PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE FIRST CONSTITUTION

Transcription

1 PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE FIRST CONSTITUTION A. Meaning of the Proclamation of Independence 1. Meaning of the Proclamation of Independence According to the Dictionary of Indonesia, proclamation officially means a notification to all the people. Independence comes from the word Independent which means free (from slavery, colonialism, and etc). Proclamation of independence implies the official notification to all people (both in the country and the people in the world) that there is a nation that has freed from colonialization of other countries. The Proclamation of Indonesian Independence text: We are the Indonesian people hereby declare the independence of Indonesia. Matters concerning the transfer of power and other things will be carried out carefully within the shortest possible time Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia which was read by Soekarno- Hatta on August 17, 1945 means that the nation of Indonesia has declared to his own people and all nations of the world that ever since that date the Indonesian nation has gotten its freedom, it means Indonesia has to be respected by other countries and has a position equivalent to other independent countries in the international affairs. Proclamation of independence for a nation like Indonesia that had been done on August 17, 1945 also has a meaning ever since the Indonesian nation has adopted an attitude of self- determination. The Indonesian people will arrange their own country with their own order. Based on some of these descriptions it can be concluded that the Proclamation of Indonesia Independence has significant points as the following. a. As a golden bridge towards a better Indonesia. The independence has given a way to realize a just and prosperous society. A colonized country, certainly cannot achieve prosperity for their people, but only to make people suffer. b. The freedom of Indonesian from the colonial law and political policies of Japan. The end of occupation means the end of all colonial laws period in the period to come. All colonial rules do not apply anymore and are replaced by national laws. Thus, the proclamation of Independence may be cited as the first source of law and order in Indonesia. After understanding, the meaning of the proclamation of independence, the following is a description of the history of colonialism in Indonesia and how the Indonesian people struggled for freedom.

2 1. Brief History of Colonialism and the Struggle of the People in Indonesia Colonialism was begun by the arrival of the Portuguese in 1511 in Moluccas and Ternate. It was continued with the arrival of the Spanish in 1521 to control the clove trade. Portuguese and Spanish made the Saragosa agreement, in which the Portuguese controlled the Moluccas region while Spain, controlled the Philippines. Dutch arrived in 1596 under the leadership of Cornelis de Houtman. The Dutch established the VOC (Vereenegde Oost Indische Compagnie). The VOC, which had a privilege from the Dutch government, didn t hesitate to impose its will upon the companies of local trade. As a result, there was an enmity between the VOC and local businessmen. Furthermore, VOC was trying to run a monopoly by controlling all commercial activities in the archipelago. The VOC monopoly practices caused a suffering for the people in the entire area. The VOC did not hesitate to do violence, war, and even cruelty to achieve its purpose. There were many kingdoms and local authorities in the Indonesian archipelago were successfully controlled and bowed to the policy of the VOC. VOC dissolved in 1799 due to corruption and the many costs to crush the uprising people and rebellion. World political situation turned out to influence the political situation in Indonesia. Dutch defeat of French led Indonesia fell into the hands of French. French raised Herman Willem Daendels as a governor- general in Indonesia. During his reign, the people in Indonesia especially in Java were suffering because of a highway construction that we know today as the North Coast Line, which connects Anyer- Panarukan. Daendels burdened the people who worked on the project which a large tax. Daendels formed military forces, built a castle defense, and other network to support the military. In 1811, the British invaded and conquered Batavia and succeeded in occupying Java Island in a short time. The British government appointed Lieutenant General Thomas Stamford Raffles to reign in the territory of Indonesia. In his ruling period, Raffles was more liberal than Daendels. Raffles tried to abolish the system of forced labor (Rodi), slavery, and remove all forms of taxation. British rule wasn t last long and the Dutch controlled Indonesia back under the Governor- General Van den Bosch.

