Indonesia'sForeignPolicy
ByMohammadHatta
Sumber:https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/indonesia/19530401/indonesiasforeignpolicy
THE Republic of Indonesia, born immediately after World War II when a colony became a free
country,stronglydesirespeace.Onlyinapeacefulatmospherecanitrehabilitateitswardamaged
economy and lift its citizens out of the poverty in which they have lived so long. Even when
IndonesianswerestrugglingtofreethemselvesfromthecontroloftheNetherlands,freedomwasnot
their only objective. Leaders of the national movement always insisted that an independent and
sovereignIndonesiawassimplyaprerequisitetotheachievementofapatternoflivingthatwould
guarantee the prosperity of the people. Their slogan was "A sovereign, independent, just and
prosperousIndonesia."Nowthat thecountryhassovereignandindependent status,itscitizensof
whomtherearemorethan75,000,000demandthat theirgovernmentcarryoutthetwinidealsof
socialjusticeandprosperity.
TheRepublicofIndonesiarealizesthatcoperationwithothercountriesisessentialiftheseidealsare
tobecomeareality.IthasmadetheUnitedNationsthefocalpointofitsoverallpolicyofseeking
goodrelationswithallothernations.Morespecifically,itsobjectivesinforeignpolicyare:1,todefend
thefreedomofthepeopleandguardthesafetyofthestate;2,toobtainfromoverseasthosearticlesof
dailynecessityrequiredforincreasingthestandardoflivingofthepopulationfood,especiallyrice,
consumergoodsofvariouskinds,medicines,andsoon;3,toobtaincapitalequipmenttorebuildwhat
hadbeendestroyedordamaged,andcapital forindustrialization,newconstructionandthepartial
mechanizationofagriculture;4,tostrengthenprinciplesofinternationallawandtoaidinachieving
socialjusticeonaninternationalscale,inlinewiththeU.N.Charter,withspecialreferencetoArticles
1,2and55,inparticularbyendeavoringwithintheU.N.frameworktohelppeoplestilllivingwithin
thecolonialsystemtoachievefreedom;5,toplacespecialemphasisoninitiatinggoodrelationswith
neighboringcountries,themajorityofwhichhaveinthepastoccupiedapositionsimilartoIndonesia;
and6,toseekfraternityamongnationsthroughtherealizationoftheidealsenshrinedinthePanchasila
(FivePostulates)whichconstitutethebasicIndonesianphilosophy.Inshort,Indonesiawillpursuea
policyofpeaceandoffriendshipwithallnationsonabasisofmutualrespectandnoninterferencewith
eachother'sstructureofgovernment.
As a people just become free from colonialism, Indonesians are jealous of their country's
independence.Sloganssuchas"liberty,""humanity,""socialjustice,""thebrotherhoodofnations"and
"lastingpeace,"whichwereasustainingforceintheIndonesiannationalmovement,arelookedupon
as ideals to be translated into practice. The Indonesian people, therefore, place a high value on
international intercourse and are confident that what they long for in this respect will eventually
become a reality. All these feelings help determine the country's foreign policy and the means
employedtocarryitout.
Itispossiblethat,viewedfromtheangleof Realpolitik,someoftheseaimsseemtolieoutsidethe
realmof"realandpracticalpolicy."Thestudentofhistory,however,isconsciousthatmuchwhichwas
previouslyconsideredutopianorimpossiblehascometopass.Whowouldhavebelieved15yearsago
thatIndia,Burma,Ceylon,PakistanandIndonesiawouldbecomeindependentandsovereign?Who
would then have thought it possible that Indonesia, assisted by the Netherlands itself, would be
acceptedasamemberofaninternationalorganizationsuchastheUnitedNations?Manyideastabuto
classicaleconomistsandputdownaspureSocialistdreamshavetodaybecomeacceptedincapitalist
countriesasameansofachieving"industrialpeace."Thedevelopmentandacceptanceofwhatiscalled
"socialsecurity"isaninstance.TheinfluenceofsuchideasistobefoundintheCharteroftheUnited
NationsandintheworkoftheI.L.O.Thegoalsof"higherstandardsofliving,fullemployment,and
conditionsofeconomicandsocialprogressanddevelopment"aresetdowninArticle55oftheCharter
oftheUnitedNations.Mostofthenationsoftheworldassumetodaythattheattainmentoftheseideals
shouldbestimulatedbygovernmentandnothandedover,aspreviously,tothe"freeplayofeconomic
forces."
