THE PEOPLE’S COMMAND FOR THE LIBERATION OF WEST IRIAN

Given by the President/Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia. Commander-in-Chief of the Supreme Command for the Liberation of West Irian

at a mass meeting in Jogjakarta, on 19th December 1961.

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

SPECIAL ISSUE, No.82

THE PEOPLE’S COMMAND,

GIVEN BY THE PRESIDENT/SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA,

COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE SUPREME COMMAND FOR THE LIBERATION OF WEST IRIAN

AT A MASS MEETING IN JOGJAKARTA, ON 19th DECEMBER 1961.

Friends

As was said by the Sultan just now, today, it is exactly 15 years since the day on which the city of Jogjakarta – or to be more exact, the Republic of Indonesia was attacked by the Dutch. Thirteen years ago there began what we call the second military action taken by the Dutch against the Republic of Indonesia.

As all of you know, the military action which was begun here 13 years ago was the second, which means that we also underwent a first military action. And that first military action started on 21st July, 1947. But if it is viewed as a whole, seen as one historical event, then in fact we did not suffer, merely two military actions from the Dutch, the first on 21st July 1947, the second on 19th December 1948, No. In reality the Dutch, Dutch imperialism, on hundreds of occasions has taken military action against the Indonesian People.

You know that the Dutch began to come here to Indonesia in 1596, when Admiral Cornelis De Houtman dropped anchor in Banten Bay. Since that time, Friends, Dutch efforts to occupy the whole of Indonesia were always accompanied by force of arms. That is why I say that in fact the Dutch have taken military action against the Indonesian people hundreds of times. And as something for the people of Jogjakarta to be proud of – I say from this rostrum, that it was from the region of Jogjakarta that the first opposition came, fierce opposition against Dutch Imperialism. This was at the time Sultan Agung Hanjokrokusumo mobilised his army from the Jogjakarta region to attack what then was called the city of Batavia. Therefore, Dr. Mohammad Yamin’s proposal in the first meeting of the National Defence Council was most appropriate : that the Command I shall give … God willing – should not be given anywhere else other than in Jogjakarta, the centre of resistance against Dutch imperialism.

Continue reading “Soekarno Speech “Trikora”” »