FROM SURABAYA TO INDONESIA

In his memoir, Hatta remembered that on 17 Aug 1945 evening he had phoned by
Nishijima (assistant of Maeda). Nishijima asked him whether he could accept the
visiting of one officer from Kaigun. If Hatta accept him, Nishijima would be a
translator. Hatta agreed.

The officer came to Hatta and conveying the message that the representatives
from Protestant and Chatolic people under Kaigun occupation were reluctant to
accept the concept in the draft of constitution Ketuhanan dengan kewajiban
menjalan syariat Islam bagi pemeluk-pemeluknya. They understood that that clausul
would be valid for Islamic people. However this special clausul means discrimination for
the minority people.

Hatta explained that Maramis; as a Christian prominent in BPUPK; had been agreed about
the draft, but due to the urgency of this info Hatta promised to manage it. Therfore he
asked the officer to assist him explaining to the representatives to be calm and not being
provoked.

18 August 1945 early morning before starting PPKI meeting, Hatta met Ki Bagoes
Hadikoesoemo, Wachid Hasjim, Kasman Singodimedjo and Teuku Hasan to discuss about
that info he received. Hatta proposed Ketuhanan dengan kewajiban menjalankan syariat
Islam bagi pemeluk-pemluknya to be edited became Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa. The
hard debat happened, especially by Ki Bagoes Hadikoesoemo. After got the soft
explanation from Kasman Singodimedjo, then they agreed the Hattas proposal.

Is it true the rumour that deleting 7 word in Piagam Jakarta is a first betrayal in Republic of
Indonesia which done by minority people? Whats it happened so that the constitution
draft finally being revised in the PPKI meeeting? Is the story as simple as that? Then whats
the contribution of Surabaya in that important event?

On 17 July 1945, the meeting of Badan Penyelidik Usaha Kemerdekaan (BPUPK; not BPUPKI as
being taught so far and becoming a common mistake; this council was built by Japan Army-16 who occupy
Java and Madura islands and consisting the prominents from Java and Madura only) finally closed. In the
formal letter no D.K. I/17-9 dated 18 Juli 1945 to Gunseikan Kakka (Chief of Military Government of 16th
Japan Army) dr Radjiman Wediodiningrat reported that BPUPK had made some decisions. They has agreed
that if Indonesia becoming free the new nation will be in union and republic system, with the state area
will covering ex-Netherland Indie with Malaya peninsula, North Borneo, East Portugis and Papua.

BPUPK also has agreed the draft of constitution where the 5 states fondations (Philosophie
groondslag, called as Pancasila) still following the agreement in Piagam Jakarta 22 Juni 1945 with the first
fondation was Ketuhanan, dengan kewajiban menjalankan Syariat Islam bagi pemeluk-pemeluknya. The
logical consequence of this agreement was a president shall be origin Indonesian and a moslem. This
agreement had made after the hard debat and argumentation between the prominents so that Soekarno
by crying asked BPUPK member from non-moslem to agree it voluntary. BPUPK report finally accepted by
Gunseikan Jakarta and then forward it to Field Marschaal Terauchi a chief commander of South Expedition
Army.

On 5 August 1945 Terauchi received the direct instruction from Tokyo for starting the steps to
realize the promise of Indonesias independence. This was surprising if we remember that a year before
1
after Koiso Declaration 7 September 1944 only 16th Army in Java who agreed for Indonesia independence.
Meanwhile 25th Army who occupied Sumatera didnt agreed to free Sumatera. Kaigun (Japan navy) who
occupied the east Indoensia area had the formal standing that independence should be for area occupied
by Army only.

The history wheel continued. Upon having the instruction on 7 August Terauchi instructed 3
divisions as occupation government in Indonesia area must immediatelly make a special committee for
preparing Indonesia independence. Military government in Sumatera, Jawa and East Indonesia
immediatelly selecting the prominent in his area who suitable to be member in that committee. The
committee was named PPKI (Panitia Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia).

From the archieve with the title Laporan tentang Perjalanan Utusan Sulawesi ke Jakarta untuk
menghadiri permusyawaratan Panitia Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia written by Dr. G.S.J.J. Ratulangi
(you could read Lahirnya Undang Undang Dasar 1945 written by R.M. Ananda B. Kusuma) we will know
the history fact which is still mistery for most of us.

On 8 August 1945 representatives of Sulawesi consist of Dr. Ratulangi, Andi Pangeran Petta Rani
and Andi Sultan Daeng Radja flew from Limbung Airport Sulawesi and landed at Morokrembangan Airport
in Surabaya. In Surabaya, they were met with Anang Abdul Hamidhan as Borneo representative, Mr. I Ketut
Pudja as Bali representative, Minseibu Sanyo as Sunda Kecil represntative and Mr. J. Latuharhary as
Maluku representative. The last name actually lived in Jakarta and former BPUPK member who indeed
knowing the real situation during BPUPK meeting. He was appointed by Kaigun with Gunseikanbu approval
since the battle happened in Maluku area so that impossible to send the representative from war area.
During in Surabaya they stayed in Nanko Hotel owned by Kaigun in Jalan Embong Sawo.

All Sulawesi representatives also took opportunity to meet Dr. Gerungan as a chief of Sulawesi
people association in Surabaya and also Sutan Mohamad Zain as a head of Senior High School in Surabaya.
The last name just arrived from Jakarta. From Zain they knew that BPUPK had produced the constitution
draft for the Indonesia free, including the formulation that the nect Indoensia would be islamic state.

On 11 up to 13 Agustus 1945 All East Indonesia representatives with the composition of 3 Islamic
prominents (Andi Pangeran Petta Rani, Andi Sultan Daeng Radja and Anang Abdul Hamidhan), 2 Christian
prominents (Ratulangi and Latuharhary) and Hindu prominent (I Ketut Pudja) were doing meeting to
discuss about the constitution draft which formally given by Kaigun commander in Surabaya. The aspiration
from their meeting will be used as aspiration of east Indonesia during PPKI meeting in Jakarta.

About the state border they agreed the BPUPK proposal but they sugested Borneo Utara, Malaka
peninsula and Papua to be proactive asking joining to the Indonesia Raya. About relationship between
central government and local government they agreed the local having otonomy right. They proposed the
area under Kaigun could be one province and the central government could communicate through
Minseibu.

About the religion, they agreed to take neutral position since the have principle that religion was
the private and every human having the righ and freedom to choce his/her own religion. They considered
that if Islam was prioritized due to the majority it meant will take other people in a risk and the unity in
Indonesia people will not being eternity. In the religion aspect between different religion should be respect
each other. They found that if Islam Law applied in the next Indonesia state, it could be problem for the
tradition in some areas as like Minangkabau or South Sulawesi. That is their thinking logic.

About the form of state they agreed the republic and unilateral. These were agreement who
produced by East Indonesia representative in Surabaya

2
 This voice from Surabaya finally surprisingly could change the history direction when PPKI doing
meeting on 18 August 1945. Being the history fact that with the support from Teuku Mohammad Hasan as
Sumatra representative then the voice of six prominents who meeting in Surabaya finally changed the
constitution draft produced by Java prominents in BPUPK became the constitution which also approved by
Sumatera and East Indonesia representatives. That constitution was a proven formal document to built a
new nation bornRepublic of Indonesia.

Surabaya, 26 Juli 2016

Osa Kurniawan Ilham

Reference:
1. R.M. Ananda B. Kusuma, Lahirnya Undang Undang Dasar 1945, Badan Penerbit FH Universitas
Indonesia, 2009.
2. Daradjadi & Osa Kurniawan Ilham, Pejambon 1945, draft of book.

3
4