Sukarno

Sukarno (June 6, 1901 – June 21, 1970) was the first President of Indonesia. He helped the country win its independence from the Netherlands and was President from 1945 to 1967, presiding over mixed success in the country's turbulent transition to independence. Sukarno was forced from power by one of his generals, Suharto, who formally became President in March 1967.

Early independence

Following the Japanese surrender, Sukarno, Mohammad Hatta, and Radjiman Wediodiningrat were summoned by Marshal Terauchi, Commander-in-Chief of Japan's Southern Expeditionary Forces in Saigon. Sukarno initially hesitated in declaring Indonesia's independence. He and Mohammad Hatta were kidnapped by Indonesian youth groups to Rengasdengklok, west of Jakarta.

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Finally Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta declared the Republic of Indonesia in August 17, 1945.

Related Topics:
Mohammad Hatta - August 17 - 1945

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Sukarno's vision for the 1945 Indonesian constitution comprised the Panca Sila. (Sanskrit - five pillars). Sukarno's political philosophy was guided by (in no particular order) elements of Marxism, nationalism and Islam. This is reflected in the Panca Sila, in the order in which he originally espoused them in a speech on June 1, 19451:

Related Topics:
Panca Sila - Sanskrit - Marxism - Nationalism - Islam - June 1

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• Nationalism (as in national unity)
• Internationalism (one nation sovereign amongst equals)
• Representative Democracy (all significant groups represented)
• Social Justice (Marxist influenced)
• Belief in God (with a secular)

The Indonesian parliament, founded on the basis of this original (and subsequent revised) constitutions, proved all but ungovernable. This was due to irreconcilable differences between various social, political, religious and ethnic factions2.

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Sukarno's government initially refused to form a national army, for fear of antagonizing the Allied forces and their doubt in whether they will be able to form an adequate military apparatus. The various militia groups at that time were encouraged to join the BKR -- Badan Keamanan Rakyat (The People's Security Organization) -- itself a subordinate of the "War Victims Assistance Organization". It was only in October 1945 that the BKR was reformed into the TKR -- Tentara Keamanan Rakyat (The People's Security Army) in response to increasing Dutch presence in Indonesia. In the ensuing chaos between various factions and Dutch attempts to re-establish colonial control, Dutch troops captured Sukarno in December 1948, but were forced to release him after the ceasefire. He returned to Jakarta in December 28 1949.

Related Topics:
Ceasefire - Jakarta - December 28 - 1949

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Sukarno's government was not universally accepted in Indonesia. Indeed, many factions and regions attempted to separate themselves from his government, and there were several internal conflicts even during the period of armed insurgency against the Dutch. One such example is the Leftist-backed seccessionist attempt by elements of the military in Madiun, East Java in 1948, in which many accused supporters of the separatists were allegedly executed.

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There were further attempts of military coups against Sukarno in 1956, including the well-publicized separatist movement in Sulawesi supported by the CIA, during which conflict an American aviator operating in support of the separatists was shot down and captured.

Related Topics:
Military coup - Sulawesi - CIA

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In an effort to restore order, Sukarno established what he called guided democracy, in which he wielded progressively more executive powers, whilst maintaining a multiparty parliament.

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