The Indonesian National Revolution, or Indonesian War of Independence, was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Netherlands, then the occupying colonial power. It took place between the time of Indonesia's declaration of independence in 1945 and the Netherlands' recognition of Indonesia's independence in 1949. This gave birth to the largest Muslim country in the world (Indonesia has the world's fourth largest population). The struggle for freedom lasted for over four years and involved sporadic but bloody armed conflict, internal Indonesian political and communal upheavals, and two major international diplomatic interventions. Dutch forces were too weak to prevail over the inexperienced but determined Indonesians, but strong enough to resist being expelled.
The Republic of Indonesia ultimately prevailed, as much through international diplomacy as it did through success in the armed conflicts on Java and other islands. The Revolution destroyed a colonial administration ruled from the other side of the world. It also significantly reduced the power of many of the local rulers (rajas). It did not markedly improve the economic or political fortune of the majority of the population, though a few Indonesians were able to gain a larger role in commerce. Some point out that the aspirations of the people of Indonesia for freedom were soon dashed as the post-colonial government became dictatorial under Suharto's military rule from 1967 to 1998, when democratic governance was restored. On the other hand, the Dutch had done little, if anything, to prepare and train an indigenous leadership for participation in democratic self-governance, and as elsewhere in the post-colonial space, it was too easy for the new leaders to imitate their imperial predecessors, who had ruled out of self-interest and in the main as an absolute, totalitarian, undemocratic power.
Background
Indonesian nationalism and movements supporting independence from Dutch colonialism, such as Budi Utomo, the Indonesian National Party (PNI), Sarekat Islam, and the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), grew rapidly in the first half of the twentieth century. Budi Utomo, Sarekat Islam, and others, pursued strategies of cooperation by joining the Dutch initiated Volksraad ("People's Council") in the hope that Indonesia would be granted self-rule. Others chose a non-cooperative strategy, demanding the freedom of self-government from the Dutch rule. The most notable of these leaders were Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, two students and nationalist leaders who had benefited from the educational reforms of the Dutch Ethical Policy.
Japan's three and a half year World War II occupation of Indonesia was to be a crucial factor in the coming Revolution. Under German occupation itself, the Netherlands had little ability to defend its colony against the Japanese army, and within only two months, the Japanese had occupied the Dutch East Indies. In Java, and to a lesser extent in Sumatra (Indonesia's two dominant islands), the Japanese spread and encouraged nationalist sentiment. Albeit for Japanese political advantage rather than altruistic support of Indonesian independence, they created new Indonesian institutions, including local neighborhood organizations, and elevated political leaders like Sukarno. Just as significantly for the coming Revolution, the Japanese destroyed and replaced much of what the Dutch had built economically, administratively, and politically.
With the Japanese on the brink of losing the war, the Dutch sought to reestablish their authority in Indonesia, and requested the Japanese army "preserve law and order" in Indonesia. The Japanese, however, were in favor of helping Indonesian nationalists prepare for self-government. On September 7, 1944, with the war going badly for the Japanese, Prime Minister Koiso promised independence for Indonesia, although no date was set. This announcement was seen as vindication for Sukarno's apparent collaboration with the Japanese.
Declaration of Independence
Under pressure from radical and politicized pemuda ("youth") groups, Sukarno and Hatta proclaimed Indonesian independence, on August 17, 1945, two days after the Japanese Emperor’s surrender in the Pacific. The following day, the Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP) declared Sukarno President, and Hatta Vice President.
***
