The Incident Of The Lowering Of The Japanese Flag From The Great Building Of Yogyakarta In History Today, September 21, 1945

Diorama di Museum Benteng Vredeburg tentang peristiwa penurunan bendera Jepang diganti bendera Merah Putih di Gedung Agung Yogyakarta, 21 September 1945. (Dok. Museum Benteng Vredeburg Yogyakarta)

JAKARTA History today, 78 years ago, September 21, 1945, the people of Yogyakarta lowered the Japanese flag, Hinomaru from Tjokan Kentai (now: Gedung Agung). They then replaced it with the Red and White flag.

Previously, the whole of Yogyakarta fully supported the seriousness of Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX to join Indonesia. The mandate was echoed by him. As a result, Yogyakarta recognized Indonesia as its country. This condition destroyed the remnants of Japanese power in Yogyakarta.

Life teaches Gusti Raden Mas Dorodjatun to be sensitive to the suffering of the people. He got this aspect because he lived far from the scope of the palace since childhood. In fact, he even reached a boarding house at a European house.

The learning barrier made Dorodjatun democratic and brave. Moreover, when he was crowned to replace his father, Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII as ruler of Yogyakarta. Dorodjatun was entitled to the title of Sultan Hamengkubowo IX in 1940.

His leadership is democratic. He knows how colonialism makes the people miserable. He didn't even want that to happen to the whole of Yogyakarta. During the Japanese colonial period, for example. The people of Yogyakarta were once asked to help Japan become Romusha (forced workers).

Hamengkubowo IX also installed his body. He perpetuated all means so that the Japanese people would not be transported as forced workers. Another phenomenal test was when Indonesia was independent. He became a person who fully supports the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence.

He congratulated the courage of the freedom fighters. After that, he issued an important mandate on September 5, 1945. He stated firmly that Yogyakarta was part of Indonesia. He made this statement so that all the people of Yogyakarta recognized Indonesia as their country.

"That the country of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat which is a Special Region of the Republic of Indonesia. That we as regional heads hold all power within the country of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat."

"And therefore, due to the current situation, all the affairs of the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat domestic government from now on are in our hands and we hold all other powers. That the relationship between the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Country and the Central Government of the Republic of Indonesia is direct and we are responsible for our country directly to the President of the Republic of Indonesia," said Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX in his mandate as quoted by Mohamad Roem and his friends in the book Takktah for the People (2013).

Hamengkubuwono IX's decision was greeted with great fanfare. The Yogyakarta side fully supports the steps to join Indonesia. The passionate spirit lasted for days. They increasingly hated the invaders.

As a result, anything that smells of colonialism will be destroyed from Yogyakarta. The people of Yogyakarta then flocked to Tjokan Kentai to lower the Japanese flag, Hinomaru and replace it with the Indonesian flag on September 21, 1945. The assessment was considered a symbol of Indonesia's independence from the invaders.

The statement has the ability to ignite the spirit of the people to mobilize the time for the realization of the Indonesian revolution. The king's statement which greatly affected the people of Yogyakarta and its surroundings made society according to what the king said, and increasingly hated colonialism.

On September 21, 1945, the atmosphere of the city of Yogyakata was filled with enthusiasm against Japan The people with modest weapons lowered the Hinomaru flag on the buildings of the Japanese military government and replaced with the Red and White Sang Saka. At 13.00 WIB the people flocked to fly the Red and White the people into the Katai Stall (Gung Building) with the aim of lowering the Hinomaru flag and flying the Red and White Saka," explained Rinafika Dianasari in the book RRI Yogyakarta: Dutch Population Period Until the Revolutionary Period (2021).