Gedung Merdeka: From cafe to convention center<\/p>\n
By Petty Prihartini<\/p>\n
Forty years ago, Bandung, the capital of West Java, hosted the
\nAsia-Africa Conference. It led to the birth of the Non-Aligned
\nMovement (NAM) which is now known as the Child of Bandung. To
\nmark the event, United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros-
\nGhali will attend a commemoration of the meeting at Gedung
\nMerdeka (Freedom Building) on April 24. A day later, a three-day
\nNAM ministerial conference will commence in the same building.
\nThe Jakarta Post presents the following two articles on the
\nhistory of Gedung Merdeka and the burning of Bandung by freedom
\nfighters during the struggle for independence.<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): When Bandung was nominated to host the
\nAfro-Asian Conference in 1955, India, one of the organizers,
\nsuggested that the conference be held in tents. They were
\nconcerned that there wasn't a big enough building in Bandung to
\naccommodate an international conference.<\/p>\n
Actually, the city had inherited a grand, art deco building
\nfrom the Dutch. The 7,500-square-meter building, located to the
\neast of the town square, was called the Societeit Concordia, but
\nis now known as Gedung Merdeka.<\/p>\n
The Societeit Concordia was built exactly one hundred years
\nago. It didn't have a name then. It was a very modest building,
\nmade from wooden planks with no hard floor. It was a very
\ndifferent building from what it is now.<\/p>\n
The building, owned by the Chinese, served as a cafe and hang
\nout spot. The Dutch went there to relax, meet people, chat and
\nwatch the popular tonil (theater). The cafe was the place to see
\nand be seen for a Dutch newcomer in Bandung. The population of
\nBandung was only 30,000, and 1,250 of them were Europeans.<\/p>\n
In 1920, a meeting hall was built on the site of the cafe.
\nTwo architects, Van Gallen Last and CP Wolff Schomaker designed
\nthe new building. Both were famous Dutch architects and
\nprofessors at the Technisse Hoogeschool Bandung, now known as the
\nBandung Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n
The two architects successfully turned a very modest cafe into
\nthe most luxurious building in Bandung. The floor was constructed
\nfrom imported Italian marble, the walls concrete and the doors
\nfrom quality clove wood. There were crystal chandeliers in each
\ncorner. No wonder the Dutch dignitaries enjoyed spending their
\ntime in the Societeit Concordia. The building became the most
\nbeautiful and most prestigious meeting place for Europeans living
\nin Java.<\/p>\n
The membership of the Societeit Concordia was very restricted.
\nLow ranking Dutch officers were not allowed to set foot in the
\nbuilding, let alone the natives. Only high ranking officials,
\nrich businessmen and plantation managers were allowed admittance
\nto the building. Only two natives were allowed inside, the regent
\nand his wife.<\/p>\n
The laughter of high ranking Dutch officials and Dutch girls
\ncould be heard coming from the building in the evening,
\nespecially on holidays and weekends. They watched the theater,
\ndrank, dined and enjoyed the entertainment. Bandung, which was
\nthen known as Parijs van Java, never slept.<\/p>\n
In 1940 the building was extended and renovated. A new
\nbuilding, in the art deco style popular at the time, was added in
\nthe east wing. The addition, located on the corner of Jl. Asia
\nAfrika, was designed by architects A.F. Albers and R.A. de Waal.<\/p>\n
During the Japanese occupation of 1942, the Concordia, like
\nother important buildings, was taken over by the Japanese. The
\nJapanese once again changed its name and called it Dai Toa Kaikan
\nand used it as a cultural center. During this time, the eastern
\nwing, which had been extended and renovated two years earlier,
\nwas destroyed by fire.<\/p>\n
Indonesia took over the building after declaring independence
\nin 1945 and made it the headquarters of the youths fighting the
\nJapanese. Towards the end of 1945, the building became the main
\nadministration office.<\/p>\n
Between 1946 and 1950, the Concordia became a public meeting
\nplace and once again was used for art performances, festivals,
\ndining, public meetings and conventions.<\/p>\n
In 1954, five years after Indonesian independence gained
\ninternational acknowledgment, President Sukarno decided that
\nBandung would host the Afro-Asian conference in 1955.<\/p>\n
Why Bandung?<\/p>\n
\"Because it was from Bandung that the fight to eliminate
\ncolonialism and imperialism from Indonesia started,\" the former
\npresident was quoted as saying in the History of Gedung Merdeka.<\/p>\n
The Concordia was chosen for the simple reason that it was
\nthen the biggest building and the only one with adequate meeting
\nfacilities. Besides its size and facilities, the building was
\nalso considered strategic. It was located in the city center and
\nwas close to the two best hotels in Bandung, the Savoy Homann and
\nthe Preanger hotels.<\/p>\n
In 1955, as the Afro-Asian Conference approached, the
\nConcordia was renovated. The building was extended and the
\nfacilities were improved. It took four months for architect
\nA.F. Silaban to complete the renovation. Silaban received a lot
\nof suggestions from President Sukarno, who was an engineer. The
\ndome roof was a suggestion by Sukarno.<\/p>\n
Another big building, the Dana Pensiun, was also spruced-up
\nfor committee meetings three kilometers away from the Concordia.<\/p>\n
Before the Afro-Asian Conference took place, President
\nSukarno gave new names to these two buildings. The Concordia
\nbecame the Merdeka and the Dana Pensiun became the Dwiwarna.
