Indonesian History: Independent Indonesia (1949-57)


Figure 1.--

The independent Indonesians adopted a federal system upon independence. A new more democratic Provisional Constitution was approved (1950). here was an attempt to establish a liberal democratic system. This effort was not, however, founded on popular sentiment. There was no tradituon of democratic rule in Indonesia. And with the departure of the Dutch, the economy began to collapse. Indonesian officials had no real idea as to how to run an economy or promote economic growth. Thus the early indepenence era was unstable. The Communist Party with its simplistic slogans attracted sunstantial popular appeal. The longest-serving prime minister was in office amere years. The Government held a general election (1955). This would prove to be the first and for several decades the only democratic general election in Indonesia history. Political instability, however, continued. A Dutch reader writes, "I lived in Indonesia. working for a Dutch company (1949-58). In many cases I witnessed what went on during that exciting period in history. Although I worked for a colonial Dutch firm I realized that we had lost the colonies and that we only played a small part in the history of this country. I met several Indonesian leaders in our bookstore, among others Sukarno himself, but also Mohammed Hatta, the number two person in the government. They always spoke Dutch with me (and with each other). It is interesting to note that Sukarno and also Suharto used the Dutch spelling of their names; Soekarno and Soeharto. Even on their declaration of independence, Sukarno's signature appear as Soekarno. In this respect I also observed that president Obama's half-sister, Maya Ng Soetoro, is using the Dutch spelling of her husband's name: Soetoro." [Stueck]

New Government

The Republicn Military now the Indonesian Armed Forces articulates the twin doctrines of Dwifungsi and Hankamrata. The militry was to have a role sociopolitical development as well as security. And the resources of the nation were to be made available to the military. General Sudirman, the commander of Indonesia's Armed Forces uexpectedly dies at the age of only 34 years (1950). The Republic of the United States of Indonesia (RUSI) the Dutch helped set up was aoose federation. RUSI endorsement of a new constitution disolving the federation. Sukarno proclaimed a more unitary federal state, the new Republic of Indonesia (1950). The independent Indonesians adopted a federal system upon independence. A new more democratic Provisional Constitution was approved (1950). here was an attempt to establish a liberal democratic system. This effort was not, however, founded on popular sentiment. There was no tradituon of democratic rule in Indonesia. The Dutch had not begun to prepare Indonesia for self governmrnt. The longest-serving prime minister was in office a mere 2 years. The first cabinet of the unitary state led by Prime Minister Mohammad Natsiris established (September 1950). The Natsiris Government falls (March 1951). Dr. Sukiman Wirjosanjojo forms a new Government (April 1951). The Sukiman Government falls over a a Mutual Security Agreement with the United States which proves very controversial (Februry 1952). Prime Minister Wilopo forms a new Government (April 1952). The Army organizes demonstrations in Jakarta demanding the legislators resign (October 1952). Army tanks guns and machine guns are pointed at the presidential palace. Army Chief of Staff General Nasution is suspended for Army indiscipline. The Wilopo Government resigns (June 1953). Ali Sastroamidjojo forms a new Government (June 1953). Sastroamidjojo forms a second government (March 1955). A disagreement develops with the Army and the Government resigns (July 1955). Prime Minister Burhanuddin Harahap forms a new government (August 1955), just before General Elections .

Regional Problems

The Republic of South Moluccas (RMS) is proclaimed in Ambon (1950). Regional rebellions flare up in Sumatra and Sulawesi. (March 1955).

The Economy

And with the departure of the Dutch, the economy began to collapse. Indonesian officials had no real idea as to how to run an economy or promote economic growth. Thus the early indepenence era was unstable.

The Communist Party (PKI)

The most formidable political force in Indonesia was the PKI. It reorganized following the insurgency of the 1920s. Its min leader was Musso who had been involved in the 1920s insurgency. There were also Trotskyite forces led by Tan Malaka. The Communists saw the Republican compromises with the Dutch as as virtual treason. Localized clashes between the Republican forces and the PKI occurredf in Surakarta (September 1948). The communists retreated to Madiun in East Java and called for a mass insurection. This becme known as the Madiun Affair. Local units of the Republican military crushed the poorly armed PKI fighters. Musso was killed. Subsequently The Army caotures and executes Tan Malaka (February 1949). An important consequence of the Madiun Affair was that the United States now saw the Republicans as anti-Communists rather Communists as the Dutch insisted. The United States as a result began more favorable to Indonedian independence and encouraged the Dutch to be more accomodating. The Republican government demonstrated that it had the capability to destroy PKI military formations. Many PKI members abandoned the party. The PKI thus shifted to more political organizing. And a rebuilt PKI emerged as a major political force during the 1950s. The PKI with its simplistic slogans attracted substantial popular appeal. The PKI focused on both trade unions and peasant organization in the countryside with considerable success.

