The End of a Dream

It is truly a cloak and dagger story. Feet to the Fire: CIA Covert Operations in Indonesia, 1957-1958 by Kenneth Conboy and the late James Morrison describes the CIA’s involvement in the PRRI/Permesta rebellion. The following account is based on interviews with remaining PRRI Council for Struggle members on their willingness to receive arms from the CIA.

December 4, 2000

The year is 1958. A streak of light pierces the darkness on a lonely night in the Malacca Straits. On a speedboat in the waters off Bengkalis Port in Riau, Col. Simbolon and Lt. Col. Sjoeib notice the light. It is the long awaited signal they hope will guide the two PRRI officers to a rendezvous point with a Norwegian vessel, The Douglas. With Sjoeib safely on board and her hold full of sheets of rubber, the ship heads towards Singapore.

Aft

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