Indonesian declaration of independence
The Indonesian declaration of independence took place on Friday, August 17, 1945 . Sukarno read the text signed by him and Mohammad Hatta at his home in Jakarta .
background
As early as August 7, 1944, the Japanese Prime Minister Koiso Kuniaki announced in a parliamentary session that he wanted to grant independence to “East India”, but without giving a date.
Almost exactly a year after Koiso's announcement, on August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima . This was initially only known by rumors, but it nevertheless contributed to the demoralization of the Japanese armed forces.
One day later, in Jakarta, the Council for the Study of Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI) was renamed the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI) in order to emphasize the desire and goal of achieving Indonesian independence. The second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, ultimately leading to Japan's surrender to the United States and its allies.
Journey from Sukarno and Hatta to Marshal Terauchi in Da Lat
Sukarno and Hatta, the chairman of the pPKI and Radjiman Wedyodiningrat as a former chairman of the BPUPKI flew to Da Lat , 250 km northeast of Saigon to Marshal Terauchi Hisaichi to meet, who told them that the Japanese forces defeat were close and of they would grant independence to the occupied colony of Dutch East Indies . At the same time, Sutan Syahrir heard on the radio on August 10, 1945 that Japan had surrendered to the Allies, which the Japanese themselves had not yet officially confirmed at that time.
Terauchi told Sukarno, Hatta and Radjiman on August 12, 1945 that the Japanese government was ready to grant independence to the Dutch East Indies and that the declaration of independence could take place in a few days, depending on the wishes of the PPKI. However, Japan wants to grant independence on August 24th.
Two days later, when Sukarno, Hatta and Radjiman had returned from Da Lạt and Hatta Sutan had reported to Syahrir the outcome of the meeting, Syahrir asked Sukarno to declare independence immediately, in order to split the nationalists into pro and anti-Japanese forces to prevent. Syahrir feared that the outcome of the Đà Lạt meeting would be a trap for the Japanese, since Japan would have to surrender to the allies at any moment. Sukarno was not yet convinced that Japan had actually surrendered and feared that the declaration of independence would lead to a great bloodshed at this point in time and could have fatal consequences if the Indonesian freedom fighters were not ready. Sukarno reminded that Syahrir did not have the right to declare independence because only the PPKI was entitled to do so. Syahrir replied that the PPKI had been founded by the Japanese and that a declaration of independence by the PPKI would look like a gift from Japan.
Japan surrender
On August 15, 1945, which has since been considered VJ-Day , the surrender of Japan was announced on the radio. The Japanese land and naval forces still had Indonesia in their power, but Japan had promised to hand over power in Indonesia to the Allies. Sutan Syahrir, Wikana, Darwis and Chaerul Saleh heard this on the BBC news . After hearing the rumors that Japan was going to its knees, the younger ones urged the older ones to declare Indonesia's independence soon. The older ones didn't want to rush anything, however. They didn't want bloodshed during the Declaration of Independence. Consultations were carried out within the framework of the PPKI. The younger generation did not agree with these talks because the PPKI was set up by the Japanese. They wanted independence on their own, without Japanese help.
Sukarno and Hatta went to the offices of the Japanese military administration (Gunsei) on Koningsplein (Königsplatz; today: Medan Merdeka , Freedom Square) to get confirmation, but the offices were empty.
Sukarno and Hatta then drove Soebardjo to the nearby liaison office of the Japanese Navy . The Liaison Officer, Rear Admiral Maeda Tadashi, who supported the Indonesian quest for independence, congratulated them on their success in Dalat. At the same time, he stated that he had not yet received a confirmation from Tokyo and was still waiting for instructions from there. After visiting Maeda, Sukarno and Hatta immediately prepared a meeting of the PPKI for August 16, 10:00 am, in the office at Jalan Pejambon 2 .
The following day, young men from some groups pushed for power. However, the PPKI meeting on August 16 did not take place because Sukarno and Hatta did not show up.
Abduction of Sukarno and Hatta to Rengasdengklok
The young fighters, including Chaerul Saleh, Sukarni and Wikana, had lost patience. On August 16 they had brought Sukarno and Hatta to the PETA garrison in Rengasdengklok with the help of Shodanchō Singgih, a soldier from the Army of the Defenders of the Fatherland ( Pembelah Tanah Air , PETA) and other young fighters; supposedly to protect him from an impending uprising.
However, there was no uprising, and Sukarno realized that he should be forced to declare independence without Japanese involvement. In Jakarta, meanwhile, the young group, including Wikana, held discussions with the old group, including the lawyer Ahmad Soebardjo. Soebardjo agreed to declare Indonesia's independence in Jakarta, and he managed to convince the young people not to rush the declaration of independence. Since Rear Admiral Maeda let it be known that he could see to it that the Japanese would do nothing against the Declaration of Independence if Sukarno and Hatta were safely returned to Jakarta, Yusuf Kunto was tasked with taking Soebardjo to Rengasdengklok and Sukarno and Hatta to Jakarta bring back.
