About Indonesia
 

 

 

 

 

HISTORY

 

INDEPENDENCE

 

On August 17, 1945, three days after Japan’s unconditional surrendered to the Allies, the Indonesians proclaimed their independence and established the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia covering the territory of the former Netherlands East Indies. Having suffered from the bitter experience of the Dutch “divide et impera” policy, the national leaders held the view that the form of government through which a just and prosperous society could be reached was a unitary state. Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta became the President and Vice-President of the new state which was based on the sate philosophy of Pancasila comprising the following five principles: Belief in One and Only God, Just and Civilized Humanity. The Unity of Indonesia, Democracy Guided by the Inner Wisdom of Deliberations amongst Representatives, and Social Justice for the Whole of the People of Indonesia.

 

On August 18, 1945, the state constitution, often referred to as the Constitution of the Proclamation, was adopted together with the formation of the House of Representatives, Supreme Advisory Council, Supreme Audit Board, and people’s Consultative Assembly as the embodiment of the people’s sovereignty.

 

The Red-and-White was officially accepted as the national flag, and Bahasa Indonesia as the national language. Again, Indonesians had to face the Dutch, who wishing to reinstate their colonial rule in Indonesia had smuggled military troops into the allied forces who came to Indonesia in September 1945 to disarm the Japanese and repatriate Allied Prisoners of War and Internees (APWI).

                       

Consequently, bloody battles broke out in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and other major cities. During five years of physical struggle, “Dutch sponsored puppet states” were establish, such as the State of East Indonesia, South Sumatra, Bangka, Madura, etc. and agreements concluded for a peaceful settlement with the Dutch.

 

The Linggarjati Agreement signed on March25, 1947, under the good offices of Britain’s Lord Killearn resulted in the “de facto” recognition of the Republic of Java, Madura and Sumatra.

 

The Renville Agreement was signed on board of the USS Renville on January 17, 1948, to end the Dutch all-out attack upon the Republic, or what they called a “police action” launched on July 21, 1947. Following the occoupation of Yogyakarta and the arrest of President Soekarno, Vice President Mohammad Hatta, Syahrir and other republican leaders during the second Dutch military attack in December 1948, Indonesian freedom fighters commenced waging a guerrilla warfare under General Soedirman, while an emergency government of the Republic of Indonesia was set up in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, under Syarifuddin Prawiranegara, as the interim 2nd president.

 

On January 28, 1949, the Security Council adopted a resolution for discontinuation of hostilities, the release of the Republican leaders, who had been brought to Bangka Island off the east coast of Sumatra, and their return to Yogyakarta.

 

The “Roem-Van Rooyen” Agreement provided for the return of Yogyakarta to the Republic and the gradual withdrawal of Dutch troops, before the holding of a round Table conference on the basis of transfer on sovereignty to the United States of Indonesia, on December 27, 1949. Its consisting of 16 states which were associated with the Netherlands in a symbolic confederation under the Queen of the Netherlands, with a federal constitution and a government system based on parliamentary democracy.

 

On August 17, 1950, Indonesia abandoned its federal character and regained its original status of a Unitary State.

 

 

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