Back to the Republic
Illustration: Didie SW
So far the nationality discourse has always revolved around the foundation of the state. Of course, this is a very fundamental thing. However, discourse on the form of the state is also very important.
The form of our state is a republic. We are citizens of the republic. What does the republic mean? How did the founders come to agree on founding a republic? How do we deal with these political consequences and preserve our democracy?
The idea of a republic: a long debate
In the history of political ideas in Indonesia, the emergence of the idea of a republic could be traced to the texts of Tan Malaka, Hatta and Soekarno. However, the idea of the republic as the name of the state only appeared in a session of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI). The first mention of it occurred during the First Session Period of the investigating committee from May 28 to June 1, 1945. On May 29, 1945, for the first time, M. Yamin shared the idea of the republic. He expressed this in the BPUPKI documents, where The Indonesian People\'s State: Republic, a Unitary State, Unitarianism concept was introduced. In explaining the meaning of the people\'s state and republic, Yamin said that it was "not a state of classes, a state of the upper class, or state of the nobles" (AB Kusuma, page 98-99).
Yamin\'s opinion was later countered by Soemitro, who conveyed his view that the status of kingdom or republic was not important to making decisions. Rather, he believed that being independent was the most important factor(AB Kusuma, page 100).
On May 31, 1945, Soepomo, who spoke after Abdul Kadir on the foundation of the state, disclosed his views on the republic as follows: "I do not think the issue of the republic or monarchy is about the foundation of the government. The most important thing is that the head of the state of all government bodies have the characteristics of state leaders and all the people," (AB Kusuma, page 131). Here, Soepomo did not take a firm stance on whether Indonesia needed to become a republic.
On June 1, in the Great Meeting, Soekarno’s response and stance about republicanism concerned the "fourth principle, namely the principle of welfare."He criticized capitalism, which was followed by an explanation about the People\'s Representatives Agency and democracy.
In his criticism against democracy, he said: "Also in the issue of the head of state, frankly speaking, I do not choose monarchy. Why? Because monarchy is ‘vooronderstelt effelijkheid’, hereditary. I am a Muslim. I am a democrat because I am a Muslim. I want a consensus, so I ask that every head of state be elected. Doesn\'t Islam say that the heads of state, whether caliphs or amirul mu’minin, have to be chosen by the people? (AB Kusuma, page 163).
After Soekarno\'s speech, during the recess period, which was set between June 2 and July 9, 1945, proposals from BPUPKI members were compiled, covering issues that could be classified into the following 12 main areas: (1) Indonesia becoming independent as soon as possible; (2) the foundation of the state; (3) the formation of a union or federation; (4) the territory of the state of Indonesia; (5) a representative body of the people; (6) the advisory body; (7) formation of the state and head of state; (8) issues of defense; (9) finance; (10) about the citizens (not yet found); (11) on regions (not yet found) and (12) on religion and state (not yet found).
Then on July 10, 1945, in a session of discussing the state form, Soekarno as the leader spoke on behalf of a Small Committee, consisting of Moh Hatta, Muh Yamin, Soebardjo, Maramis, Moezakir, Wachid Hasjim, Soekarno, Abikoesno Tjokrosoejoso and Haji Agus Salim. He disclosed a proposed draft of the preamble of the Constitution. In the formulation of the Small Committee, the idea of a republic was eventually accepted as the form of the state. The preamble in Soekarno\'s reports states: "….therefore, it is formed for the independence of the Indonesian nation in a Legal Foundation of the Indonesian State, which is formed in the form of the State of the Republic of Indonesia, which is the sovereignty of the people…" (AB Kusuma, page 214).
However, the formulation of the Small Committee on the republic apparently was not immediately accepted by all parties. In the session, debates on the idea of a republic took place, taking more time than debates on other issues. The complexity of the debates as well as opposition by a number of people against the idea of a republic was quite surprising given that the common sentiment was that the republic was a positive force against the colonial platform. Rejecting the republic would have, logically, favored a colonial stance.