Foreign Affairs

Indonesia became the 60th member of the United Nations. (1950). The Asia-Africa Conference is held in Bandung (April 1955). It is the first meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement and is attended by notable world leaders including China's Zhou Enlai, India's Nehru, Egypt's Nasser and Yugoslavia's Tito. The meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement would bcome a favored platform for Sukarno. Indonesia's principal foreign relations issues were with the Dutch which continued to play a major role in the Indonesian economy. And the Dutch refused to hand over West Irian to Indonesia. The Dutch claimed that the region had nothing in common with Indonesia except the fact that it had belonged to the Dutch East Indies Company. This edscalated to become a major issue with nationalists.

Elections (1955-57)

The Government held a general election (September 1955). This would prove to be the first and for four decades the only democratic general election in Indonesia history. Political instability, however, continued. Four major parties dominate the vote (16-22 percent). The rest of the vote is split up among between 24 small parties. Elections are held for the Constitutional Assembly December 1955). The PKI continued to report electoral success in provincial elections (July 1957). The PKI was the leading party (34 percent) in provincial elections Jawa Barat and Jawa Tengah provinces. The other major parties were the PNI, Nahdatul Ulama, and Masyumi. Masyumi didmanage to narrowly defeat the PKI in Jawa Timur Province. The PKI's successes were largely due to effective grass-roots organization, its promotion of land reform, and its support for Sukarno's Guided Democracy idea.

Sukarno Consolidates Power

The cabinet falls as a result of policies toward the Dutch which wer seen as too moderate (March 1956). The Government unilaterally abrogated the 1949 Round Table Agreement signed with the Dutch (May 1956). Vice President Hatta resigns as vice-president in protest of Sukarno's move for increased power (December 1956). President Sukarno was a respected figure, but largelly a figurehead which is not what he wanted. He did not proceed to build a political party to support his desire for power, but often relied in the PKI for support as well as cultivating support among tghe military. Sukarmo announced his Konsepsi (concept) of the nature of Indonesia (Februry 1957). This will eventually lead to what he describes as 'Guided Democracy'. He proclaimed martial law (March 1957). The cabinet resigned. Sukarno appointed a Working Cabinet with Djuanda as prime minister (April 1957). An attempt was made to assassinate President Sukarno (November 1957). Grenades are tossed at him as he visited a school in Cikini, a part of Jakarta.

Expulsion of the Dutch (1957-58)

Tensions with the Netherlands increased after the 1955 election. The Dutch had granted undependence, but many Dutch nationals had remained in Indonesia and Dutch companies continued to operate and play aajor role in the economy. Nationalists were upset over Irian Jaya (West New Guinea) which the Dutch refused to hand over to Indonesia. The PKI-controlled unions led a movement to nationalize Dutch-owned firms which proved politically popular. The Indonesian Government seized the Royal Packetship Company (KPM), which controlled most of the archipelago's shipping, (December 3, 1957). Next the Goverment seized Royal Dutch Shell (December 5). The Government finally expelled 46,000 Dutch nationals. Army Chief of Staff Nasution ordered the Armed Forces (ABRI) which from the beginning of the Republic had been involved in economic affairs to help manage the nationalized firms. This marked a major increase in the militarry's role in the economy which would also increase in later years. ABRI in particular control of the nation's oil industry. Nasution ordered his deputy, Colonel Ibnu Sutowo, to take charge a new national oil company--Permina. A Dutch reader writes, "One of the main reasons why the Dutch were expelled in 1958 was the refusal of the Netherlands to hand-over Irian is different ethnically, culturally and linguistically and the people do not like to be called 'Indonesians'. As a matter of fact they hate to be ruled by the military from Java. Unfortunately most of the Papuans are very primitive and illiterate for which we also could blame the Dutch colonial government who did not bother to build schools."

Dutch Observer

A Dutch reader writes, "I lived in Indonesia. working for a Dutch company (1949-58). In many cases I witnessed what went on during that exciting period in history. Although I worked for a colonial Dutch firm I realized that we had lost the colonies and that we only played a small part in the history of this country. I met several Indonesian leaders in our bookstore, among others Sukarno himself, but also Mohammed Hatta, the number two person in the government. They always spoke Dutch with me (and with each other). It is interesting to note that Sukarno and also Suharto used the Dutch spelling of their names; Soekarno and Soeharto. Even on their declaration of independence, Sukarno's signature appear as Soekarno. In this respect I also observed that president Obama's half-sister, Maya Ng Soetoro, is using the Dutch spelling of her husband's name: Soetoro. Our company was a general Dutch bookstore. That means that most of the books were in Dutch, but we also sold books in English, German, and Indonesian. We also had a publishing department as well as printing and stationary. Everything was on the island of Java, the most important island. We did not sell communist books. The PKI had their own bookstores. We always attracted Dutch-speaking customers, many of them of Javanese, European and Chinese origin, but Indonesian university students paid us a visit also. When the Afro-Asian Conference took place in Bandung the delegates passed our store in their cars accompanied by police and army. I saw Chou En Lai, Nehru, and Nasser. The local Chinese were crazy about Chou. Nasser was very popular with the Indonesians. He leaned out of the car window to wave at the crowds." [Stueck]

Sources

Stueck, Rudi. E-mail message (October 14, 2012).







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Created: 5:36 AM 10/13/2012
Last updated: 8:04 PM 10/14/2012