In various ceremonies, the speakers — be they the president, governors, heads of districts, sub-districts, villages, or school principals — remind us that Indonesian independence was paid for by the flesh, blood, and bones of our grandfathers and grandmothers who fought in bloody battles and wars. Some died, others survived.

Legs were amputated, hands were lost, villages destroyed and rice fields burned. We have inherited their sacrifice. Due to their courage and bravery, we can breathe this air.

Romo Mangunwijaya, a religious leader and prominent intellectual, said that many battles between the Dutch and Indonesians in the post-proclamation period could be described as “cat-and-mouse” skirmishes rather than real battles, as the sharpened bamboo sticks used as weapons by Indonesians were incomparable with the guns and rifles in the hands of trained Dutch soldiers. The Indonesian insurgents too busy finding safe places to hide from the Dutch to face their ostensible enemy.

In the 1950s and 1960s at various speeches at national ceremonies, former president Sukarno — with his thunderous voice, stylish grey suit, elegant sunglasses and magnetic oratorial style — always said that the climax of our struggle was the 17th of August, which he had many names for — the milestone of Indonesian history, the climax of the Indonesians’ struggle, the sacred day, the blessed day and so on.

For Sukarno and his generation, colonialism and imperialism were real. The old generation often belittles our difficulties, which, for them, are far not comparable to their suffering, to their imprisonment and battles. They often say: “Nowadays children are spoiled with high-tech gadgets and junk foods. There are no serious challenges in their lives.”

For them, independence meant that this country was free from any alien enemies, e.g. the Dutch, Japanese or other foreign powers. These enemies never gave up in their fight to conquer this piece of paradise where coconut trees grow tall, paddy trees bear yellow fat rice seeds, and spices can be harvested easily. So ladies and gentlemen, be prepared to raise your weapons whenever the enemies intend to march upon our land and water.

During the 30 years of Soeharto’s regime, the story of heroic struggle remained. The echoes of wars and rumors of war were embedded in the visions of the army generals who dominated the political landscape at the time.

Soeharto was also proud of his achievement in building the economy of this nation. He once boasted that despite his background as a village boy who was raised in paddy fields, he shouldered the responsibility of filling the mouths of more than 130 million Indonesians.

In the reform era, and in the context of current globalization, to give meaning to Indonesian independence as a nation free from foreign influence is misleading.

It is indeed impossible to be an independent nation, as far as Sukarno, and often Soeharto, understood the issue. We cannot avoid all foreign contact, which can perhaps be interpreted as influence, intervention, subjugation or economic imperialism.

Keep in mind that we buy cars from Europe and Japan that use Singaporean spare parts. Korean electronic gadgets are commonly used here. Chinese toys are always affordable for our kids.

Simultaneously, Indonesians export garments, rubber, oil and marine and agricultural products. Bear in mind that Indonesian laborers are also migrating to neighboring countries.

In short, we now live in an era, in which increased cooperation, exchange and openness among many nations are inevitable.

Look at the Europeans who have eliminated economic borders in the EU. More Asians are building careers in America.

Egoistic nationalism, with the dignity of self-sufficiency, is no longer tenable, nor is to keep the purity of our “Indonesianness.”

However, misleading interpretations of independence are still popular. Our enemies are foreign or alien powers, who never cease to deprive Indonesians of their wealth and resources.

History teaches us that more Indonesians were killed by other Indonesians than by the Dutch, Japanese or any other foreign power. Notwithstanding their enormous contribution to this country, many great names — Sutan Sjahrir, Tan Malaka, Munir, the victims of 1965 tragedy, of the 1974 Malari tragedy and of the 1998 Trisakti tragedy, to mention but a few — became martyrs, at the hands of fellow Indonesians (be they the government, the army, or civilians).

Kings hatched assassination plot against other kings. Politicians and their own fellows were locked in deadly wrestling matches.

What kind of independence are we seeking? From whom? From foreign enemies or local ones?
For Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, who was arrested Monday after years of preaching a misguided  and bigoted interpretation of religion, the US and its allies are always haunting other nations.

A friend of mine once joked that if Ba’asyir’s hens fail to lay eggs, he would surely blame the US. If
the eggs do not hatch, perhaps due to the hot weather, he will blame the West. Everyone is his “imagined enemy”.

For Tifatul Sembiring, the former president of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and currently the communications and information technology minister, Indonesian independence means that the Internet in Indonesia should be shielded from “unwanted” content, such as pornography or other “dangerous” materials — but controversial content is an “imagined enemy”, which unfortunately defeated him.

As for you, you can decide which interpretation you prefer. The choices are unlimited.


The writer is a lecturer at  the Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, Yogyakarta.

Popular

Volcano erupts in North Sulawesi, hundreds evacuated

Dubai roads, airport reel from floods after record rains

Ramadan boosts consumer confidence, retail sales