Sukarno and Hatta meet with Major General Nishimura
On the evening of August 16, Sukarno and Hatta were back in Jakarta. Together with Maeda they visited Major General Yamamoto Moichiro, the head of the military government (Gunseikan) . However, he was unwilling to see her and instead referred her to Major General Nishimura Otoshi, the head of the General Affairs Department of the Military Government. He informed them that, according to an order received from Tokyo at noon on August 16, the status quo should be maintained so that the approval for the preparation of the declaration of independence could not be given as promised by Marshal Terauchi in Dalat. It was now planned that the Japanese would continue to exercise power until they could be replaced by British troops under the command of Lord Mountbatten , which in turn would later hand over the country to the Dutch.
Sukarno and Hatta expressed regret and asked Nishimura sarcastically whether the Bushidō obligor officer who breaks his promise, probably could count on the sympathy of the Allies. In the end, Sukarno and Hatta asked Nishimura not to hinder the work of the PPKI and to feign ignorance. In the face of the heated discussion, Maeda had left the room unobtrusively because Nishimura had reminded him that the order from Tokyo had to be obeyed and he knew that as a naval officer he had no influence in the area of the land forces.
Drafting the declaration of independence
Sukarno and Hatta accepted Maeda's offer to hold the PPKI meeting at his home and went there to draft the explanatory text. After Maeda had greeted Sukarno and Hatta, whom he had left at Nishimura, he retired to his bedroom.
Sukarno, Hatta and Soebardjo wrote the text in the rear admiral's dining room, as witnessed by Sukarni, BM Diah, Sudiro (Mbah) and Sayuti Melik, who were in an anteroom. The discussion between the younger group and the older group about the content of the Declaration of Independence lasted from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. The younger ones demanded an explanation in dramatic, fiery language. Although, as Sukarno later said with some exaggeration, this was to be the moment when the three hundred and fifty years of colonization by the Netherlands ended, he wanted above all to avoid provoking the Japanese or provoking a rebellion, and wrote an emphatically factual and straightforward text, which he wrote down himself; Sukarni suggested that Sukarno and Hatta sign the text on behalf of the Indonesian people. Sayuti spelled out the text and typed it off on the typewriter.
Text of the declaration of independence
| Version | Indonesian | German translation |
|---|---|---|
| draft |
Proklamasi |
Declaration |
| final |
Proklamasi |
Declaration |
The reading of the declaration of independence
Initially, the declaration was to be read out on the morning of the same day in the Ikada Stadium ( Lapangan Ikada ), but the ceremony was then moved to the Sukarnos house for security reasons. Among the few present were Soewirjo, Wilopo, Gafar Pringgodigdo, Tabrani and SK Trimurti. The ceremony began at 10:00 a.m. with Sukarno speaking the declaration of independence.
Then the flag of Indonesia, sewn by Fatmawati a few days earlier, was hoisted. Trimurti had initially been asked to hoist the flag, but he declined because he thought it would be better for the flag to be hoisted by a soldier. The choice fell on Latief Hendraningrat, a soldier in the Defense Forces Army (PETA) , who was supported by Soehoed. The flag was presented to him on a tray by a young woman. After the flag was hoisted, the song Indonesia Raya was sung, and the then Deputy Mayor of Jakarta, Dr. Moewardi, the leader of the Front of the Pioneers ( Barisan Pelopor ), gave a speech.
Immediately after the ceremony ended, about 100 members of the Pioneers' Front, led by S. Brata, rushed to learn about the relocation of the ceremony from the Ikada Stadium in Sukarno's house too late. They asked Sukarno to read out the declaration of independence again, which he refused. Finally, Hatta spoke to them briefly.
On August 18, 1945, the Basic Law (Undang-Undang Dasar, UUD) was passed by the PPKI as the basis of the Republic of Indonesia; it was later referred to as UUD 45. Thus the government of the unified state of Indonesia was established in the form of the republic (NKRI), which was later to be completed by the People's Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat, MPR) .
Sukarno and Hatta were then appointed by the PPKI as the first President and Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia at the request of Oto Iskandardinata. The president and vice president were supported by a national committee.
It was not until December 27, 1949, however, that the Netherlands would recognize Indonesia's independence.
Commemoration of August 17, 1945
Every year on August 17th, the day of the declaration of independence is celebrated by the Indonesian people. The whole of society takes part in the celebrations, which range from traditional competitions, for example tree-climbing and krupu-eating, to military ceremonies in the presidential palace .
