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Home >>History >>History Timeline

History Timeline

Compiled by: Roderick C. Wahr

February1957
Sukarno announced that it was better to implement a system of "governed democracy", a euphemism for an autocratic government.

March 1957
The military leaders of both southern and northern Sulawesi launched a confrontation with the central government, with demands for greater regional autonomy. They demanded more local development, a fairer share of revenue, help in suppressing the Kahar Muzakar rebellion in Southern Sulawesi, and a cabinet of the central government led jointly by Soekarno and Hatta. At least initially the "Permesta" (Piagam Perjuangan Semesta Alam) rebellion was a reformist rather than a separatist movement.

June 1957
North Sulawesi leaders were dissatisfied with the agreements and the Permesta movement split. Inspired, perhaps, by fears of domination by the south, the leaders declared their own autonomous state of North Sulawesi.
Then Sukarno appointed a business cabinet under the command of R.H. Djuanda (1911-1963). He also appointed a "Dewan Nasional" (advisory commission) consisting of a few "functional groups".

October 1957
After a boycott in December, the possessions of almost 250 Dutch companies were nationalized and it was announced that 46.000 Dutch citizens must leave the country. Officers of the TNI were appointed as managers and directors of the annexed Dutch companies.

1958
During Sukarno's trip to a number of Asian countries (February) insurrectionists in Bukittingi (West-Sumatra) the "Revolutionary government of the Republiek Indonesia", the PRRI (Pemerintah Revolusioner Republik Indonesia), under leadership of Sjafruddin Prawiranegara (1911-1989) rebelled. Even though the rebels did not intend to separate from Indonesia, Sukarno did not hesitate to mow down the movement upon his return.The possibility of foreign intervention finally drove the central government to seek military support from southern Sulawesi.
Permesta forces were driven out of Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, the Sangihe Islands and from Morotai in Maluku (from whose airfield the rebels had hoped to fly bombing raids on Jakarta). The rebels' few planes (supplied by the USA and flown by Filipino, Taiwanese and US pilots) were destroyed. US policy shifted, favoring Jakarta.
The air force bombed cities in the rebel areas (Padang, Bukittingi, Manado) and the army conquered Medan and then Padang.

June 1958
The central government troops landed in North Sulawesi and captured Manado.Yet the movement was dangerous for Jakarta, because in Ambon the rebels obtained support form the U.S.A. and the Netherlands. Also the Philippines, Nationalist China (Taiwan) and Malaysia supported the rebellion.
General Nasution formulated the "dwifungsi" (double function) theory, where the army, besides being a fight power, would also be a social organization in the service of the social development of the country.

1959
Central authority was enhanced at the expense of local autonomy, radical nationalism gained over pragmatic moderation, the power of the communists and Soekarno increased while that of Hatta waned, and Soekarno was able to establish his "Guided Democracy".

mid 1961
The Permesta rebellion was finally put down.

1967
North Sulawesi prospered under the New Order Government of President Soeharto, who took office.

Many of the economic reports (but few of the political reforms) sought by the Permesta rebels were implemented. The province has a tolerant, outward-looking culture.

Time will tell what will happen after the implementation of Regional Autonomy, the very idea that Permesta fought for.


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1957 -

End



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