June 1, the birth of Pancasila?

June 1, the birth of Pancasila?

From Media Indonesia

Almost erased from memory for three decades, the first introduction of the state's five-point principle, Pancasila, on June 1, 1945, was commemorated again early this month. Historically speaking, however, there are some confusing facts about the first introduction of Pancasila as follows: 1. The first session of the board of inquiry into preparatory efforts for Indonesia's Independence (BPUPKI) dealt with the state's foundation. On May 29, 1945, Mr. Muhammad Yamin expounded his ideas on this subject, followed by Prof. Dr. Soepomo and Ir. Soekarno on May 31 and June 1, 1945 respectively. They all proposed five items to be incorporated into the state's foundation of an independent Indonesia. Of the three, only Ir. Soekarno proposed that this state's foundation should not be called Pancadharma but Pancasila. 2. On June 1, 1945, not a single person suggested that it was the day on which Pancasila was first introduced. What happened was that the label Pancasila was suggested for the name of the five- point principle. Ir. Soekarno said he had gotten this name from a friend of his, a linguist, whose name he did not mention. 3. From June 1, 1945 until the early days of Indonesia's independence, the label Pancasila was not mentioned again. That is why it is not mentioned in the entire 1945 Constitution. 4. The label Pancasila did not resurface until September 1947, when first president Soekarno issued a booklet containing the speech he had made on June 1, 1945 under the title of The Birth of Pancasila. Afterwards, then president Soekarno popularized the name Pancasila to the community in accordance with his own formulation, especially during the period close to the Round Table Conference (KMB). 5. In 1959 Ki Hadjar Dewantara published a booklet called Pancasila, in which it was stated that Bung (brother) Karno was the person creating the name Pancasila. Then on Sept. 19, 1951, when Gadjah Mada state University conferred an honorary doctor's degree to Ir. Soekarno, the promoter said in his address that it was Soekarno that had created the name Pancasila. The promotion certificate, likewise, also mentioned the same thing.

In his acceptance address, however, Soekarno denied that it was he who created Pancasila. He said he was only putting together in a succinct formulation the sentiments long nurtured by Indonesian citizens. He said he was simply the spokesman for Indonesians, making their century-old aspirations known to the outside world. "I am not the person creating Pancasila. The people of Indonesia have created it. I have only dug Pancasila out of the people's earth. Pancasila has been kept in their earth for 350 years."

It may be concluded, therefore, that Bung Karno was not the only person digging out Pancasila. There were some other people who had dug out Pancasila and they include Mr. Muh. Yamin and Prof. Soepomo. 6. Although the so-called anniversary of Pancasila's birth was commemorated until 1969, as far as I know, unlike the commemoration of National Educational Day on May 2 and National Reawakening Day on May 20, there was no legal basis for this commemoration of Pancasila's anniversary. National Educational Day and National Reawakening Day are commemorated on the basis of Presidential Decree No. 316 dated Dec. 16, 1959. 7. June 1, 1945 was not the day on which Pancasila was first introduced as it was the day on which the term Pancasila was first used. (Prof. AG. Pringgodigdo, SH).

Hopefully, the present government, particularly President Abdurrahman Wahid, will take all referred to above into consideration.

SARNATA

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