Chapter – 1History of Indonesian society after its

independence

Cekli Serya Pratiwi

Sub Topics: Post Revolution New Order (Orde Baru) Indonesia in Transition (1998-1999) Reformation Era (1999-nowdays)

The name of “Indonesia” The name of “Indonesia” has already been existed far before

Indonesia’s sovereignty, known since the 18th century. It originally derives from the Latin word Indus, meaning “India”, and the Greek word Nesos, meaning “Island”.

As the meaning of its name, Indonesia consists of 17,508 islands that make Indonesia as the largest archipelagic state in the world.

The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since the 17th century, when the Sriwijaya Kingdom traded with China and India. This was the beginning of the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism to Indonesian culture.

In the 13th century, Moslem traders arrived in northern Sumatra that further its influences spread over Indonesian areas adopted Islam. Islam overlaid and mixed with existing cultural and religious influences, particularly in Java area.

In 1512, the first Europeans arrived in Indonesia; Portuguese traders came to Maluku and monopolized the sources of nutmeg, cloves, and cubed pepper. It followed by Dutch and British traders.

Dutch colonialism and Japanese invasion

The Dutch colonial era was started by establishing Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1602. After the bankruptcy of VOC in 1800, the government of Netherlands took over VOC and Indonesia became a nationalized colony.

The Japanese invasion and short term occupation during World War II ended Dutch rule, and encouraged Indonesian leaders to proclaim Indonesia’s Independence on August 17, 1945, three days after Japan surrendered.

Post Revolution

The Republic of Indonesia first saw light on August 17, 1945, when its independence was proclaimed just days after the Japanese surrender to the Allies.

Pancasila became the ideological and philosophical basis of the Republic, and on August 18, 1945 the Constitution was adopted as the basic law of the country.

Following the provisions of the Constitution, the country is headed by a President who is also the Chief Executive. He is assisted by a Vice-President and a cabinet of ministers.

The sovereignty of the people rests with the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Hence, the President is accountable to the MPR.

The legislative power is vested in the House of Representatives (DPR).

Other institutions of the state are the Supreme Court, the Supreme Advisory Council and the Supreme Audit Board.

Soekarno became the first President and Chief Executive, and Mohammad Hatta, the first Vice-President of the Republic. On September 5, 1945 the first cabinet was formed.

New Order (Orde Baru) The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) attempted another

coup on September 30, 1965. The uprising, however, was abrupt and quickly stamped out by the Armed Forces under Major General Soeharto, then Chief of the Army's Strategic Command.

Under these explosive conditions, President Soekarno eventually gave in and granted Soeharto full power to restore order and security in the country. The transfer of power was effected by a presidential order known as "the 11th of March order" of 1966.

Soon afterwards, on March 12, 1966, General Soeharto banned the PKI. This decision was endorsed and sanctioned by virtue of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly Decree No XXV/MPRS/1966. He also formed a new cabinet, but Soekarno remained as Chief Executive.

This brought dualism into the cabinet, particularly when Soekarno did not show support for the cabinet's program to establish political and economic stability. Hence, a special session of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS) was convened from March 7-12, 1967.

The Assembly resolved to relieve Soekarno of his presidential duties and appointed Soeharto as Acting President, pending the election of a new President by an elected People's Consultative Assembly.

Ever since taking office in 1967, the New Order Government of President Soeharto was determined to return constitutional life by upholding the 1945 Constitution in a strict and consistent manner and by respecting Pancasila as the state philosophy and ideology.

Indonesia in Transition (1998-1999) Since the outset of the First Five-Year

Development Plan in 1969, Indonesia under the New Order Government of President Soeharto had endeavored to achieve its national development goals.

Indonesia, indeed, had been able to achieve substantial progress in various fields which had been enjoyed by the majority of the Indonesian people. Indonesia had gained success in the national development.

Unfortunately, economic crisis, which began with the monetary crisis, struck Indonesia as of July 1997.

Since the middle of 1997, the people's standard of living dropped considerably. The decline in the people's standard of living was aggravated by various political tensions arising from the 1997 general elections.

The political system which had been developed since 1966 turned out to be unable to accommodate the dynamism of the aspirations and interests of the community. This led to riots and disturbances.

To a certain extend, they reflected the malfunctioning of the political order and of the government, finally causing this situation to develop into a political crisis.

The accumulation of the economic crisis and the political crisis became a triggered factor for crisis in confidence. This applied not just to officials and state-running institutions, but also began to touch on the system of values and the legal foundations that underpin the state-running institutions.

A number of student demonstrations ensued, including the occupation of the People's Consultative Assembly/House of People's Representatives compound.

They appealed for political and economic reform; demanded President Soeharto to step down and stamp out

corruption, collusion and nepotism. Critical moments prevailed in the capital, Jakarta, and other

towns from 12 to 21 May 1998. On 12 May a tragedy happened in the Trisakti

University Campus, causing the death of four students.

On 18 May the leadership of the House suggested the President resign.

The President's effort to accommodate the developing aspirations of the people by forming a re-form cabinet and a reform committee never materialized as there was no adequate support from various circles.

Finally, on 21 May 1998, President Soeharto, after a 32-year rule of the New Order Government resigned. Pursuant to Article 8 of the 1945 Constitution and the People's Consultative Assembly decree no VII/1973, he handed over the country's leadership to Vice-President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie.

Reformation Era (1999-nowdays) Now it is time for Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). Reformation

appears in everywhere, every field, every aspect. Including in legal aspect, some of new body was established for people wanted the transparency and clean governance.

The constitution reformation amendment was held fourtimes. Now Indonesia use the Constitution of Indonesia Republic Year 1945.

Since 1999, people also wanted the state respect, guarantee and fulfill to human rights of citizen. Legislative body has released the Law Number 39 Year 1999 about Human Rights, and the Law Number 26 Year 2000 about Human Rights Court and some International Human Rights conventions has been ratified.

However, Indonesia still faces many problems such as legal problems (corruptions, problems related to law enforcement system, terrorism, criminals), social problems (poverty, human trafficking, people access to education and health, jobless), political problems (money politic, public distrust), economical problems (free trade market, consumerism, depend on import product), cultural problems ( crisis of “malu” cultural, intolerance, disobedience, anarchism).