Part 5
INDONESIA presents an interesting study for federalism. In many ways, they share an affinity with us, starting with their struggle for independence with university/student leaders like Salvador “Doy” Laurel ready to enlist in “merdeka” (independent/freedom) hostilities against Dutch colonial masters in the 1940s. Surplus Philippine weaponry smuggled to Indonesian shores for freedom fighters. Zamboanga military Hospitals as treatment/evacuation hospice for wounded liberators.
Archipelago of 17,508 to 18,307 islands (subject to reference), 300 native languages and ethnic groups, Javanese make-up 40% of the population. Bahasa Indonesia is official language for 242M population, considered the world’s largest Muslim majority. On-going internal threats of separatist notional states: 1) Free Aceh Movement for a Republic of Aceh, 2) Maluku Sovereignty Front (Republic of South Malaku) claiming Ambon, Buru and Seram Islands 3) Free Papua Movement, Republic of West Papua 4) Proposed State of Riau – central Eastern coast of Sumatra 5) Proposed state of Kalimantan Borneo.
Indonesia was under the Dutch East India Co. (Netherlands) since 1800s for 126 years. Imperial Japanese occupation in 1942-45. With Japan’s surrender, Indonesian leader Sukarno declared independence in 1945. Netherlands launched two major offensives in 1947-48 to retake its former territory. In a post-colonial era, it bowed to UN and US pressure. However, residual Dutch influence remained, endorsing a federal system for a neo-colonial (political & economic) calculus, as propellant for debates between ethnic regions. Aceh, Kalimantan etc. supported federalism for greater sovereignty and traditional authority. Nationalist voices won out, for a unitary/central government. Unlike the ‘Dutch Colonial System’ administering the colony as independent regions, nationalists feared regionalized sovereignty may lead to disintegration of the country with heterogeneity distinctly spread across the archipelago.
