January 3 In History: The Capital Of Indonesia Moves To Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta Palace Grand Building (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) ..

JAKARTA - Today, 75 years ago, or precisely January 3, 1946, the capital of the Republic of Indonesia was moved to Yogkarta. The transfer was made for security reasons.

The plan was even offered directly by the King of the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate, Sultan Hamengkubuwono (HB) IX. However, at that time, the transfer of the capital was not well prepared.

Quoted from Wiharyanto AK in the book History of New Indonesia II (2009), the offer from Sultan HB IX was immediately welcomed by Bung Karno and high state officials. Preparations for moving the capital were immediately discussed in a closed cabinet meeting.

"We will move the capital tomorrow night. None of you can bring your belongings, nor can I, ”said President Soekarno, quoted by Cindy Adams in Bung Karno's book: Connect the Indonesian People's Tongue (1965).

However, the transfer process was not well planned. In fact, some officials and ministers do not even know. This decision was taken because the situation was quite urgent. Because, the increase in terror acts carried out by the Dutch military was at a high rate.

Therefore, moving the capital city to Yogyakarta was the most logical solution that could be done at that time. This also became a form of cold protest from the Republic of Indonesia to the Allies. Afterward, the Mayor of Jakarta, Suwiryo, went to Soekarno to ensure the security of Jakarta.

Launching Kompas Daily, December 29, 2004, at that time, the group that had also moved to Yogyakarta by train was specially parked behind the residence of President Soekarno. Then, the president, vice president, and their respective families, and several ministers infiltrated the train with the carriage lights turned off.

Quoted from Kompas.com, the special train made it through the Dutch military post in Bekasi. At Tugu Station just before dawn, Sultan HB IX, Paku Alam VIII, and General Soedirman were present to welcome Sukarno and his friends.

A day after the President's entourage arrived in Yogyakarta, the Allies in Jakarta were only officially notified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia regarding the President's move to Yogyakarta. However, the center of government was again threatened when the Dutch carried out the second military aggression on 19 December 1949. The Netherlands was consistent in calling this military aggression a "Police Action".

Meanwhile, the entire operational costs of the government and Indonesian officials while in Yogyakarta were borne by the Yogyakarta Palace and also assisted by the Pakualaman Kadipaten, because the state finances were at that time very bad, even empty. Thanks to that, Yogyakarta's contribution to independence was quite large. people then recognized the area as the Special Region of Yogyakarta.