Blood is shed in Indonesia
Blood is shed in Indonesia
From Republika
The famous and historic youth pledge was originally made in the Second Youth Congress held in Jakarta on Oct. 28, 1928 by representatives of youth organizations in Indonesia. They were Pemoeda Indonesia (Indonesian Youth), Jong Java" (the Javanese Youth), Jong Batak (the Batak Youth), Jong Sumatera (the Sumatran Youth), Sekar Roekoen (the Harmonious Flowers), Jong Islam Bond (the Islamic Youth), Jong Celebes (the Sulawesi Youth), Pemoeda Kaoem Betawi (the Youth of Betawi Community), and others. Three meetings were held during the Second Youth Congress:
The first meeting was held at the Youth Building called Jongelingen Building, now a Catholic school behind the Cathedral of Jakarta, the second meeting was held at the Oost Java Bioskop (now the State Palace sentry box), and the third meeting was held at the building called Indonesisch Clubhuis (Indonesian Club House) at 106 Jl. Kramat (now the Youth Pledge Museum) on Oct. 28, 1928, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The famous Youth Pledge made during the third and last meeting basically says that the Indonesian youth admit to having a common fatherland named Indonesia, a common nation, and a common national language called Bahasa Indonesia.
I am particularly interested in commenting on the second point of the pledge saying "we the youth of Indonesia do hereby admit to having a common tumpah darah" (literally "blood shed", figuratively "fatherland") called Tanah Indonesia (the land of Indonesia). Surprisingly, and thanks God, this particular part of the pledge tells us that God has granted us a common land where blood has been shed nearly across its entirety, an undeniable fact. Yes, the tanah tumpah darah yang satu, Tanah Indonesia (the Land of Indonesia where blood is shed) has come true.
Look at our national anthem Indonesia Raya (the Great Indonesia), composed by noted Wage Rudolf Supratman. The second line reads tanah tumpah darahku and in the poem of part two and three of the anthem are written tanah tumpah darahku (the land where my blood is shed).
Accordingly, allow me to ask this question of all who call themselves leaders of this nation as well the people: "Are you /we aware that part of the Youth Pledge and the National Anthem have now come true, meaning that blood has been shed across the country?"
Another question is "Are we going to revise the youth pledge so it reads satu tanah air yang mulia, Indonesia meaning a common glorious fatherland of Indonesia thus omitting the words tumpah darah (blood shed)?
It all depends on President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice President Megawati, Speaker of People's Consultative Assembly Amien Rais and House Speaker Akbar Tanjung and the whole people of Indonesia to answer!
KIVIAN ZEIN
Jakarta