nuclear weapon

40 The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

state. For these questions to be answered, Chinese and

Indonesian government records from the mid-1960s will KEY EVENTS
have to be examined. Unfortunately, these records re- 1958: Foreign Minister Dr. Subandrio disavows Indonesia’s inter-
est in nuclear weapons.
main closed not only in China, but also in Indonesia
where the events of 1965 are still kept relatively secret December 5, 1958: Indonesian government creates Institute of
Atomic Energy (LTA) to supervise nuclear research and develop
by those key participants still living. atomic energy.
June 8, 1960: United States and Indonesia sign an agreement to
cooperate in the civil uses of atomic energy.
September 21, 1960: US-Indonesian agreement becomes effec-
tive.
April 19, 1961: Construction inaugurated on TRIGA-Mark II re-
search reactor at Bandung.
October 7, 1963: Indonesia signs 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty in Moscow.
October 16, 1964: China explodes its first atom bomb.
October 17, 1964: Indonesia conducts its first nuclear reaction at
Bandung research reactor.
November 15, 1964: Brigadier General Hartono announces that
Indonesia plans to explode an atom bomb during 1965.
November 26, 1964: President Sukarno signs law that stipulates
Indonesia’s use of atomic energy.
January 28, 1965: China-Indonesia cooperation agreement ini-
tiates the Peking-Jakarta Axis.
February 2, 1965: Hartono announces that 200 scientists are con-
ducting tests on the production of an atom bomb; indicates the pos-
sibility of an Armed Forces Day surprise on October 5, 1965.
March 1965: The LTA is reorganized and renamed the National
Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN).
July 24, 1965: Sukarno declares his support for an Indonesian atom
bomb; pro-bomb rhetoric in Jakarta increases.
August 1965: US Department of State speculates that China is
preparing to explode an atom bomb in Indonesian waters and will
let Sukarno take credit; international news media reports this possi-
bility.
August 3, 1965: US defense attaché in Jakarta reports that Sukarno
has sent one of his generals to France to buy a bomb.
September 8, 1965: Johnson administration decides to continue
peaceful nuclear assistance to Indonesia despite Sukarno’s expressed
aspirations for the bomb.
September 29, 1965: PRC Foreign Minister Chen Yi declines
Indonesia’s request for assistance in acquiring an atom bomb.
October 1, 1965: US Secretary of State Rusk expresses concern
over Indonesian nuclear aspirations to Soviet Foreign Minister
Gromyko.
October 1, 1965: Aborted coup in Indonesia discredits Sukarno
and ends possibility of an Indonesian bomb.
October 5, 1965: Armed Forces Day passes without an atom bomb
test.
March 11, 1966: Sukarno transfers power to General Suharto.
June 19, 1967: Indonesia signs formal safeguards agreement with
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000 41