3 Van den Bosch introduced the compulsory system (in Dutch: cultuur stelsel) in order to the shortage of state treasury funds as a result of rebellions in various regions. Pattimura, Prince Diponegoro, Prince Antasari had done various people s rebellions, and Teuku Umar and others were draining the state treasure. The rebellions against occupation were also with the intangible one. In the 19 th century, the Indonesian modern- minded youth struggled intangibly against colonialist. They were Soetomo, Tjipto Mangunkusumo, Ahmad Dahlan, Tjokroaminoto, and Ki Hajar Dewantara. Their intangible struggles were more driven by the spirit of nationalism or love of the country. Openly, at every opportunity the youth always set against colonialist. Dutch colonial ere ended after the signing of the unconditional surrender of the Netherlands to Japan on March 8, During the Japanese occupation, the people of Indonesia had to undergo a Romusha program (forced labor) to build vital buildings owned by Japanese. They didn t get wages for their work. They had to work without rest and adequate meal. Japan also required people to deposit most of his crop to the government of Japan. As a result, many Indonesian people were starving. Even, many people only ate sweet potatoes, taro, or snails. Japan seized valuable property owned by the people. Various government buildings were occupied and confiscated. Not only that, under the Japanese occupation, children were required to join military exercises. All policies imposed under the Japanese occupation were simply and solely to support the Pacific War. In that war, Japan needed not only manpower (both Romusha and soldiers) but also natural resources such as minerals and oil. All products of Indonesia s natural wealth were exploited for the sake of Japanese soldiers against the Allies regardless the suffering people of Indonesia. The greed of the colonizers upon people s suffering had push Indonesia to fight for the independence. 2. Events around the Proclamation of Indonesia Independence On 7 September 1944, on behalf of Japanese government, the Prime Minister Koiso Kuniaka took a specific policy for Indonesia, which in essence gave the promise of independence for the Indonesian nation. Japanese government conveyed the promise when its power in Asia was in danger. Realization of the Japanese government s promise started with the formation or Dokuritzu Zyunbi Tyoosakai of the Explorative Council on Preparatory Efforts for Indonesia s Freedom (BPUPKI/Badan Penyelidik Usaha- Usaha Persiapan

4 Kemerdekaan Indonesia). General Harada Kuma Kiachi performed announcement of BPUPKI formation on March 1, BPUPKI duty was to study and investigate matters relating to political, economics, governance aspects, and other things needed in the efforts to establish an independent Indonesia. Lieutenant General Nagano Yoichiro made announcement and appointment of BPUPKI membership on April 29, The contents of this announcement among others were the appointment of Dr. Radjiman Wediodiningrat as the chairman of BPUPKI. Two young leaders assisted him: R.P. Soeroso and Ichibangase Yishio (Japanese). It was also appointed 60 BPUPKI members coming from various component societies. The inauguration of BPUPKI was held on May 28, BPUPKI held two sessions: a. First Session (May 29 June 1, 1945) Resulted the birth of Pancasila proposed by Ir. Soekarno. b. Second Session produced: 1. The establishment of the committee on Designing of Constitution, Chaired by Ir. Soekarno. 2. The establishment of the Defenders of the Fatherland, an Indonesian volunteer army, chaired by Drs. Mohammad Hatta At the end of the session, the BPUPKI has successfully completed the basic philosophical design of a state for the independent Indonesia and its basic constitution. On August 6, 1945, The United States first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and the next day, on August 7, 1945, the Japanese government disbanded BPUPKI. Instead, a Dokuritzu Zyunbi Inkai or a Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI) was established. PPKI task was to prepare all things related to the delivering of the power of the Japanese government to the Indonesian people. PPKI later served to set the basic laws of Indonesia. The second bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki on August 9, This situation crippled the Japanese government. Finally, the Japanese surrendered unconditionally on August 15, News of Japan s defeat was heard by the Indonesian youths and they urged leaders to proclaim Indonesia s independence soon. On August 16, 1945, Ir. Soekarno and Drs. Mohammad Hatta were not found in Jakarta. They were taken by those youths to the garrison at Rengasdengklok. They youth urged to declare independence immediately and arrange the text of the proclamation. Finally, the next of the proclamation was drawn up in the house of Admiral Maeda and signed by Ir. Soekarno and Drs. Mohammad Hatta.

5 On the next day, at 10:00 a.m., August 17, 1945, at No.56 Jalan Pengangsaan Timur, Ir. Soekarno read the text of the proclamation of Indonesian Independence The statement of proclamation showed the birth of Indonesia as an independent nation, free from colonialism.