Multimedia Mania/abacus-multimedia-mania.iso/dp/0023/00233.txt

Text File | 1993-07-27 | 14KB | 312 lines

$Unique_ID{bob00233}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Indonesia
Proclamation of Independence and National Symbols}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Department of Information Republic of Indonesia}
$Affiliation{Embassy of Indonesia, Washington DC}
$Subject{indonesia
indonesian
national
principle
unity
independence
constitution
democracy
pancasila
state}
$Date{1990}
$Log{}
Title:       Indonesia
Book:        Indonesia 1990 an Official Handbook
Author:      Department of Information Republic of Indonesia
Affiliation: Embassy of Indonesia, Washington DC
Date:        1990

Proclamation of Independence and National Symbols

     When World War II broke out in Europe and spread to the Pacific, the
Japanese occupied the Dutch East Indies as of March 1942 after the surrender
of the Dutch colonial army following the fall of Hongkong, Manila and
Singapore.

     On April 1, 1945, American troops landed in Okinawa. Then on August 6 and
9 of the same year, the Americans dropped atom bombs on two Japanese cities,
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, whereupon the Japanese surrendered to the Allies on
August 14, 1945.

     That occasion opened the opportunity for the Indonesian people to
proclaim their independence. Three days after the unconditional Japanese
surrender, on August 17, 1945, the Indonesian national leaders Ir. Soekarno
and Drs. Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesia's independence on behalf of the
people.

     The proclamation was brief, concised and reads as follows:

PROCLAMATION

     WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE INDEPENDENCE OF
INDONESIA.

     ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE TRANSFER OF POWER, ETC., WILL BE CARRIED
OUT EXPEDIENTLY AND IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME.

JAKARTA, AUGUST 17, 1945

     ON BEHALF OF THE INDONESIAN PEOPLE,
Sgd.

SOEKARNO - HATTA

     The proclamation which took place at 56, Jalan Pegangsaan Timur, Jakarta,
was heard by thousands of Indonesians all over the country because the text
was secretly broadcast by Indonesian radio personnel who used the transmitters
of the Japanese controlled radio station, Jakarta Hoso Kyoku. An English
translation of the proclamation was broadcast overseas.

PANCASILA THE STATE PHILOSOPHY

     Pancasila pronounced Panchaseela, is the philosophical basis of the
Indonesian state. Pancasila consists of two Sanskrit words, "panca" meaning
five, and "sila" principle.

     It comprises five inseparable and interrelated principles as follows:

     1. BELIEF IN THE ONE AND ONLY GOD

     2. JUST AND CIVILIZED HUMANITY

     3. THE UNITY OF INDONESIA

     4. DEMOCRACY GUIDED BY THE INNER WISDOM OF DELIBERATIONS OF
REPRESENTATIVES

     5. SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL THE INDONESIAN PEOPLE

     Elaboration of the five principles is as follows:

     1. Belief in the One and Only God

     This principle of Pancasila reaffirms the Indonesian people's belief that
God does exist. It also implies that the Indonesian people believe in life in
the hereafter. It emphasizes that the pursuit of sacred values will lead the
people to a better life in the hereafter.

     The principle is embodied in article 29, section 1 of the 1945
Constitution and reads: "The state shall be based on the belief in the One
and Only God."

     2. Just and Civilized Humanity

     This principle requires that human beings be treated with due regard to
their dignity as God's creatures. It emphasizes that the Indonesian people do
not tolerate physical or spiritual oppression of human beings by their own
people or by any other nation.

     3. The Unity of Indonesia

     This principle embodies the concept of nationalism, of love for one's
nation and motherland. It envisages the need to always foster national unity
and integrity. Pancasila nationalism demands that Indonesians avoid
superiority feelings on ethnical grounds, for reasons of ancestry and color of
the skin. In 1928 Indonesian youth pledged to have one country, one nation and
one language, while the Indonesian coat of arms enshrines the symbol of
"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" which means "unity in diversity."