\nGroote Postweg street, on which the Merdeka is located, became
\nJl. Asia Afrika.<\/p>\n
During the Afro-Asian Conference, the Merdeka was only used
\nfor the opening ceremony, plenary sessions and the closing
\nceremony. Committee meetings, like those by the political,
\neconomic and cultural committees, were conducted at the Dwiwarna
\nbuilding.<\/p>\n
Many of the delegates were surprised and impressed by the
\ntwo buildings. They didn't think that Indonesia had buildings
\nsuitable for international conferences. Most of the delegates,
\nnever having visited Indonesia, had not known what to expect.<\/p>\n
In the Merdeka, on April 24, 1955 at exactly 7 p.m., two hours
\nlate, \"the Ten Bandung Principles\" were produced. The principles
\ntriggered a spirit of peace and freedom in the Afro-Asian region.<\/p>\n
After the Afro-Asian conference ended, the Merdeka remained in
\nconstant use. After the 1955 general elections, it became the
\nKonstituante building. However, since the Konstituante was
\nconsidered unsuccessful in carrying out its task of establishing
\nthe state principles and the 1945 constitution, it was dissolved
\nby the President Decree of July 5, 1959. Later on, the National
\nPlanning Agency occupied the building. When the interim
\nparliament (MPRS) was formed in 1960, the Merdeka became the MPRS
\nbuilding until 1970 when all the interim parliament's activities
\nwere relocated to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
After changing its functions several times, the Merdeka
\nfinally received serious attention from the West Java provincial
\nadministration in September 1968. The West Java administration
\noffice then appointed a manager and a number of personnel to
\nmaintain the building.<\/p>\n
The maintenance fund was derived from renting the building for
\ncultural activities. In 1970 the Merdeka regained its function as
\na convention center.<\/p>\n
Serious attention wasn't paid to the Merdeka until 1980, the
\n25th anniversary of the Afro-Asia Conference held on April 24.
\nPresident Soeharto then declared the building to be the Afro-
\nAsian Conference Museum and put it under the supervision of the
\nMinistry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n
The museum houses the equipment used during the
\nAfro-Asian Conference. The type writers, cameras, telegraphic
\nequipment and the rattan furniture can all be seen. Even the peci
\n(a type of hat) worn by Prime Minister Ali Sastroamidjojo is
\ncarefully kept in this museum. Included in the collection are 275
\nphotos and clippings from newspapers covering the Afro-Asian
\nConference.<\/p>\n
In 1992, to welcome delegates of the 10th Summit Conference of
\nthe Non Aligned Movement, seven statues were added to the
\nmuseum's collection. The statues represent prominent figures from
\nthe original Afro-Asian Conference, five of which were its
\ninitiators, Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru (India), Sir John Kotelawala
\n(Srilanka), U Nu (Burma), Moh. Ali Jinah (Pakistan) and Ali
\nSastroamidjojo (Indonesia). Statues of former president Sukarno
\nand vice president Moh. Hatta stand beside them.<\/p>\n
Today, the building is a museum and a center for the study of
\nAfro-Asian and developing countries. A library has been
\nestablished. The Merdeka has not only become a grand and
\nbeautiful historical monument, but also a center of study to
\npromote development and peace.<\/p>",
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