Reformation of Indonesia

For more than 30 years, Indonesia was governed by Suharto as the president after the era of President
Soekarno. As the people started to feel injustice, several cracks emerged that shake politic condition.
Political tensions in the capital city increased by the numerous riots occurred in several cities and
violent ethnic clashes.

The government became unstable and struggled as monetary crisis hit Asia in the second half of 1997.
Indonesia was one of the suffered most. Prices rose massively and many businesses went bankrupts.
As the economy fall down, people got angry and protests occurred everywhere. The protests became
bigger and riots started in many parts of Indonesia.

During the monetary crisis, Suharto could maintain his position as president when he was re-elected
on March 1998. However, Suharto did not do anything that could help the economy. As the
government seemed helpless in bringing the economy back, people demanded President Suharto to
step down.

Demonstrations were held everywhere and it became the peak with Trisakti incident on 12 May 1998.
Four students were shot out to death when demonstrating at Trisakti University at Jakarta and 9
students were killed at Semanggi. The incident leaded huge riots in Jakarta and various cities all over
Indonesia.

Finally, Suharto was pushed to step down and reformation era begun in Indonesia.

The Youth Pledge

The Youth Pledge on 28 October 1928 was a declaration made by young Indonesian nationalists. This
declaration was proclaimed in the Second Youth Congress. There are three points covered in the
declaration, which are one motherland, one nation and one language.

The first Indonesia Youth Congress was held in 1926. It was held in Batavia, which was the capital of
the Dutch East Indies. In the first congress, there were no formal decisions made but it promoted the
idea of a united country.

The second congress was held in October 1928. This congress was held at three locations. The first
session was held to inspire the feeling of unity. The second session discussed about education and the
third or the final session participants heard for the first time Indonesia national anthem created by
Wage Rudolf Supratman. The third session closed with a youth pledge reading.

At that time, the Youth Pledge was used for boosting the Indonesia army’s spirit. With the unity of the
young nationalists, the Indonesian independence fighters got more motivation to fight against the
colonialists.

Up to today, the date when the youth pledge was made is still remembered and celebrated. Many
historians said that the Youth Pledge and the youth congress are one of the most important moments
for Indonesia.

Bandung Sea of Fire

The Bandung Sea of Fire was a historical moment for Indonesian independence. It was the intentional
burning of much of the southern side of Bandung during the Indonesia national revolution. The event
came to be known as Bandung Sea of Fire or Bandung Lautan Api. Hundreds of Indonesian
nationalists were singing Halo – Halo Bandung to show that they were proud of what they have done.
The British commander gave an ultimatum to the Indonesian troops to leave Bandung. The troops
responded differently. They mobilized people to burn the southern part of Bandung as they left on
March, 24 1946. Houses and buildings was burned deliberately created a horrified scheme.

In March 1946, a member of Indonesia militia, Mohammad Toha, during the evacuations smuggled
dynamite leaved by Japanese and Dutch troops. The dynamite was smuggled into the Dutch military
headquarters in Dayeuh Kolot region. Toha detonated the dynamite in warehouse. He killed himself
with several Japanese and Dutch troops. The explosion of the dynamite created a small lake in the
area. The name of Mohammad Toha then used for the main street in Dayeuh Kolot.

The Bandung Sea of Fire showed us that Indonesia combatants were very loyal to the country. They
did not want to leave anything for the colonial and British army. The event was a great example of
how Indonesian would sacrifice everything to reach their goal.

General Offensive of 1 March as Recount Text

General Offensive of 1 March was one of the most historical moments for Indonesia. The Dutch
started a military offensive on 19 December 1948 to Indonesia as the result of failed negotiations with
the republic.

19 December 1948, the Dutch army entered Jogjakarta, which was the temporary capital of the
republic. By the end of December, almost all cities in Sumatra and Java were conquered by the Dutch.
All ministers, president and vice president were captured and exiled to Bangka Island. However, the
republican military in Jogjakarta and Surakarta refused to give up. They continued to wage a guerilla
war.

Hamengkubuwono IX, the sultan of Jogjakarta planned a major offensive against the Dutch army in
the city of Jogjakarta. The attack was aimed to show to the world that the republic still existed and did
not surrender under the Dutch. General Sudirman, the leader of Indonesian army accepted the idea. In
February, Sultan held a meeting with Lieutenant Colonel Suharto in Jogjakarta. He was the man who
was appointed by Sudirman to lead the attack.

On 1 March 1949, at 6 am, the republican troops led by Suharto launched the general offensive. The
Dutch surprised and they were not ready to face such massive attack. For 6 hours, Jogjakarta was
controlled by the Indonesia army.

The attack brought a huge success because the world finally knew that the republic was still existed.

Battle of Surabaya

The Battle of Surabaya was fought between pro-independence Indonesian soldiers and militia against
British and British Indian troops as a part of the Indonesian National Revolution.

The peak of the battle was in November 1945. The battle was the heaviest single battle of the
revolution and became a national symbol of Indonesian resistance. Fighting broke out on 30 October
after the British commander, Brigadier A. W. S. Mallaby was killed in a skirmish. Although the Colonial
forces largely captured the city in three days, the poorly armed Republicans fought for three weeks,
and thousands died as the population fled to the countryside.

The battle and defence mounted by the Indonesians galvanised the nation in support of independence
and helped garner international attention. For the Dutch, it removed any doubt that the Republic was
not simply a gang of collaborators without popular support. It also had the effect of convincing Britain
that wisdom lay on the side of neutrality in the revolution; within a few years, in fact, Britain would
support the Republican cause in the United Nations.
Considered a heroic effort by Indonesians, the battle helped galvanise Indonesian and international
support for Indonesian independence. 10 November is celebrated annually as Heroes’ Day.

The Battle of Ambarawa

The Battle of Ambarawa was a battle between the recently created Indonesian Army and the British
Army that occurred between 20 October and 15 December 1945 in Ambarawa, Indonesia.

On 20 October 1945, Allied troops under the command of Brigadier Bethell landed in Semarang to
disarm Japanese troops. Initially, the troops were welcomed in the area, with Central Java’s governor
Wongsonegoro agreeing to provide them with food and other necessities in return for the Allies’
promise to respect Indonesia’s sovereignty and independence.

However, when Allied and NICA troops began freeing and arming freed Dutch POWs in Ambarawa
and Magelang, many locals were angered. Indonesian troops under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel M. Sarbini began besieging Allied troops stationed in Magelang in reprisal for their attempted
disarmament.

On the morning of 23 November 1945, Indonesian troops began firing on Allied troops stationed in
Ambarawa. A counterattack by the Allies forced the Indonesian Army to retreat to the village of
Bedono.

On 11 December 1945, Soedirman held a meeting with various commanders of the Indonesian Army.
The next day at 4:30 AM, the Indonesian Army launched an assault on the Allies in Ambarawa.
Indonesian artillery pounded Allied positions, which were later overrun by infantry. When the
Semarang-Ambarawa highway was captured by Indonesian troops, Soedirman immediately ordered his
forces to cut off the supply routes of the remaining Allied troops by using a pincer maneuver.

The battle ended four days later on 15 December 1945, when Indonesia succeeded in regaining
control over Ambarawa and the Allies retreated to Semarang.