     Social differences in daily life should never affect national unity and
integrity. Referring to this question, President Soeharto once remarked:
"what we should do is to have these differences blend us together in perfect
harmony like the beautiful spectrum of the rainbow."

     4. Democracy Guided by the Inner Wisdom of Deliberations of
Representatives

     On this type of democracy, President Soeharto said, "The democracy that
we practice is Pancasila democracy of which the basic principles and legal
basis are laid down in the 1945 Constitution." Pancasila democracy calls for
decision-making through deliberations or musyawarah to reach a consensus or
mufakat. It is democracy that lives up to the principles of Pancasila. This
implies that democratic rights must always be exercised with a deep sense of
responsibility to God Almighty according to one's own conviction and religious
belief, with respect for humanitarian values of man's dignity and integrity,
and with a view to preserving and strengthening national unity and the pursuit
of social justice.

     5. Social Justice for all the Indonesian People

     This principle calls for the equitable spread of welfare to the entire
population, not in a static but in a dynamic and progressive way. This means
that all the country's natural resources and the national potentials should be
utilized for the greatest possible happiness of the people.

     Social justice implies protection of the weak but protection should not
deny them work. On the contrary, they should work according to their abilities
and fields of activity. Protection should prevent wilful treatment by the
strong and ensure the rule of justice.

     These are the sacred values of Pancasila which, as a cultural principle,
should always be respected by every Indonesian since it is now the ideology of
the state and the life philosophy of the Indonesian people.

THE 1945 CONSTITUTION

     The Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia is usually referred to as
the 1945 Constitution. This is partly because the constitution was drafted and
adopted in 1945 when the Republic was established, and partly to distinguish
it from two other constitutions which were introduced in free Indonesia.
Furthermore, the articles of the 1945 Constitution spell out the ideals and
the goals for which independence was proclaimed on August 17,1945, and
defended thereafter. It reflects the spirit and vigor of the time when the
constitution was shaped. It was inspired by the urge for unity, for the common
goals and democracy built upon the age-old Indonesian concepts of gotong
royong (mutual assistance), of deliberations of representatives (musyawarah)
and consensus (mufakat).

     Preceded by a preamble, the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia
consists of 37 articles, 4 transitional clauses and 2 additional provisions.

     The preamble is made up of 4 paragraphs which include a condemnation of
any form of colonialism in the world, a reference to Indonesia's struggle for
independence, a declaration of independence and a statement of fundamental
goals and principles. It further states, inter alia, that Indonesia's national
independence shall be established in the unitary state of the Republic of
Indonesia with the sovereignty vested in the people. The State shall be based
upon the following philosophical principles: belief in the One and Only, God,
just and civilized humanity, the unity of Indonesia, democracy guided by the
inner wisdom of deliberations of representatives, and social justice for all
the Indonesian people.

     Guided by these fundamental principles,the basic aims of the state are to
establish an Indonesian Government which shall protect all the Indonesian
people and their entire motherland, advance the public welfare, develop the
intellectual life of the nation, and contribute towards the establishment of a
world order based on freedom, peace and social justice.

THE NATIONAL FLAG

     The Indonesian national flag is called Sang Saka Merah Putih. As
provided for in article 35 of the 1945 Constitution, the flag is made up of
two colors, red on top of white, and its width is two thirds of its length.

     The national flag is hoisted in front of the presidential palace, of
government buildings and Indonesian missions abroad. The flag measures two
meters by three. The first flag was courageously flown amidst Japanese
occupation forces on the day Indonesia's independence was proclaimed. Since
then it has been hoisted at independence day commemorations in front of the
presidential palace in the capital city of Jakarta. This historical flag or
"bendera pusaka" was flown for the last time on August 17,1968 and has since
been preserved and replaced by a replica which was woven of pure Indonesian
silk.

