The Origin Of Indonesian Red Cross Day In Today's History September 3, 1945

PMI staff and volunteers pose together in front of the Surakarta Red Cross office in 1946 (Source: Pustakapmi.id)

JAKARTA - On September 3, 1945, President Soekarno issued an order to establish a National Red Cross agency. On the orders of Soekarno, the then Minister of Health, Dr. Buntaran, then formed a Committee of 5 consisting of: dr R. Mochtar, dr. Bahder Djohan, dr Djuhana, dr Marzuki, and dr. Sitanala. The order from Soekarno was the origin of the Indonesian Red Cross Day.

The Indonesian Red Cross Association (PMI) was officially formed on September 17, 1945 and led by Moh. Hatta. Therefore, September 17 is also known as National Red Cross Day. At that time, the activities of the Indonesian Red Cross Association were to provide assistance to victims of the war for independence revolution and the return of Allied and Japanese prisoners of war.

Before President Soekarno issued an order on September 3, 1945, the Dutch East Indies government had established the Red Cross organization in Indonesia. At that time the red cross organization in Indonesia was called Het Nederland-Indiche Rode Kruis (NIRK). Then the name was changed to Nederlands Rode Kruiz Afdelinbg Indie (NERKAI).

Citing the PMI official website, in 1932 dr. RCL Senduk and Bahder Djohan have spearheaded the establishment of PMI. The proposal for establishment was submitted at the NERKAI congress in 1940, but was rejected. The proposal was again submitted during the Japanese colonial period but was again rejected.

After PMI was established, the Dutch government had to dissolve NERKAI because in one country there could only be one national association. The assets owned by NERKAI were then handed over to PMI. In addition, the Government of the United States of Indonesia issued Presidential Decree No. 25 dated January 16, 1950 and strengthened by Presidential Decree No. 246 November 29, 1963 which acknowledged the existence of PMI in Indonesia.

PMI development period (Source: Pustakapmi.id)

The role of humanity

The main task of PMI based on the Presidential Decree No. RIS. 25 of 1950 and Presidential Decree No. 246 November 29, 1963 was to provide first aid to victims of natural disasters and war victims in accordance with the contents of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. PMI was also accepted as a member of the 68th National Societies by the League of Red Cross and Crescent Societies or IFRC in October 1950.

PMI is designated as a humanitarian organization with the status of a legal entity through Law No. 1 of 2018 concerning Red Cross. The Act is also useful for Red Cross activities in accordance with the 1949 Geneva Conventions. PMI has the aim of preventing and alleviating suffering and protecting victims of prisoners of war and disasters, regardless of religion, nation, ethnicity, skin color, gender, class, and political views.

The importance of the red cross body is also commemorated with the International Day of the Red Cross. International Day of the Red Cross is celebrated on May 8, or rather the birth of Henry Dunant, the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who was born on May 8, 1828 in Geneva. Henry Dunant was also the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

PMI Headquarters Jl. Seoetomo No. 8, Gambir, Jakarta after returning from Yogyakarta in 1952 (Source: Pustakapmi.id)

The idea of establishing the ICRC by Henry Dunant originated from his concern for the wounded war soldiers but the medical assistance provided was not sufficient. Dunant eventually wrote a book calling for improved care for soldiers wounded in wartime.

Launching the ICRC's official website, Dunant finally made a proposal for a national aid agency and assisted military medical services. In August 1864, Dunant persuaded the government to adopt the first Geneva Convention. The treaty provided for soldiers to treat other wounded soldiers, regardless of which side they were on, and introduced a unified emblem for medical services: the red cross on a white background.

The main role of the ICRC is as a coordinator. But it gradually became more involved in field operations, as the ICRC was needed as a neutral intermediary between the belligerents. Over the next 50 years, the ICRC expanded its work by encouraging the establishment of national red crosses in various countries. The first national red cross to be established was in the State of Württemberg, Germany in November 1863.

*Read other information about TODAY's HISTORY or read other interesting articles from Putri Ainur Islam.

TODAY'S HISTORY More