History Past and Present

HISTORY OF CULTURE | History Past and Present | Sixty-three years ago, December 19, 1948, when the dawn broke, the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces launched a general offensive against the territory of the Republic of Indonesia, which has been shrinking it. Dutch military political leaders in Batavia (Jakarta), presumably taking into account that the power capable of RI has been very weakened after successfully quell the rebellion left in Madiun.

The main goal is to Yogyakarta, the capital of the struggle of Indonesia. Paratroops dropped at the airport Maguwo (now Adi Sucipto). Unity of Dutch pioneers headed to State House in Malioboro. Around three o'clock, the commander of the union was reported by radio to his headquarters, President Sukarno had been arrested. Emergency cabinet meeting led by Vice President / Prime Minister Moh. Hatta, that morning, decided that the national leaders and cabinet remain in place. Political calculation that became the foundation's decision took into account the international reaction would be troublesome Dutch position. Negotiations with the Dutch, the Commission facilitated the ongoing UN Good services. Especially the U.S. representative on the commission, Merle Cochran, very active position to bridge the gap between the two sides. 

Dutch general attack to-2, which was performed in a sudden, is a blatant slap to the U.S. representative. Washington DC would react. Moreover, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located at the corner of the plains of Europe, which is highly dependent on U.S. economic aid would not be able to resist pressure in Washington DC. This development will benefit the RI position. Besides, if Bung Karno and Bung Hatta joined guerilla, they were forced to escort layers. It will only attract the attention of the Dutch military. That's roughly the agreed political logic RIS emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday morning, December 19, 1948. 

General Sudirman, who was in State House that day, after hearing the decision of the cabinet, without much talk, stand up and leave the place. He had undergone lung surgery, but determination and a strong attachment to the Oath Soldiers pushed Sudirman to lead the people's war. Colonel TB Simatupang, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, after hearing the decision of the cabinet, dampen a sense of disappointment and find Bung Hatta. At the request of Mr. Sim, Vice President / Prime Minister / Minister of Defense Moh. Hatta signed a Letter of Instruction to the army and all the people to continue their fight, despite a national leader in custody in the Netherlands. 

Through the back door of the Palace, he walked out leaving the town to the west. At night in the Village Move over, the edge of the Progo River, Col. TB Simatupang (28 years) reflecting repeated series of events on that day. Feelings that meets him later recorded in the memoirs of Banaran struggle Reports (New York, 1960 & 1978). His writings, concluded lump feeling on that night who meet him: 

"Yogyakarta has fallen. The President, Vice President and our great leaders who have been captured. However, whether with that of our Republic is dead? There are a writer, if I am not one of Machiavelli, who had more or less said that the last stronghold of the state is in the hearts soldiers - Is our Republic is dead or alive now mainly depends on the question, whether he was still alive or not in the liver officers, NCOs, NCOs, and soldiers of the TNI. The answer to this question will be provided by developments in the days and weeks that come. " 

We are fortunate now that can look back and see how the Dutch general attack on December 19, 1948 that has sparked strong determination and unity of struggle, so that precisely the Netherlands at the end of 1949 was forced to acknowledge the sovereignty of an independent Indonesia. And the Netherlands left the archipelago, except for West Irian (Papua). 

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What is the meaning of a series of dramatic events that began December 19, 1948, 60 years ago, for the Indonesian people today? What is the wisdom that can be utilized from the very important period in the history of our Republic who can save this nation from the socio-economic crisis? 

At first glance the situation now facing is not as severe as 60 years ago. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is still functioning at the Presidential Palace, leading the meetings and to receive his visitors. Vice President Jusuf Kalla remained cheerful, ready with a comment to respond to any question posed to him. Relatively stable value of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar, do not break the limit of USD 12,000. Transportation by land, sea, and air to all corners of the RI remained operational. The restaurants and entertainment venues in major cities and not so great throughout Indonesia remains crowded enthusiasts. So, what's to worry? 

This is where we encounter major obstacles in the field of perception. Very critical and dramatic events of 60 years ago was not so difficult to understand. President and Vice President of a prisoner, the enemy occupied the capital city! Clearly, very clearly, the issue. Only two choices: Unite and Fight, or resignation, each save themselves. In terms of "enemy" that threatens the nation no less dangerous today than 60 years ago. The impact of ongoing global financial crisis in Indonesia could disrupt the social order of economic and social politics. 

United States and other Western countries, including Japan, face the economic crisis has even categorized as a recession. That is, for two consecutive quarters of shrinking economic suffering. Even in Singapore, the neighboring countries that had acted like the upper hand, his official already in recession. 

The unemployment rate in the U.S., Western Europe, Japan, and other modern economies is increasing. World oil prices continued to fall indeed save the state budget, but it means also that the traditional market for Indonesia's main exports (mining and plantation commodities, particularly oil palm) jammed. 

The fluctuation level of unemployment continues to rise already visible in our country. Expected, these indicators will get worse instead of the 2nd quarter of 2009, ie, when legislative elections are held. 

The psychological impact of unemployment should not be equated smooth indeed. There are sectors that affect the socio-political stability, there is also a traditionally accommodated by the informal sector. Recently I visited North Sumatra and talk with colleagues from the newspaper analysis in Medan. They are stories of thousands of day laborers in oil palm plantations that have been idle. 

When the high palm oil prices in international markets, the earnings of workers in oil palm plantations daily tolerable level. They can easily buy a motorcycle with a credit facility. Physical mobility as incarnating human being as a new man. But, now, after the failed mortgage are met, the workers forced the motorcycle is returned. 

It's just a small example of the accumulation of psychological tension that is now piling up in the community. You can estimate their own pile of explosives socio-political when the unemployment rate peaked in the second quarter of 2009. And carrying capacity of the informal sector do not be too expected. After the financial crisis 1997/1998, the capacity of the informal sector has done its role by absorbing the unemployed, coupled with the surplus labor that is not accommodated in the formal sector every year. 

List grim faced by the nation because of the impact of global financial crisis which hit Indonesia easily can be equipped with additional problems, because of congestion and scarcity of export credits that cause a chain effect, spreading to different corners of economic activity. Some say that the volume of Indonesia's domestic economy is quite large, so at least the severity of the global financial crisis could be watered down as a result. 

But, securing domestic economic dynamics requires a variety of innovation and stimulation programs and reduce bureaucratic barriers. And most important, awareness of urgency must meet all the ranks! Central and local governments, private sector and that was great, legislative, judicial, experts in universities and research centers, and so on. Frankly, it is not yet widespread awareness of the urgency if we read how the six factions in the House of Representatives reject the proposed Constitution of the Financial Safety Net. Fortunately, according to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, legal tools are quite capable of dealing with a systemic financial crisis before January 19, 2009. You see, if the honorable members of Parliament worried that the bill was to provide opportunities for power that is too big for the government, so it may be misused, immediately formulate an alternative proposal. Show that the awareness of the urgency of a crisis that threatens the nation and the country is living in the legislature. 

This is true also for the range in the central and local government. Tens speech delivered by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono seems to have succeeded in jerking the ranks of society. Like sneaking suspicion that he wanted to steal the start and has been campaigning for the Presidential Election 2009. Is this Republic would collapse? 

If we place the determination of TB Simatupang said 60 years ago in the context of the present situation, then we answer, the state and this nation will survive to cross the gulf crisis if keep alive the awareness of urgency within each of us while away from the attitude of selfishness.