Is It True That Soekarno Mandor Romusha Is Suffering Bumiputra?

Soekarno (Source: Geuheugen Delpher)

JAKARTA - The Japanese occupation period (1942-1945) was a defining period in the nation's history. The Land of the Rising Sun succeeded in expelling the Dutch colonialists. Japan is considered the 'savior' of Indonesia's release from the clutches of the Dutch. The sympathy of the bumiputras, including figures and scholars, was obtained by Japan. Among all of them, Soekarno was the one who had the most misfortune. He is considered a Japanese slave, 'foreman romusha', the source of the suffering of the people. Is it really like that?

The collapse of the domination of the Dutch colonial government by the Japanese in the archipelago had been predicted long ago. Apart from the fact that the Japanese troops had been spying on the Dutch forces for years, the other cause of the collapse was the Dutch themselves. In Dutch policy, the interests of the natives were always ignored.

After all, there was quite a distance between the colonial government and the natives. To the extent that the bumiputras were placed as third-class citizens. If the Dutch were more concerned, of course, all of the native Indonesians would join in the struggle to help against the Japanese. However, that didn't happen.

The vengeance of the natives to the Dutch has overflowed. The euphoria was used by Japan to gain broad support from national figures: Soekarno, Mohammad Hatta, Sutan Sjahrir. In fact, Japan did not forget to take heart and invite the collaboration of the ulama (kiai), especially among the rural ulama.

“The combination of physical, military, and spiritual disciplines of the Japanese people touched a responsive feeling among the pesantren community. In July 1943, the Japanese began to bring groups of kiai, numbering about 60 people, to Jakarta to attend training courses for about a month.”

“By May 1945 more than a thousand kyai had completed these courses. In it they listen to several lectures on religious issues, but mainly they are indoctrinated with loose propaganda,” said MC Ricklefs in the book History of Modern Indonesia 1200–2008 (2008).

Soekarno and a Japanese general (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

Japan's strategy of privileging Islam is so powerful. Moreover, Japan is a little more flexible in applying its rules to the clergy. Rules such as the obligation to bow to the Emperor in Tokyo and ban the use of Arabic in schools were removed.

It is the same with forming a volunteer army. Many of the Defenders of the Homeland (PETA) officers come from the clergy, former teachers, and government officials. Widespread support was also obtained from among the ulama when Japan tried to control Islam with the establishment of the Indonesian Muslim Shura Council (Masyumi) in October 1943.

"Instead of modern urban politicians, the leadership (Masyumi) is held by figures from the non-political education system of Muhammadiyah and Kiai Haji Hasyim Asy'ari from the rural-based traditionalist organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)."

"In January 1944 the Jawa Hokokai (Javanese People's Service Association) was formed under the leadership of Soekarno and Hasyim Asy'ari, intended for anyone over the age of 14 but of course this movement remained under Japanese supervision. They then introduced Sukarno as leader Indonesia in the future,” wrote MC Ricklefs, Bruce Lockhart, Albert Lau, Portia Reyes, and Maitrii Aung-Thwin in the book History of Southeast Asia: From Prehistory to Contemporary (2013).

Soekarno 'foreman' Romusha?

Soekarno (Source: Geuheugen Delpher)

The momentum of collaboration between Japan and national figures has become a polemic, at least to this day. Even though there were a number of political figures and scholars who collaborated with the Japanese, Soekarno's presence on the Japanese side was the most memorable. Soekarno is considered to have become the actor who has suffered the most for his own people.

All of this was due to Bung Karno's role in mobilizing the people to join as economic soldiers (Romusha). His presence to help Japan then not only brought deep wounds, but became a lesson for his political opponents in bringing down Sukarno in the future.

Musso from the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), for example. In an effort to bring down Bung Karno, he often brought up Soekarno's role when he became a leader who inflamed Romusha's invitation. “Even though Musso in his response speech said that Soekarno was a slave to Japan, a seller of Romusha, and now selling the Indonesian people to American imperialism. However, what happened next, it turned out that the PKI did not have the support of the masses to organize a mass uprising in order to be successful in sparking a general uprising.”

“It was a futile effort, what Musso said about Sukarno did not have a place in the minds of the people. Clearly, the Indonesian people prefer or place their trust in Indonesia under the leadership of Soekarno-Hatta, not to Musso with his PKI," concluded Peter Kasenda in the book Bung Karno Panglima Revolution (2014).

Therefore, every time there was an attempt to bring down Soekarno, the narrative of Soekarno's 'foreman' Romusha often became part of the effort to reduce Bung Besar's prestige. Bung Karno did not want his people to speculate too far. He did not deny that his role had worked with Japan. However, all of this was done by Sukarno as much as possible for the benefit of the people.

In a sense, the cooperation that was initiated by Bung Karno with Japan was not always bad. The nationalists were given a lot of space to inflame the spirit of nationalism from the pulpit to the pulpit. Likewise, Bung Karno, who had more and more time to visit people in various parts of the archipelago, to promote nationalism without fear. Which, it could not be done during the Dutch colonial period.

"That's why every intelligent person hates the Netherlands. The Dutch expect our cooperation, but they don't give us the slightest chance to benefit from it. When I think about the hypocritical Dutch attitude, I want to throw up."

"What did the Dutch do for us? Big zero! I realize, of course there are people who are against me, because I cooperate with the Japanese. But, what's wrong? Using what has been put in front of me is the best tactic. And that's why I am willing to accept it," concluded Soekarno in his autobiography written by Cindy Adams entitled Bung Karno: The Connector of the Indonesian People's Tongue (1965).

*Read other information about SOEKARNO or read other interesting articles from Detha Arya Tifada.

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