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.

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