National Archives keeps history alive<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The paper looked no different than any common receipt, except
\nthat the yellowed slip has \"Government of Australia\" as the
\nsender printed on it and the message is a diplomatic matter
\nsupporting the independence of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Few realize that 60 years ago, diplomatic messages were sent
\nby the simple communication means of the telegraph.<\/p>\n
Wired support from many countries, along with hundreds of
\nother documents, are on display at the National Archives building
\nin Central Jakarta to mark Independence Day.<\/p>\n
\"It is extremely difficult to familiarize people with the
\narchives,\" said the head of the conventional archive reproduction
\ndivision, Umar M. Jacub. \"This exhibition aims to at least let
\npeople know that these papers exist.\"<\/p>\n
Every day from 9 p.m. to 2 p.m. until Aug. 18, the lobby of
\nthe National Archives will be exhibiting materials ranging from
\nthe unedited version of the Independence Proclamation to the
\nresignation of former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"Our last exhibition in Jakarta was probably 10 years ago,\"
\nUmar said, adding that his office had seen very little public
\nenthusiasm over the years.<\/p>\n
Although official papers and photographs may be too boring for
\nsome, they could actually make a history lesson more interesting.<\/p>\n
Some 250 reproduced state documents, photographs and posters
\nat least give visitors a glimpse of the country's history and
\ndevelopment. Although -- due to limited space -- many important
\nevents like the foiled coup attempt in 1965 and the 1998 riot are
\nnot documented here.<\/p>\n
Visitors can take a guided tour or simply follow the arrows on
\nthe floor leading from one display to another that takes people
\nthrough the decades.<\/p>\n
On the same board with the Independence Proclamation is the
\noriginal text of the national anthem, Indonesia Raya, in its full
\nthree-passage version. Several interesting papers, like part of
\nthe transcript of the Round Table Meeting and founding president
\nSukarno's speech in front of the United Nations assembly, are
\nalso worth viewing.<\/p>\n
Those who are more into visuals might be more interested in
\nchecking out photographs or posters.<\/p>\n
They portray an array of events ranging from the birthday
\nparties of president Sukarno's and vice president Mohammad
\nHatta's daughters -- now former president Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nand incumbent State Minister for Women's Empowerment Meutia Hatta
\nrespectively -- to a dramatic photo of Sukarno hugging Gen.
\nSoedirman when the latter returned from battle.<\/p>\n
The development of technology is also illustrated, by the
\ndifference between the wired diplomatic messages and a display of
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's antidrug text message that
\nwas recently sent to selected cellular phone owners. (003)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/national-archives-keeps-history-alive-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}