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The Republic of Indonesia
Introduction
Pancasila, The State Philosophy
The 1945 Constitution (UUD 45 English ) (Indonesian)
The National Flag
The Coat of Arms
The National Anthem
Introduction
When World War II broke out in Europe and spread to the Pacific, the Japanese occupied the Dutch East Indies as
of March 1942, after the surrender of the Dutch colonial army following the fall of Hong Kong, Manila and Singapore.
On April 1, 1945, American troops landed in Okinawa. Soon after, on August 6 and 9, the United States dropped Atom
bombs on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A few days later, on August 14, 1945, the Japanese surrendered
to the Allied Forces.
That occasion opened the opportunity for the Indonesian people to proclaim their independence. Three days after
the unconditional Japanese surrender, on August 17, 1945, the Indonesian national leaders Ir. Soekarno and Drs.
Mohammad Hatta proclaimed lndonesia's independence on behalf of the people.
The proclamation was brief, concise and reads as follows:
PROCLAMATION
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM
THE INDEPENDENCE OF INDONESIA
ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE TRANSFER OF POWER, ETC.,
WILL BE CARRIED OUT EXPEDIENTLY AND
IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME.
JAKARTA, AUGUST 17, 1945
ON BEHALF OF THE INDONESIAN PEOPLE
sgd.
SOEKARNO - HATTA
The proclamation, which took place at 58, Jalan Pegangsaan Timur, Jakarta, was heard by thousands of Indonesians
throughout the country because the text was secretly broadcast by Indonesian radio personnel using the transmitters
of the Japanese-controlled radio station, JAKARTA Hoso Kyoku. An English translation of the proclamation was broadcast
overseas.
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PANCASILA
THE STATE PHILOSOPHY
Pancasila, pronounced Panchaseela, is the philosophical basis of the Indonesian state. Pancasila consists of two
Sanskrit words, "panca" meaning five, and "sila" meaning principle.
It comprises five inseparable and interrelated principles. They are:
BELIEF IN GOD
HUMANITY
NATIONAL UNITY
SOVEREIGNITY OF THE PEOPLE
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. Belief in God
This principle of Pancasila reaffirms the belief that God does exist. It also implies that the Indonesian people
believe in life after death. It emphasizes that the pursuit of sacred values will lead to a better life in the
hereafter.
The principle is embodied in article 29, Section 1 of the 1945 Constitution and reads: "The state shall be
based on belief in the One and Only God".
2. Humanity
Acknowledges the right to human dignity and rejects both physical and spiritual oppression .
3. National Unity.
This principle embodies the concept of nationalism and envisages the need for national unity and integrity. It
rejects discrimination based on ethnicity, ancestry and color of the skin. In 1928, Indonesian youth pledged to
have one country, one nation and one language, while the Indonesian coat of arms enshrines the symbol of "Bhinneka
Tunggal Ika" which means "unity in diversity".
4. Sovereignty of the People.
Pancasila democracy emphasizes decision-making through deliberations, or musyawarah, to reach a consensus, or mufakat.
5. Social Justice.
This principle calls for the equitable spread of welfare to the entire population, in a dynamic and progressive
way. The country's natural resources and the national potentials should be utilized to improve the people's quality
of life.
Social justice implies protection of the weak, prevention of willful treatment by those in authority , ensuring
the rule of justice for all.
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THE 1945 CONSTITUTION
The Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia is usually referred to as the 1945 Constitution. This is partly because
the constitution was drafted and adopted in 1945 when the Republic was established, and partly to distinguish it
from two other constitutions which were introduced in free Indonesia. Furthermore, the articles of the 1945 Constitution
spell out the ideals and the goals for which independence was proclaimed on August 17, 1945, and defended thereafter.
It reflects the spirit, and vigor of the time when the constitution was shaped. It was inspired by the urge for
unity and for the common goals and democracy built upon the age-old Indonesian concepts of gotong royong (mutual
assistance), deliberations of representatives (musyawarah) and consensus (mufakat).
Preceded by a preamble, the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia consists of 37 articles, four transitional
clauses and two additional provisions.