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

18
“World Acclaims China’s Nuclear Success,” Peking Review 43 (1964), p.
10.
19
1 Ibid.
The author would like to thank a number of people who provided helpful 20
John Wilson Lewis and Xue Litai, China Builds the Bomb (Stanford, CA:
comments and support for this article including Michael Barletta, Mary
Stanford University Press, 1988), pp. 192-194. According to Lewis and Xue,
Callahan, James Wirtz, Jim Walsh, Brad Roberts, Catherine Montie, and
such declarations supported one of the main themes of China’s evolving
Ben Abel.
2 nuclear strategy, namely that a socialist country such as China required
The Peking-Jakarta Axis is the term coined by scholars to describe the
nuclear weapons to defend against imperialism.
informal alliance formed in early 1965, between the governments of Indo- 21
“China Successfully Explodes Its First Atom Bomb,” Peking Review, 42
nesia and the People’s of Republic of China. The axis was not based on a
(1964), p. iii.
treaty, but rather on a series of agreements to cooperate in areas such as 22
Robert Cribb and Colin Brown, Modern Indonesia: A History Since 1945
trade and technology. Fundamental to the development of this axis was the
(London: Longman Group Ltd., 1995), p. 87.
two governments’ shared interest in driving Western imperialism from South- 23
“Undang-Undang No. 31 Tahun 1964 tentang Ketentuan-Ketentuan Pokok
east Asia. See Jay Taylor, China and Southeast Asia (New York: Praeger,
Tenaga Atom, Presiden Republik Indonesia” (trans. by Robert M. Cornejo),
1976), pp. 82-84.
3 (Law Number 31 for 1964 Regarding the Stipulations for Atomic Energy
Indonesian nuclear aspirations are mentioned in several major studies of
Principles, President of the Republic of Indonesia), para. 1, art. 5, ch. 2, in
Indonesian foreign policy, but with few details. For example, see Michael
Sepuluh Tahun Tenaga Atom di Indonesia, 5 Desember 1958–5 Desember
Leifer, Indonesia’s Foreign Policy (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1983),
1968 (Ten Years of Atomic Energy in Indonesia, December 5, 1958–De-
p. 105; Sheldon W. Simon, The Broken Triangle: Peking, Djakarta, and the
cember 5, 1968) (Jakarta: Indonesian Atomic Energy Agency, 1968), p. A1.4.
PKI (Baltimore: The John Hopkins Press, 1969), p. 69; David Mozingo, 24
“Indonesia to Explode Atom Bomb in 1965?” Antara Home News (Jakarta),
Chinese Policy Toward Indonesia, 1949-1967 (Ithaca, NY: Cornell Univer-
November 16, 1964, p. 7.
sity Press, 1976), pp. 211-212; and J.A.C. Mackie, Konfrontasi: The Indo- 25
“Razak Doubts Indonesia has Guided Missiles,” Indonesian Observer
nesia-Malaysia Dispute, 1963-1966 (Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University
(Jakarta), November 17, 1964, p. 1.
Press, 1974), pp. 287-288. The most comprehensive examination of Indo- 26
“Australian, US Comment on Indonesian A-Bomb,” Indonesian Observer
nesian nuclear aspirations is contained in Jay Taylor’s study of Chinese
(Jakarta), November 18, 1964, p. 1.
foreign policy. See Taylor, China and Southeast Asia, pp. 104-108. 27
4 “Indonesia Asserts She Plans A-Bomb,” New York Times, November 16,
According to Stephen Meyer, a “proliferation decision” is an explicit gov-
1964, p. 10.
ernment decision to transform a latent nuclear capability into an operational 28
Ibid.
nuclear weapons capability. This decision usually follows a “capability de- 29
Poneman, “Indonesia,” p. 184.
cision” to develop the indigenous technological and industrial capacity to 30
“Indonesia Talks Big About Nuclear Club,” Business Week, February 6,
support a nuclear weapons program. The term “proliferation decision” is
1965, p. 32. The TRIGA-Mark II uses fuel enriched to 20 percent uranium-
therefore used liberally in the case of Indonesia since Sukarno’s decision to
235.
pursue the bomb was not preceded by the development of an indigenous 31
