Well first thank you for your interest in our country! I always enjoy answering questions from people who want to learn more about my home country. :)
Soekarno
Ir. Soekarno, 1901–1970
Background
Sukarno or Soekarno (Dutch spelling), was Indonesia’s First President and one of our country’s founding fathers, and the most famous one. The son of a Javanese noble and a Balinese Brahman, he was educated in a Native Primary School and then a Dutch Primary School (Schools were segregated based on race then) and graduated from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 1926 with a degree in Engineering, hence his title “Ir.” Insinyur, or Engineer in English.
He was first exposed to Nationalist beliefs as a young man, and as a student he studied American, European, Communist and Nationalist Ideologies. And later founded Partai Nasional Indonesia (National Party of Indonesia) with his fellow students after graduation, becoming their first leader. It was opposed to Imperialism and Capitalism and supported Secularism and National Unity against Colonizers.
Soekarno was a Magnetic and Charismatic figure, which led to his reputation of being a great orator.
In the early 1930s Soekarno, due to his activities, was arrested and was put into Internal Exile by the Colonial Administration on the Island of Flores. Eventually being moved to Bengkulu in Sumatra due to an outbreak of Cholera in 1938.
During the Pacific War, when Indonesia came under Japanese Occupation, Soekarno chose to collaborate with the Japanese, who promised Indonesia Independence under the “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” supporting policies like Romusha, which conscripted millions of Indonesians as forced laborers in numerous projects, in exchange for a platform to spread his Nationalist Ideology.
In 1944, as the war worsened for the Japanese Empire, it promised Soekarno Indonesia’s Independence as a final “fuck you” against the Allied Powers. With an Investigatory commission for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI), a quasi-parliament made up of many of Indonesia’s Ethnic Groups being established with Soekarno as its head, being establised after the Liberation of the Phillipines in 1945. With Indonesia declaring its Independence on August 17th 1945, with Sukarno announcing the Declaration in Jakarta.
The Years between the Declaration and the Round Table Conference in 1949 that secured Indonesia’s Independence from the Netherlands were bloody and turbulent. But Indonesia came out on top, with Soekarno as President and Mohammad Hatta as his Vice President.
Indonesia, from 1950 to 1957, was a Liberal Democracy. However as a young nation, it was plagued with turbulence and Separatism. Culminating in the Permesta Rebellion in 1958 to 1961, who fought against the Central Government for a fair division of Political and Economic power and lost. In addition, Indonesia had hundreds of parties during the first few years of Democracy, culminating with 4 Major Parties forming a majority of parliament and a series of minor parties controlling the rest.
Eventually Soekarno declared Martial Law and established a ‘Guided Democracy’ in effect an Autocracy with himself at the helm, in 1957. Under Nasakom, which combined Nationalism, Religion and Communism. This era lasted until the G30S Movement, which put in power General Soeharto.
Was He Good for Indonesia?
From his graduation from ITB all the way to his Death in 1970, Soekarno was a symbol of Independence and National Unity for Indonesia, even today he is still hailed as a hero and one of Indonesia’s principal founding fathers.
However, he was a Narcissists and Megalomaniac (undiagnosed), during his reign many monuments were erected in the Capital of Jakarta, like Monas and the Pancoran Statue, and the Presidential Palace hosted all manners of social events for the oligarchy, Soekarno himself had many concubines and wives throughout his life. During a time when Indonesia was suffering from starvation and Economic Stagnation.
His economic policies, Communist in nature, was disastrous for Indonesia and stunted Economic Growth. His foreign policies aligned Indonesia with the Soviet Union and alienated the US and her Allies, his dream of a Greater Indonesia eventually led to Konfrontasi (Confrontation) which almost led to a war with Malaysia. And his politics led to the death of Indonesian Liberal Democracy until 1999, when Indonesia held its first National Elections in decades, and led to the beginning of Military involvement in Politics, which expanded under Suharto.
My Conclusion:
A good symbol of National Unity and Indepence due to his Charismatic personality, Soekarno was a smart and charming individual, who, in the end, failed the country he helped build. Partly due to Ideological confusion, partly due to personal failings. Leading to the Massacre of the PKI which claimed anywhere between 500 thousand people to more than a million, and the establishment of an Oligarchic order under the Soeharto Administration which still lasts today.
Soeharto
Suharto or Soeharto (Dutch spelling) was the 2nd President of Indonesia, and served in that post for more than 30 years. Born in a small village to Javanese Muslim parents, during his early childhood he was raised under a series of foster parents. As a young man he served with Japanese trained Security Forces, the PETA where he became an officer and was taught the skills that he would later utilize during the Indonesian National Revolution.
Serving with distinction during the Revolution, Soeharto eventually rose to the rank of Major General in the Indonesian Army after the end of the war, and was put in command of the Indonesian Army’s Strategic Reserve Forces.
During the G30S Movement, likely a CIA-backed Coup to put in place a US friendly government, six Army Generals were kidnapped and executed. Soekarno himself escaped assassination as he was in a Hospital with his son. After hearing of the killings Soeharto mobilized the Reserves (Kostrad) and ordered them to take control of the Capital of Jakarta.
He then issued the Supersemar document, which cemented his political power by purging parliament of Soekarno loyalists, the purged parliament passed a series of resolutions banning the PKI, and appointing Suharto acting President.
The Partai Komunis Indonesia was blamed for the G30S Movement and was banned, leading to the Mass Killings of 1965 to 1965 which, as previously mentioned, killed anywhere between 500 thousand to more than a million people. Soeharto was later appointed by parliament as Official President.
His Era was known as Orde Baru (New Order) which was known as an era of Economic Growth, Political Oppression, Stability, and Military involvement in Politics. During his 30 year rule, Indonesia invaded East Timor, stoked Racial hatred against Chinese minorities, and left a legacy of Corruption and Nepotism which still plagues Indonesian Politics and Government to this day.
He was removed from power by popular protests in 1998 due to an Economic Crisis which saw the Indonesian Economy shrink massively and led to massive devaluation of the Rupiah.
Was he Good for Indonesia:
Soeharto is a divisive figure even now. Many admire him due to his Strong Man image and the fact that he stabilized Indonesia and oversaw a period of Economic development and prosperity. On the other hand, the way in which he maintained his rule was questionable, being oppresive and corrupt.
According to Transparency International, he is the biggest corrupter of the Modern Era, corrupting anywhere between 15 to 30 Billion Dollars.
My Conclusion:
Soeharto is a nuanced figure, who’s questionable political practices was countered by his effectiveness as a President and many of his policies which oversaw economic development and political stability in a country on the brink of collapse.
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