User:Mhatopzz/Indonesian independence movement

The Indonesian independence movement was a sociopolitical movement occured during the Indonesian National Awakening that aimed to establish an Indonesian state and broke out from colonial rule. The development of the movement began in the first half of the 20th century when various activist in the Dutch East Indies started to advocate for the independence of Indonesia. Ideas that formed this independence movement were mainly propelled by Indonesian nationalism and anti-colonial rhetoric, driven by a fervent desire among the diverse population to redeem their freedom and assert their self-determination.

By the early 20th century, the Dutch East Indies government began to implement the Dutch Ethical Policy, which allowed the improvements of economic and living conditions in the colony, as well as providing social benefits for the native population. This policy was adopted due to concerns over the welfare of indigenous populations in the Indies. The implementation of the ethical policy led to many native elite population became educated and enlightened by national consciousness, as a result many nationalist social and political organizations began to emerge and started advocating for self-governance and independence, such organizations like Sarekat Islam, Indische Party, Congres Pemoeda, Perhimpoenan Indonesia, and Indonesian National Party had voiced their activism in pursuit of independence for the Indonesian people from Dutch colonial rule, these movements were suppressed by the Dutch colonial government.

Due to constant repression by the colonial government, many activists were arrested, imprisoned, and some were banished to the less populated locations such as Boven-Digoel and Banda Neira, and because of this, some desperate activists during pre-war found themselves taking the stance to support Japan as an Axis power to liberate them from Dutch colonialism, although some others refused to collaborate with Japan and continued to take their anti-imperialist stance throughout the war.

After the outbreak of World War II and the subsequent invasion of the Dutch East Indies in 1941 allowed the Japanese to fully replace the colonial administration. The Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies oversaw the process of negotiating the Indonesian independence and writing of the constitution. In 1945 the Japanese government promised Indonesian nationalists an independence scheduled on 24 August 1945, but days before the event, leaders of the Indonesian independence like Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta were kidnapped and taken to Rengasdengklok by youth nationalists who opposed the Japanese occupation and were asked to proclaim the independence as soon as possible. The culmination of the Indonesian independence movement was ultimately realized with the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence on 17 August 1945.

Indonesian independence was finally accomplished upon the agreement reached at the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference in 1949, followed by the formal transfer of sovereignty on 27 December 1949.

Background

Youth nationalist movements

Indische Partij

Further information: Indische Party

Members of the Indisch Partij, standing: F. Berding, G.L. Topée and J. Vermaesen, sitting: Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo, Ernest Douwes Dekker, and Soewardi Soerjaningrat.

Youth Congress

Main articles: Youth Congress and Youth Pledge

Members of the Youth Congress, 1928

Indoenesian National Party

Main article: Indonesian National Party

Trials against the members of the PNI in 1930, Sukarno is in the middle facing towards camera.

Perhimpoenan Indonesia

Main article: Perhimpoenan Indonesia

Members of the PI around the 1920s, Mohammad Hatta can be seen in the back, just in front of the wall.

Activism in the Volksraad

See also: Soetardjo Petition

Political repression

World War II and Japanese occupation

Aftermath of the independence proclamation