Department of State, “Agreement for Cooperation between the United
nuclear capability. See Stephen M. Meyer, The Dynamics of Nuclear Prolif-
States and Indonesia.”
eration (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1984), pp. 5-6. 32
5 US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Technologies Underly-
Soebandrio, G.A. Siwabessy, and Soemarno Sosroatmodjo (trans. by Rob-
ing Weapons of Mass Destruction, OTA-BP-ISC-115 (Washington, DC: US
ert M. Cornejo), Pengaruh Tenaga Atom Atau Tenaga Nuclear Dalam
Government Printing Office, 1993), p. 174.
Hubungan Antar Negara (Influence of Atomic Energy or Nuclear Energy in 33
“Indonesia Talks Big About Nuclear Club,” p. 32.
International Relations) (Jakarta: Ministry of Information, 1958), p. 9. 34
6 “Guided Missiles to be Launched Next March,” Indonesian Observer
Daniel B. Poneman, “Indonesia,” in James E. Katz and Onkar S. Marwah,
(Jakarta), December 23, 1964, p. 1.
eds., Nuclear Power in Developing Countries (Lexington, MA: Lexington 35
Department of State, “Outgoing Telegram from Department of State,”
Books, 1982), p. 183.
7 January 29, 1965, LBJ National Security Files, Asia & the Pacific: 1963-
Ibid., p. 185. American nuclear efforts began in 1961, with construction of
1969, Indonesia Cables on microfilm, reel 7, frame 0354.
a TRIGA-Mark II research reactor at Bandung. 36
8 The informal Peking-Jakarta Axis began on January 28, 1965, when the
Peter R. Lavoy, “Learning and the Evolution of Cooperation in US and
Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers signed an economic and technical
Soviet Nuclear Nonproliferation Activities,” in George W. Breslauer and
cooperation agreement and pledged to strengthen friendly military contacts.
Philip E. Tetlock, eds., Learning in US and Soviet Foreign Policy (Boulder,
See “China-Indonesia Joint Statement,” Peking Review 6 (1965), p. 8.
CO: Westview Press, 1991), p. 754. 37
9 Tad Szulc, “Jakarta Build-up Linked to Peking,” New York Times, Janu-
McGeorge Bundy, Danger and Survival (New York: Random House, 1988),
ary 8, 1965, p. 2. However, the details of Chinese nuclear training provided
p. 287.
10 to Indonesia remain unclear.
Department of State, “Agreement for Cooperation between the Govern- 38
“Army Maintenance Corps to Produce High Quality Guided Missile,”
ment of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic
Antara Home News (Jakarta), February 2, 1965, p. 6.
of Indonesia concerning Civil Uses of Atomic Energy,” June 8, 1960, TIAS 39
Ibid.
no. 4557, United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, vol. 40
“Indonesia Talks Big About Nuclear Club,” p. 32.
11, pt. 2. 41
11 Ibid.
“Indonesia,” Nuclear Power 6 (June 1961), p. 56. 42
12 Department of State, “Incoming Telegram from American Embassy
Poneman, “Indonesia,” p. 185.
13 Jakarta,” February 10, 1965, LBJ National Security Files, Asia & the Pa-
Department of State, “Agreement for Cooperation between the United
cific: 1963-1969, Indonesia Cables on microfilm, reel 7, frame 0368.
States and Indonesia.” 43
14 Poneman, “Indonesia,” p. 186.
Poneman, “Indonesia,” p. 185. The name TRIGA-Mark II stands for Train- 44
Sepuluh Tahun Tenaga Atom di Indonesia, p. A5.4.
ing Research Isotope production General Atomic-type Mark II. 45
15 Poneman, “Indonesia,” p. 187.
“Bandung Atomic Reactor in Operation,” Antara Home News (Jakarta), 46
Sukarno (trans. by Robert M. Cornejo), “Amanat PJM Presiden Sukarno
October 20, 1964, p. 6.
16 pada Kongres Muhammadiah di Bandung, 24 Djuli 1965” (Speech to the
Ibid.
17 Muhammadiah Congress in Bandung, July 24, 1965), in Sukarno: Selected
Indonesia signed the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT) on October 7,
Speeches 1958-1966, collection of Professor Angus McIntyre, LaTrobe
1963, in Moscow. The LTBT outlawed nuclear weapon tests in the atmo-
University, Bundoora Campus, Australia.
sphere, underwater, or outer space, but did not restrict underground testing. 47
Ibid.

