Daud the Indonesian Californian

Merdeka atau Mati!

Hiroshima 8/6 - Nagasaki 8/9 - Jakarta 8/17

Indonesia Independence 1945

Why not August 24, 05? What happened November 10, 1945?

Hello my friends,

66 Years have passed since 1945.

One generation has past since 1945.

Many of us may have forgotten what happened in Indonesia after Japan’s surrender in World War II, or remember just vaguely.

What happened in Indonesia at that time? What were the circumstances that lead to the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia? Why August 17, 1945, and not August 24, 2605? Three and a half years occupying Indonesia was Japan friend or foe? And what happened on November 10, 1945?

Only to my fellow Indonesians who live here in USA,

Before you read any further, dig deep into your memory, and see if you have the answers to the questions above.

If you don’t, what do you think of our kids or grand-kids knowledge about the history of Indonesia’s independence? From school? Are they reading history books? Or you tell them?

For my Indonesian friends to refresh your memory, for the younger Indonesian generation here in America, and for my Californian friends and everybody else who are interested, here’s a little bit of the history that I put together from my knowledge, from what I remember, and from different sources.

My dear friends,

If you have any comments, want to add some more information or say something, I encourage you to do so by writing it in the comment box below. Click the words "comment" (in blue). You can write in English, Indonesian or Dutch, whatever is convenient for you.

Thank you.

Now, if you haven't done it yet, let’s open the yellow colored clip above, a video of Indonesia’s Proclamation of Independence by Soekarno and Hatta.The yellow image is the paper that contain the text of the Proclamation.

And here is the text (note the old spelling):

PROKLAMASI

Kami, bangsa Indonesia, dengan ini menjatakan kemerdekaan Indonesia.

Hal-hal jang mengenai pemindahan kekoeasaan d.l.l., diselenggarakan dengan tjara saksama

dan dalam tempo jang sesingkat-singkatnja.

Djakarta, hari 17 boelan 8 tahoen 05

Atas nama bangsa Indonesia,

Soekarno/Hatta.

Why the year 05 and not 45? They followed the Japanese’s Imperial calendar at that time, and the year was 2605.

Here is the translation of the declaration published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as of October 1948 (Wikipedia)

PROCLAMATION

WE THE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA HEREBY DECLARE THE INDEPENDENCE OF

INDONESIA.

MATTERS WHICH CONCERN THE TRANSFER OF POWER AND

OTHER THINGS WILL BE EXECUTED BY CAREFUL MEANS AND IN THE

SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME.

DJAKARTA, 17 AUGUST 1945

IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA

SOEKARNO—HATTA

The monument in Jakarta commemorating the

Declaration of Independence (Wikipedia)

What happened before

On August 6, 1945, America bombed Hiroshima. On August 9th a second atom bomb destroyed Nagasaki. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945. August 17, 1945 Indonesia declared independence.

Days before proclaiming Indonesia’s independence, Soekarno and Hatta flew to Dalat, Vietman, to meet Japanese Marshall Terauchi. On August 12 Marshall Terauchi told Soekarno and Hatta that Japan will give freedom to Indonesia and Indonesia can proclaim independence in a few days, depending on Indonesia, but Japan would like August 24^th.

Some prominent Indonesian political leaders were suspicious. They expressed their feelings saying that Japan’s promise is just an empty promise. After the Japanese surrendered, and after many discussions and considerations among the political leaders, Sukarno unilaterally proclaimed Indonesian independence on August 17.

World War II ended August 15, but for Indonesia it was the beginning of another war. The War for Independence. Indonesia had to fight for their freedom, in the battlefield and around the conference table.

Netherland wanted to come back and regain their colony. They wanted the Japanese army in Indonesia to "preserve law and order," and this started the independence revolution to prevent the return of the Dutch.

Merdeka atau Mati! Freedom or Die! was the battle-cry.

Indonesian youth (pemuda), armed only with bamboo spears, some grenades, guns and machine guns fought against enemy’s heavy arms, tanks, artillery. They fought bravely and fiercely. Pemuda took over government offices from the Japanese, and often succeeded in seizing the arms of the demoralized Japanese.

After many sporadic bloody warfare, some heavy fighting, the independence war culminated in the big November 10 battle in Surabaya.

After four years of guerilla warfare, the Dutch, who initially was backed by the British but facing strong armed resistance, and later strong diplomatic fight, officially recognized Indonesian sovereignty. They officially acknowledged Indonesia's independence in 1949 and in 2005 accepted August 17 1945 as Indonesia's independence date.

The Republic of Indonesia ultimately prevailed through international diplomacy as it did through Indonesian determination in the armed conflicts.

November 10

The Battle of Surabaya, largest city after Jakarta, was the heaviest battle of the Revolution and became a national symbol of Indonesian resistance. Pemuda groups in Surabaya seized arms and ammunition from the Japanese.

Hari Pahlawan (Heroes' Day) is celebrated annually on November 10 in Indonesia to remember the Surabaya big battle. Watch the video below (5:15 min) and additional historic facts and figures.

Battle of Surabaya 1945

There were Japanese soldiers who symphatize with Indonesia's independence war. One of them was Tomokazu Kaneko. After WWII Indonesia awarded him the most honorable Nararia medal. Watch the next you tube video (6:35 min).

Japanese Samurai

To commemorate Indonesian independence on August 17, Indonesian embassy and consulate offices abroad are holding flag ceremonies. The following video shows August 17 flag ceremony by the Indonesian consulate general in Los Angeles, on August 17, 2010 (5:15 min).