March 10 In History: The Establishment Of Bekasi City Started With The Demonstration Of 40 Thousand People

Bekasi City (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - Today, March 10 to be precise, Bekasi commemorates its 24th anniversary. Bekasi is an administrative area in West Java Province which is very close to Jakarta. Bekasi has a long history until finally, it was able to stand as an independent entity. Here's a brief history.

The establishment of Bekasi City began with the demonstration of 40 thousand people in the Bekasi square on February 17, 1950. They rallied to declare that the Bekasi people were loyal to stand behind the government of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

The demonstrators also suggested to the central government to overhaul the mapping of Bekasi areas in the past, including their villages.

They asked that Jatinegara Regency be changed to Bekasi Regency. Finally, based on Law (UU) No. 14 of 1950, the Bekasi Regency was formed.

Quoted from the official website of the West Java regional government, Bekasi Regency consists of four Kewedanaan areas, 13 sub-districts, and 95 villages. Then, in 1960, the Bekasi Regency office moved from Jatinegara to Bekasi.

Bekasi Regency was then divided into Bekasi Administrative City based on Government Regulation No. 48 of 1981. This regulation brings the East Bekasi, South Bekasi, West Bekasi, and North Bekasi Districts into the administrative area of Bekasi City.

The inauguration of the Bekasi Administrative City was carried out by the Minister of Home Affairs on April 20, 1982, with H. Soedjono as the First Mayor. The Bekasi Administrative City continues to move.

The population growth is quite high and the wheels of the economy are getting faster and faster. The status of the Administrative City of Bekasi was then upgraded to a Municipality through Law No. 9/1996. Minister of Home Affairs Yogi Sowardi Memet issued a decree for the Municipality of Bekasi dated March 10, 1997.

Wanted to join DKI Jakarta

Bekasi City is included in West Java Province. However, its geographical location which is closer to DKI Jakarta makes Bekasi City an urban area for capital city workers.

During its development, the discourse on merging Bekasi City to DKI Jakarta had risen. Deputy Mayor of Bekasi, Tri Adhianto, said that the city's local budget at that time was not sufficient for development needs. The discourse is getting worse.

"What is clear, (by joining DKI), we hope that from the welfare side it can be even greater", said Tri, quoted from Kompas, Friday, September 23.

Before this discourse surfaced, Bogor Mayor Bima Arya formed the Greater Bogor Province. Bogor Raya consists of spuluh districts / cities: Bogor Regency, West Bogor, East Bogor, Bogor City, Sukabumi Regency, Sukabumi City, Cianjur, Depok, Bekasi City, and Bekasi Regency.

Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi stated that if he could vote, he wanted Bekasi to join Jakarta. Rahmat Effendi has several reasons why Bekasi is more suitable to join Jakarta.

"Culturally, Bekasi is more synonymous with Jakarta. Its culture, the language is Betawi, the ethnic group is Betawi, the police go to Polda Metro Jaya, the Military District Commander (kodim) goes to Jayakarta. Only the administration (which is separate from Jakarta)", said Rahmat Effendi.

This discourse was also welcomed by the Bekasi City Regional Representative Council (DPRD) and the majority of its citizens. However, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan did not comment on this discourse.

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