42 The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000

 ROBERT M. CORNEJO

48
Ibid. dor to Austria and the IAEA Laili Rusad, IAEA Director General Eklund,
49
J.A.C. Mackie, Konfrontasi: The Indonesia-Malaysia Dispute, 1963-1966, and US Ambassador Henry D. Smyth signed an IAEA safeguard agreement.
80
p. 91. For further discussion of Sukarno’s personality and leadership, see Scott Sagan, “Why Do States Build Nuclear Weapons? Three Models in
C.L.M. Penders, The Life and Times of Sukarno (Kuala Lumpur: Oxford Search of A Bomb,” International Security 21 (Winter 1996/97). Sagan re-
University Press, 1974) and J.D. Legge, Sukarno: A Political Biography views existing explanations for nuclear proliferation and observes that ex-
(London: The Penguin Press, 1972). ternal security threats continue to be the dominant explanation. He then
50
Ibid. contrasts this approach with explanations based on domestic politics and
51
“Roket-Roket & Peluru-Peluru Kendali kita siap utk hantjurkan Singapura” the role of ideas. In this section, I compare security and domestic politics
(trans. by Robert M. Cornejo) (Our Rockets and Guided Missiles Ready to explanations. In the Indonesian case, ideas are not a separate variable but
Smash Singapore), Angkatan Bersendjata (Jakarta), July 28, 1965, p. 1. instead form part of the security explanation, as Sukarno’s anti-imperialist
52
“Bom Atom Indonesia” (trans. by Robert M. Cornejo) (Indonesian Atom ideology shaped his perception of external threats to Indonesia.
81
Bomb), Angkatan Bersendjata (Jakarta), August 10, 1965, p. 1. Frederick and Worden, Indonesia: A Country Study, p. 53.
53 82
“No Objections All Countries Have Atom and Nuclear Bombs,” Antara Cribb and Brown, Modern Indonesia, p. 86.
83
Home News (Jakarta), August 4, 1965, p. 9. Gardner, Shared Hopes, Separate Fears, p. 179.
54 84
Taylor, China and Southeast Asia, p. 105. Ibid., p. 180.
55 85
Department of State, “Incoming Telegram from American Embassy Crouch, The Army and Politics in Indonesia, p. 59.
86
Jakarta,” July 29, 1965, LBJ National Security Files, Asia & the Pacific: Ibid., p. 57.
87
1963-1969, Indonesia Cables on microfilm, reel 7, frame 0784. Taylor, China and Southeast Asia, p. 83.
56 88
Department of State, “Memorandum of Conversation during USSR For- Ralph B. Smith, An International History of the Vietnam War: Volume II,
eign Minister Gromyko’s Dinner for Secretary Rusk,” October 1, 1965, The Struggle for South-East Asia, 1961-65 (New York: St. Martin’s Press,
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964-1968, vol. XI, p. 250. 1985), p. 375.
57 89
Ibid. Ibid., p. 374.
58 90
Richard Hughes, “China May Set Off Undersea A-Bomb,” Sunday Times Taylor, China and Southeast Asia, p. 119.
91
(London), September 12, 1965, p. 2. Smith, An International History of the Vietnam War, p. 313.
59 92
“Atom Bomb Possible for Indonesia?” Manila Daily Bulletin, August 25, Taylor, China and Southeast Asia, pp. 118-119.
93
1965, p. 2. “Indonesia to Produce Own Atom Bomb Shortly,” Antara Home News
60
Seymour Topping, “Sukarno Acts with China to Outflank West in Asia,” (Jakarta), July 24, 1965, p. 13.
94
New York Times, August 25, 1965, p. 3. “World Confab Against A & H Bombs Accepts Indonesian Proposals,”
61
“Philippines Herald on Possibility of Indonesia’s Possessing Nuclear De- Antara Home News (Jakarta), August 2, 1965, p. 8.
95
vice,” Antara Home News (Jakarta), September 11, 1965, p. 6. Department of State, “Outgoing Telegram from Department of State,”
62
Mozingo, Chinese Policy Toward Indonesia, 1949-1967, p. 211. July 29, 1965.
63 96
“China-Indonesia Joint Statement,” p. 8. Crouch, The Army and Politics in Indonesia, p. 73.
64 97
Mozingo, Chinese Policy Toward Indonesia, 1949-1967, p. 212. See Audrey R. and George McT. Kahin, Subversion as Foreign Policy
65
Mackie, Konfrontasi: The Indonesia-Malaysia Dispute, 1963-1966, pp. (New York: The New Press, 1995). The Kahins provide an excellent ac-
287-288. count of American involvement in an Indonesian military attempt to over-
66
Department of Defense, “National Military Command Center Message,” throw the Sukarno government during the late 1950s. Military commanders
August 3, 1965, LBJ National Security Files, Asia & the Pacific: 1963- from Indonesia’s outer islands started the rebellion because they were dis-
1969, Indonesia Cables on microfilm, reel 7, frame 0869. satisfied with the Java-based government’s increasing control of the mili-
67
Ibid. tary. The United States covertly supported the outer island commanders in
68
Ibid. an effort to replace and transform Indonesia’s political leadership. Accord-
69
“President Sukarno on Indonesia’s Atom Bomb,” Antara Home News ing to the Kahins’ sources, the unsuccessful plot resulted in a civil war and
(Jakarta), August 24, 1965, p. 15. led to over 10,000 casualties on the government side and 22,000 casualties
70
John W. Finney, “US Continues Atom Aid,” New York Times, September on the rebel side.
98
9, 1965, p. 15. Taylor, China and Southeast Asia, p. 107. See Crouch, The Army and
71
Taylor, China and Southeast Asia, p. 107. Politics in Indonesia, pp. 94-96.
72 99
Central Intelligence Agency, “Intelligence Memorandum, Chen Yi’s Press Frederick and Worden, Indonesia: A Country Study, p. 54.
100
Conference,” October 1, 1965, LBJ National Security Files, First Supple- Ibid.
101
ment, Asia & the Pacific: 1963-1969, Indonesia Cables on microfilm, reel Taylor, China and Southeast Asia, p. 111.
102
3, frame 0516. Ibid., p. 112.
73 103
Ibid. Ibid., p. 114.
74 104
Leifer, Indonesia’s Foreign Policy, p. 106. There are several interpreta- Ibid., p. 107.
105
tions of the aborted coup of October 1, 1965. One theory is that the coup Frederick and Worden, Indonesia: A Country Study, p. xxx.
106
was an internal military affair and did not involve the PKI. For this view, Ibid.
107
see Benedict Anderson and Ruth McVey, A Preliminary Analysis of the Leifer, Indonesia’s Foreign Policy, p. xiv.
108
October 1, 1965 Coup in Indonesia (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Mod- Crouch, The Army and Politics in Indonesia, p. 59.
109
ern Indonesia Project, 1971). Another theory identifies PKI leaders as the Department of State, “Outgoing Telegram from Department of State,”
masterminds behind the coup. For this view, see Paul F. Gardner, Shared July 29, 1965.
Hopes, Separate Fears: Fifty Years of US-Indonesian Relations (Boulder,
CO: Westview Press, 1997), pp. 213-219. The most neutral account of the
coup is found in Harold Crouch, The Army and Politics in Indonesia (Ithaca,
NY: Cornell University Press, 1988), pp. 97-134.
75
Gardner, Shared Hopes, Separate Fears, p. 213.
76
Leifer, Indonesia’s Foreign Policy, p. 106.
77
Cribb and Brown, Modern Indonesia, p. 106.
78
William H. Frederick and Robert L. Worden, eds., Indonesia: A Country
Study (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1993), p. 57.
79
Poneman, “Indonesia,” p. 186. On June 19, 1967, Indonesian Ambassa-

The Nonproliferation Review/Summer 2000 43