Indonesian Independence Day

In the Javanese language, there is such expression that says ‘Dewa cara kutha mawa tata’ which translates approximately to ‘life in a village uses tradition, while that of the city uses rules’. However, in practice, the expression confirms that every village, city or country, in broader terms, has its own way or style of taking action and solving problems.

The Americans loves their independence, and so do the French, Japanese, Koreans, and Taiwanese. However, they express their feelings towards and appreciation to their independence is different from one another. Therefore, for example, we should talk about the ‘love of independence’ ala the Americans, the Dutch, or the Indonesians. A nation’s attitude toward independence will depend very much on the historical background and the culture. Both of these things provide a model of understanding attitudes towards independence, as well as their philosophy of life.
The historical background of Indonesian existence is rather dark due to the country having been occupied for more than 300 years. Occupation causes feelings of humiliation and resentment towards the colonial rulers. These two feelings mixed in the soul of Indonesians and results in positive and negative attitudes. One of the prominent positive attitudes is the high value given to independence from the political point of view rather than a spiritual one. Consequently, when outsiders say something concerning Indonesian political affairs, Indonesians are very offended and there is a strong reaction within the country. On the other hand, the freedom and personal rights of the community are not big issues in the country and often disregarded. This is what has happened in Indonesia for the last fifty years.
In the preamble of UUD 1945 (the 1945 Indonesian Constitution), independence sites on special place. Indonesians also admit that independence is the right of all countries all over the world. Everybody knows that Indonesia’s independence was not a gift, but it was the result of a persistent struggle both diplomatically and militarily. Millions of Indonesians suffered, and lost their wealth and their lives to gain independence. Thus, they celebrated as Heroes of Independence who brought Indonesia to entrance the independence. From this point of view, Indonesians are able to understand that Indonesia is a nation that appreciates and respects independence both for a country and for its citizens.
Thus, history has given rise to several terms such as independence heroes, veterans, revolutionary heroes, etc, which are now in common use. The people and government of Indonesia respect the country’s heroes and reward them both formally and financially. The Indonesian New Order Government put them in an elite political group who managed to touch every single aspect of the country’s and the community’s life. The status of independence fighters that appreciated made them very influential in the community and even in the administration. An independence hero would be accepted and considered as an important figure in a political organization. Some managed to form an elite political group called Angkatan 45. At one stage, only members of this group were entitled be appointed as president. These people remembered through two special holidays in Indonesia, namely Independence Day and Veterans Day.
Many other things need to explore and determine accurately of how the country appreciates the concept of independence. The meaning of the word ‘appreciation’ here, in broader terms, covers what happens in daily life. To appreciate and respect independence means that we do not only expect other people to respect and appreciate our independence, but also we appreciate and respect others’ independence. These respectful attitudes should then produce democratic attitudes that later would produce democratic systems.
Ironic if we consider ourselves a country that pays respect towards independence, yet we do not develop democratic systems. It is certainly a mistake in applying values of respect towards independence. Alternatively, more worryingly, if we do not have the attitude, mentality and morals that promote freedom, there is a danger that we may destroy the meaning of independence itself.
In other words, our appreciation towards independence is neither yet intact nor crystallized in our belief system, but is just an echo of a sound, which we once heard from the West. A similar quandary existed with the Dutch, who occupied Indonesian for hundreds of years, when they in turn were occupied by Nazi Germany. These colonialists of Indonesia also wanted the independence. This issue was discussed in a book by Ki Suwardi Suryaningrat (famed as Ki Hadjar Dewantoro) entitled Als ik en Hollander was, which was published when the Dutch celebrated their own Independence Day from the German occupation. If I were Dutch, the book asked, what would I do towards a country that I was occupying?
Independence or the love of independence is real when the values of it have crystallized in the people’s hearts and minds. The love of independence - politically, historically, and ideologically - is a seed that can grow, or conversely die. Independence can vanish due to another country’s actions or the actions of the people within the country. Moreover, tragically, when a country’s independence is disregarded by its own people, the consequences can be more wicked and savage compared to when outsiders are involved. Events in Indonesian history in 1965 proved this to be true.

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