New book highlights the role of provisional government

New book highlights the role of provisional government

JAKARTA (JP): The 1948 emergency government played a more
important role in the birth of the Indonesian republic than it
generally gets credit for, according to a new book launched
yesterday.

Terobosan PDRI dan Peranan TNI (The PDRI breakthrough and the
role of TNI) was written by Islam Salim, a retired military
officer who observed the Pemerintah Darurat Republik Indonesia
(PDRI), or the Provisional Government of Republic of Indonesia,
which lasted from December 1948 and July 1949.

Pustaka Sinar Harapan, which published the book, held a
discussion yesterday to review that critical period of time when
the country was besieged by the Dutch, who were trying to
reimpose colonial rule in Indonesia.

Former environment minister Emil Salim, a cousin of the
author, said the book reveals an important aspect of Indonesia's
modern history which the nation has almost forgotten.

"The book has shown us the important roles and proper actions
of some of the country's brave leaders," Emil said. "These
leaders informed the world that Indonesia still existed and that
a government was actually still in place."

The PDRI was established in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, on Dec.
22, 1948, after Yogyakarta, then the capital of the young
republic, fell to the Dutch military and president Sukarno and
most cabinet ministers were arrested.

Economics minister of the time, Sjafroeddin Prawiranegara, set
up the PDRI on the basis of a letter of authorization from
Sukarno. The body immediately won international recognition as
the legitimate government of Indonesia, denying the Dutch forces
a diplomatic victory.

"Without the provisional government, Indonesia could have lost
its independence," Emil said, noting that the United Nations only
recognizes countries which have a government.

Emil said the book also reveals that certain military officers
played a major role in establishing the provisional government,
something that previously was not known.

"This shows that Indonesia's independence was not obtained in
an easy way. It had to be taken from the colonial rulers by our
predecessors with blood and sweat," he said.

The PDRI has been eclipsed by the role played by the
republica's national army which went underground and continued
the fight after Dutch forces took over Yogyakarta. A young man by
the name of Soeharto, now the President, was one of the Army
leaders that launched an attack on the Dutch in Yogyakarta.

Historians are divided over which of two events was more
important: the army's going underground or Syaffroedin's setting
up of the PDRI. Most history books emphasize the army's role,
leaving the PDRI as mere footnote to history.

Sjafroeddin was discredited because of his association with an
armed rebellion against Jakarta in the late 1950s.

The PDRI was dissolved on July 13, 1949, after the republican
leaders were released and they withdrew the mandate that they had
given to Sjafroeddin.

Minister of Security and Defense Edi Sudradjat was present at
the discussion yesterday, although his comments were limited to
general observations about Indonesia needing more people to write
up about some aspects of the nation's history that have remained
generally unknown.

Islam Salim is the son of Agus Salim, one of the early
republican leaders who went on to serve as foreign minister. Born
in Jakarta on July 14, 1923, Islam did not undergo formal
schooling. He was taught by his father, who was an autodidact.

Islam spent his early life in the military, first as a member
of the PETA, a militia set up during the Japanese occupation, and
then as the founder of the Badan Keamanan Rakyat (People's
Defense Agency), the forerunner of the Indonesian Armed Forces.

He served as Indonesia's military attache to China between
1952 and 1956, and spent seven further years in the government
after his return. In 1967, he retired from public office and
started his own business.

Among those attending the discussion yesterday were former
police chief Gen. (ret.) Awaluddin Djamin, book publisher
Aristides Katoppo and Lt. Gen. (ret.) Rais Abin. (imn)