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The famous and historic youth pledge was originally made in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