THE COAT OF ARMS

     The Indonesian coat of arms consists of a golden eagle, called "garuda",
which is a figure from ancient Indonesian epics. It is also pictured on many
temples of the 6th century.

     The eagle is a symbol of creative energy and its principal color is gold
which suggests the greatness of the nation. The black color represents nature.
There are 17 feathers on each wing, 8 at the tail and 45 on the neck. These
figures stand for the date of Indonesia's independence proclamation:
17 - 8 - 1945.

     The motto "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika", meaning "Unity in Diversity", is
enshrined on a banner held by the legs of the eagle. This old Japanese motto
was introduced by Empu Tantular, a saint of the Mojopahit Kingdom, in the 15th
century. It is to signify the unity of the Indonesian people in spite of their
diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

     The shield is a symbol of self-defense in a struggle or to protect
oneself. The red and white colors of the shield's background denote the colors
of the Indonesian national flag. The five symbols on the shield represent the
state philosophy of Pancasila which is the foundation of the Indonesian state.

     The bar across the center indicates the equator which passes the islands
of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Halmahera. This is a reminder of the
fact that the Republic of Indonesia is the only tropical country where the
people have built a free and sovereign state by their own hands.

     The golden star on a black background in the center of the shield
represents the first principle which is belief in the One and Only God. The
chain symbolizes successive human generations with the round links standing
for women and the square ones for men. It is the symbol of the second
principle, just and civilized humanity. The "beringin" or banyan tree stands
for the third principle, the unity of Indonesia. The head of the "banteng" or
wild bull (bos javanicus), which is black on a red background, represents the
fourth principle, democracy guided by the inner wisdom of deliberations of
representatives. Finally, the fifth principle is symbolized by the paddy and
cotton ears in gold and white colors. These stand for social justice for all
the Indonesian people.

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

     The national anthem is "Indonesia Raya" which means Great Indonesia. The
song was composed in 1928.

     The colonial policy of the day was "divide and rule" which deliberately
aggravated language, ethnic, cultural and religious differences amongst the
people.

     The birth of Indonesia Raya marked the beginning of Indonesian
nationalist movements. The song was first introduced by its composer, Wage
Rudolf Supratman, at the second All Indonesia Youth Congress on October 28,
1928 in Batavia, now called Jakarta. It was the moment when Indonesian youth
of different ethnic, language, religious and cultural backgrounds resolutely
pledged allegiance to:

     1. one native land, Indonesia;

     2. one nation, the Indonesian nation;

     3. one unifying language, the Indonesian language.

     Soon the national song which called for the unity  of Indonesia became
popular. It was echoed at Indonesian political rallies where people stood in
solemn observance. The song really aroused national consciousness among the
people all over the archipelago.

INDONESIA THE GREAT (INDONESIA RAYA)

1     Indonesia tanah airku,
      Tanah tumpah darahku,
      Disanalah aku berdiri,
      Jadi pandu ibuku,
      Indonesia kebangsaanku,
      Bangsa dan tanah airku,
      Marilah kita berseru:
      Indonesia bersatu,
      Hiduplah tanahku!
      Hiduplah negeriku!
      Bangsaku, rakyatku semuanya!
      Bangunlah jiwanya!
      Bangunlah badannya!
      Untuk Indonesia Raya!

Refrain:

      Indonesia Raya, merdeka, merdeka
      Tanahku, negeriku yang kucinta
(bis) Indonesia Raya, merdeka, merdeka
      Hiduplah Indonesia Raya.

1.    Indonesia, my native land,
      My place of birth,
      Where I stand guard
      Over my motherland
      Indonesia, my nationality,
      My people and my country
      Let us all cry
      For united Indonesia.
      Long live our land,
      Long live our country,
      Our nation, our people and all.
      Let the spirit free,
      Let the people rise
      For Great Indonesia.

      Great Indonesia, free and independent,
      The land, the country I love
      Great Indonesia, free and independent,
      Long live Indonesia.