An Indonesian embassy official in Canberra asked Radio Australia to stop playing "hot" music in his home country this week in 1965.

First Secretary A. Marentek made the request the same week the Indonesian broadcast authorities condemned "hot music" as corrupt.

Rock and roll music had already been banned in Indonesia by a decree of president Sukarno, but remained popular with teenagers.

Mr Marentek noted that Indonesian teens had been writing to Radio Australia, requesting banned songs by the British band, The Beatles, in Indonesia. "We like Radio Australia. Some of its information programmes about Australia and its English lessons are very much appreciated... But Australian songs like Waltzing Matilda and Botany Bay would be more appreciated than I Love You - Yeah Yeah Yeah," he said, misquoting the title of the hit song, She Loves You.

Mr J. R. Darling, chairman of Australian Broadcasting Commission, said in response that Radio Australia was not trying to undermine Indonesian morals in its broadcasts.

Jennani Durai