The preamble is composed of four paragraphs and includes a condemnation of any form of colonialism in the world,
a reference to lndonesia's struggle for independence, a declaration of independence and a statement of fundamental
goals and principles. It further states, inter alia, that Indonesia's national independence shall be established
in the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia with sovereignty vested in the people. The State shall be based
upon the following philosophical principles: Belief in the One and Only God, just and civilized humanity, the unity
of Indonesia, democracy guided by the inner wisdom of deliberations of representatives, and social justice for
all the Indonesian people.
Guided by these fundamental principles, the basic aims of the state are to establish an Indonesian Government which
shall protect all the Indonesian people and their entire motherland, advance the public welfare, develop the intellectual
life of the nation, and contribute towards the establishment of a world order based on freedom, peace and social
justice.
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THE NATIONAL FLAG
The Indonesian national flag is called "Sang Saka Merah Putih." As provided for in Article 35 of the
1945 Constitution, the flag is made up of two colors, red on top of white. Its width is two-thirds of its length,
or two meters by three meters. It is hoisted in front of the presidential palace, of government buildings and Indonesian
missions abroad. The first flag was courageously flown amidst Japanese occupation forces on the day Indonesia's
independence was proclaimed. Since then it has been hoisted at independence day commemorations in front of the
presidential palace in the capital city of Jakarta. This historical flag, or "bendera pusaka," was flown
for the last time on August 17, 1968. Since then it has been preserved and replaced by a replica woven of pure
Indonesian silk.
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THE COAT OF ARMS
The Indonesian coat of arms consists of a golden eagle, called "GARUDA," that is a figure from ancient
Indonesian epics. It is also pictured on many temples from the 6th Century.
The eagle is a symbol of creative energy. Its principal color, gold, suggests the greatness of the nation. The
black color represents nature. There are 17 feathers on each wing, 8 on the tail and 45 on the neck. These figures
stand for the date of lndonesia's independence proclamation: 17 August, 1945.
The motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal lka" (Unity in Diversity), is enshrined on a banner held in the eagle's
talons. This old Javanese motto was introduced by Empu Tantular, a saint of the Majapahit Kingdom, in the 15th
Century. It signifies the unity of the Indonesian people despite their diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
The shield symbolizes self-defense in struggle or and protection of oneself. The red and white colors on the shield's
background denote the colors of the Indonesian national flag. The five symbols on the shield represent the state
philosophy of Pancasila, the foundation of the Indonesian state.
The bar across the center indicates the equator which passes through the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi
and Halmahera. This is a reminder of the fact that the Republic of Indonesia is the only tropical country in which
the people have built a free and sovereign state by their own hands.
The golden star on the black background in the center of the shield represents the first principle of Pancasila,
belief in the One and Only God. The chain symbolizes successive human generations. The round links represent women
and the square ones men. It is the symbol of the second principle, just and civilized humanity. The "beringin,"
or banyan tree, symbolizes the third principal, the unity on Indonesia. The head of the "banteng," or
wild bull (bos javanicus), which is black on a red background, represents the fourth principle, democracy guided
by the inner wisdom of deliberations of representatives. The fifth principle, social justice for all Indonesian
people, is symbolized by the gold and white paddy and cotton ears.
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THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
The national anthem is "Indonesia Raya," which means Great Indonesia. The song was composed in 1928.
The colonial policy of the day was "divide and rule." It was a policy that deliberately aggravated language,
ethnic, cultural and religious differences amongst the people.
The birth of Indonesia Raya marked the beginning of Indonesian nationalist movements. The song was first introduced
by its composer, Wage Rudolf Supratman, at the second All Indonesian Youth Congress on October 28, 1928 in Batavia,
now Jakarta. It was the moment when Indonesian youth of different ethnic, language, religious and cultural backgrounds
resolutely pledged allegiance to:
One native land, Indonesia;
One nation, the Indonesian nation;
One unifying language, the Indonesian language.
National Anthem : Indonesia Raya.
Source : "INDONESIA 1996 : AN
OFFICIAL HANDBOOK", Department of Information, Directorate of Foreign Information Services, Perum Percetakan
Negara RI, 1995/1996
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