Traditional competitions
In small towns and villages, competitions are often held on the day of the declaration of independence:
- Tree climbing ( panjat pinang )
- Wooden sandal race ( balap bakiak )
- Tug of war ( tarik tambang )
- Slow down by bike ( sepeda lambat )
- Krupuk eating contest ( makan kerupuk )
- Sack race ( balap karung )
- Pillow fight ( perang bantal )
- Balloon bursting ( pemecahan balon )
- Look for coins in the flour ( pengambilan koin dalam terigu )
- Marbles ( lari kelereng )
Commemoration of the declaration of independence
The memorial ceremony (upacara) in the Presidential Palace is presided over by the President of the Republic of Indonesia . It is usually broadcast live on all television channels. The ceremony, which is held on the morning of the day, consists of, among other things: cannon shots and siren alarms, raising the flag , reading out the explanatory text. In the evening of the day the flag is ceremoniously lowered.
gallery
Sukarno reads out the declaration of independence
Raising the flag after reading the declaration of independence
The Indonesian flag is hoisted on August 17, 1945
See also
literature
- Merle Calvin Ricklefs: A history of modern Indonesia since c. 1300 . 2nd Edition. Stanford University Press , Stanford 1993, ISBN 0-8047-2194-7 (English).
- Adrian Vickers: A history of modern Indonesia . Cambridge University Press, 2005, ISBN 0-521-54262-6 (English)
- Marwati Djoened Poesponegoro, Nugroho Notosusanto: Sejarah nasional Indonesia (National History of Indonesia ), Volume VI: Zaman Jepang dan zaman Republic of Indonesia (Japanese Time and Republic of Indonesia Time). Verlag Balai Pustaka, Jakarta 1993, ISBN 979-4074-12-8 (Indonesian)
Web links
- Declaration of Independence on youtube.com
- Herwig Zahorka: The history of the German military cemetery Arca Domas in Indonesia. Retrieved September 14, 2010 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Japanese 東 イ ン ドHigashi-Indo or Tō-Indo ; this term was used by the Japanese until April 1944; see: Ricklefs, p. 207
- ↑ a b c Vickers, p. 95
- ↑ founded by a decree of the Japanese military government on March 1, 1945 (see: Poesponegoro / Notosusanto, p. 121), Indonesian Badan Penyelidik Usaha Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia , Japanese Dōkuritsu Junbi Chōsakai
- ↑ Panitia Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia , Japanese Dōkuritsu Junbi Inkai
- ↑ (April 21, 1879 to September 20, 1952), doctor and later member of the State Council (Dewan Pertimbangan Agung, DPA)
- ↑ The term Indonesia was used by the independence movement from around 1922 .
- ↑ (March 5, 1909 to April 9, 1966), first Prime Minister of the Republic of Indonesia (November 14, 1945 to June 20, 1947), founder of the Socialist Party of Indonesia (1948) . Straw widower in Batavia . In: Der Spiegel . No. 24 , 1947, pp. 8 ( online ).
- ↑ Rushdy Hoesein: Sekitar Proklamasi 1 (On the Declaration, Part 1)
- ↑ (* October 18, 1914, lost in 1965), Indonesian freedom fighter and later minister in Sukarno's first government
- ↑ today's address Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara
- ↑ Poesponegoro / Notosusanto, p. 22
- ↑ Maeda had even financed Sukarno and Hatta trips through Indonesia with funds from the Navy so that they could promote their cause; see: Ricklefs, p. 207
- ↑ with his wife Fatmawati and their then nine-year-old son Guntur
- ↑ a b c Ricklefs, p. 210
- ↑ Platoon leader
- ↑ a b an Indonesian volunteer army founded in 1942 by the Imperial Japanese Army
- ↑ Location in Karawang sub-district , West Java province , about 50 km from Jakarta
- ↑ Japanese 山 本 茂 一郎 (October 8, 1898 to May 13, 1978), then Chief of Staff of the XVI. Army (land forces); see biography on The Generals of WW II website
- ↑ Jalan Imam Bonjol 1 , today the Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi (Museum of the formulation of the explanatory text )
- ↑ The typewriter had been fetched from the office of the representation of the German Navy and belonged to Corvette Captain Dr. Hermann Kandeler; it is now in the Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi Museum . See: Zahorka
- ↑ a b The year is given as 05 because 1945 was the year 2605 according to the Japanese calendar .
- ↑ The document is now in Nasional Monumen kept
- ↑ Jalan Pegangsaan Timur 56, Jakarta-Pusat; today: Jalan Proklamasi 1
- ↑ a b c Sekitar Proklamasi 5 (On the Declaration, Part 5), by Rushdy Hoesein
- ↑ Today this flag is kept in the Monumen Nasional .
- ↑ a youth organization established by the Japanese in Java, which is said to have had around 80,000 members at the end of the war; see: Ricklefs, p. 208
- ^ Recording by Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) from 1951