A drama on the eve of Indonesian independence, starting from the debate over racial issues to security for Sukarno-Hatta

Indonesian independence on August 17, 1945, was not born because of kidnappings. However, a theater of the ideas of national leaders in proclaiming Indonesia's independence. Starting from the debate over racial issues, belief in God, to Fatmawati's role in arguing on the night of August 16 at Rengasdengklok.

This was stated by Muhidin M Dahlan in the Podcast "Indonesian Independence Series" hosted by Fahrudin on the BKN PDI Perjuangan Youtube channel on Wednesday (16/8/2023).

According to Muhidin, this theater of ideas has often been forgotten in the history of the birth of the Indonesian nation. The history of our nation's birth was cut short when the atomic bomb by Openheimer was dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Even though the theater of ideas had been going on for 60 days before the "D" day of Indonesian independence.

"The history of our nation's birth is cut short by 60 days. We immediately cut the history of independence after Openheimer's work was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki," said Muhidin.

Muhidin explained that the history of the birth of the Indonesian nation must be seen from the gathering of 70 intellectuals since 30 May 1945 in Pejambon, Jakarta. They debated Indonesia with all its aspects, from Aceh to eastern Indonesia for 60 days.

“The intellectual elite gathered in Batavia (Jakarta) to reflect on what kind of state this is. So, it is often forgotten that Indonesia was born from the debates of these scholars," said Muhidin.

The debate among the scholars, said Muhidin, discussed racism, ethnicity, and the foundations of the Indonesian state. According to Muhidin, these Indonesian intellectuals have predicted the national problems that will occur in the future. It is true that the national problems that often plague the republic today are racial and ethnic issues.

“There is a debate about racism, ethnicity, that what is genuine and not genuine. Then everything that happened today, all the repetition that was never finished. In fact, it has been debated who is Chinese and who is Arab, "explained Muhidin.

"And that's right. This racism problem has always disturbed our nationality. And this is a forgotten 60-day event in Indonesian history," continued Muhidin.

After that, said Muhidin, the event that also needs to be known before the birth of the Republic of Indonesia was the Rengasdengklok incident on August 16, 1945. This Rengasdengklok incident occurred because of Sukarni's "trick" to secure Sukarno and Hatta.

"So it's not kidnapping, but indeed the language is secured," said Muhidin.

According to Muhidin, at that time Sukarni represented the youth group to persuade Sukarno and Hatta to declare Indonesia's independence after the bombings in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With his tactics, Sukarni was able to persuade the Dwitunggal Abadi couple to be taken into custody at Rengasdengklok.

Nevertheless, Sukarni's scheme was uncovered after a delegation from Jakarta came looking for Sukarno and Hatta. That what Sukarni said about the mass of 15,000 people entering Jakarta, was not true. It was at that time, Fatmawati insisted on returning to Jakarta.

"So, if Fatmawati didn't insist on going home that night (16 August 1945), there would be no 17 August, maybe 18. Fatmawti insisted on going home because there was no change of clothes for Guntur," said Muhidin.

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