One of the figures who started to raise opposition against the idea of a republic was Wongsonagoro. He argued that the BPUPKI decision should not be finalized because whether it was about the republic or not, it depended on what was called “in de laatsteen hoogste instantie on the people\'s votes.”He further said: "…Mr. Chairman, if we accept and read the proposal of this committee, we can agree 100%. However, there is one word that we believe that may, perhaps, go against the feelings of the people, namely about the republic….. My proposal is to use the word of the head or guardian of the state …because republic is not part of the Indonesian language…" (AB Kusuma, page 221).
If Wongsonagoro had an argument beyond simply saying republic was not an Indonesian word, it was not entirely clear. Ki Bagoes Hadikoesomo opposed it, saying that if one does not agree with the word republic, then "Just describe it as you want, namely led by someone who is not hereditary and agreed upon by the people and the state\'s order is based on the people." What was interesting was that after conveying the view, Ki Bagoes Hadikoesomo explained the meaning of republic as follows: "Whereas the meaning of that name, according to the language experts, in the Indonesian language seems to be, is daulat rakyat (people\'s democracy), anyone who does not like it, please look for another [term]….." (AB Kusuma, page 223).
The view and term of daulat rakyat proposed by Ki Bagoes was the same as the view frequently expressed by Hatta. After Ki Bagoes, Yamin then expressed his view. He objected to the thought of delaying forming the state. According to him, the state, which then did not have any form, would be governed by an interim administration. The formless state would experience a blurred status. Implicitly, one could interpret Yamin as thinking the formation of the state constituted objection from those who still wanted a monarchy.
Yamin later confirmed something that had never been conveyed by other figures when he said that the republic was the perfect form of government (AB Kusuma, page 228). After conveying his view on why he opposed the monarchy, Yamin explained in detail as to why Indonesia needed a republic: "First, I am convinced that the people of Indonesia would accept a republic and it is the republic that gives spirit to the Indonesian people and not any other form. Second, I am a nationalist who is about to disclose the feelings of the people toward God Almighty, namely orders that the state is run in a syuriah or negotiations, with divisions of power, and that it can be formed in a state that is structured in the form of a republic led by the state and elected by the People\'s Consultative Assembly. Third, our state is not formed only according to the requirement of the nation or the people\'s will and according to the religious order, but also to satisfy the requirements of the international world…" (AB Kusuma, page 228).
In his belief about the republic, Yamin essentially conveys the importance of legitimacy in the form of a state: After the emergence of independence, the monarchy would of course experience problems, such as with its legitimacy. The government, which is based on the people\'s sovereignty, will have gained legitimacy. Second, a monarchy gives birth to dynasties, and dynasties are contrary to the characteristics of the people\'s independence. Here, Yamin implied a classic republican view of governance based on autonomy and sovereignty.
Maintain and enrich the heritage
After Yamin expressed his view, several figures followed suit in expressing theirs, but they did not specifically mention issues concerning the term republic. After all was done, BPUPKI Chairman Radjiman held an election about what type of system to form, be it a republic, kingdom, or something else.
Yamin declared approval for the draw. He even proposed that the drawing not be in closed writings, but with "a kind of speech about what people like, without being ashamed" (open voting). Radjiman finally decided to use a “stem” or closed voting system: choose what you want on pieces of paper. Seeing how important the day\'s decision was, Moezakir proposed the decision be preceded by a moment of silence, "lest our hearts be influenced by an unholy thing." From here, Ki Bagoes was asked to recite a Fatihah prayer.
As a result, Dasaad reported that: "There were 64 stems. Up to 55 of them chose republic, six kingdom, two others and one blank.” Following Dasaad’s report, Soekarno asked: "So the decision of the committee is republic." Answering Soekarno, Radjiman said: "This is clear – republic has been chosen with the most votes." (AB Kusuma, page 238). Since then, the official republic became part of the name of the state.
Thus, the state of the Republic of Indonesia was formed. It was decided through a modern democratic mechanism, namely a stem system or closed voting. The republic was chosen because of two interests: as an act of opposition against the colonial government and as a vehicle of sovereignty for the people. With that, it is clear that from the outset of its establishment of an independent Indonesia, it was directed to a form a modern democratic state. Democracy and popular sovereignty is what was desired by the founding fathers of the nation for an independent Indonesia. Our duty is to safeguard and enrich this heritage – not to spoil it.
ROBERTUS ROBET
Sociologist at Jakarta State University