TheobjectiveswhichtheRepublicofIndonesiaseekstoachievethroughitsforeignpolicyshould
thereforenotbeconsideredmerelyutopian.Butwhilesomeareoftopicalimportance,othersareideals
forfuturerealization.ForthisreasontheforeignpolicyoftheRepublichasshorttermandlongterm
aspects.Theshorttermpolicyrelatestomatterswhichmustbetranslatedintopracticenoworinthe
near futurethose affecting Indonesia's particular interests or those connected with international
tensionscapableofaffectingthepeaceoftheworld.Butlongtermobjectives,whichrequireachange
inthespiritofinternationalthinkingandmorality,mustalsobeemphasizedinorderthattheywill
receiveattention.Thusthelongtermpolicyisintimatelyboundupwiththeshorttermpolicy.
II
Talkofthebrotherhoodofmaninaworldinwhichracialdiscriminationmakespossibletheexistence
ofsuchapolicyas"apartheid,"ortalkofeverlastingpeaceintheatmosphereofthecoldwar,indeed
seemsincongruous.Bethatasitmay,theRepublicofIndonesiafeelsititsdutytostrengthentheideals
ofpeace,howeverweakitsvoiceorfeebleitspower.Itbelievesthattheseidealswillbecomerealityin
thelongrun.Itbelievesinthecommonsenseofmankind.Thepeoples'desireforpeace,asopposedto
theirlustforwar,becomesstrongerfromcenturytocentury.Eviloftenprevailsovertheforcesfor
good and destroys what civilizationhas built up over the ages. But man, rational bynature, will
eventuallymakeapositiveanddefinitechoiceofgoodoverevil,peaceoverwar.Thediscoveryof
weaponsofwarwhichbecomeprogressivelymoreterrifyinganddestructivewillstrengthenmen'slove
ofpeaceandarousehatredofwar.ItisthisconvictionthatleadstheRepublicofIndonesiatobelieve
thatthestruggleforworldpeaceistodayapolicybasedonreality.
ThisexplainswhytheRepublicofIndonesiahasnotaligneditselfwitheithertheAmericanblocorthe
Russianblocintheexistingconflict,andwhyitisnotpreparedtoparticipateinanythirdblocdesigned
toactasacounterpoisetothetwogiantblocs.Todothatwouldmerelycreatenewsuspicionsandnew
enmities.AndthoughIndonesia'spolicyhasoftenbeentermedoneofneutrality,itisnotthateither.
"Neutrality"hasaprecisemeaningininternationallaw,definingaconditionofimpartialitytoward
belligerentstates.Writinginthe"EncyclopaediaofSocialSciences,"PhilipC.Jessupstatesthat"the
modernlegalstatusofneutralityimpliestheimpartialityofonestatetowardstwoormorebelligerent
states."Andhesaystrulythat"itmaywellbearguedthatinthepresentorfutureconditionsofworld
solidarity,neutralityisanantisocial status." AsamemberoftheUnitedNations,theRepublicof
Indonesiacannotadoptanattitudeofneutrality.Itiscommittedtointernationalsolidarity.Articles41
and43oftheU.N.Charterdonotgiveanyoptiontothecourseofactionopentoamemberwhenthe
SecurityCouncilhasdeclaredthebehaviorofanotherstatetobeunlawful.
Butinpractice,ofcourse,internationalsolidarityhasnotbeenachieved;worldsolidarityhascracked
intotwopieces.UnderpresentconditionsitwouldnotbepossibleforIndonesiatobeotherthanneutral
ifawarbrokeout.Theexistenceofwarisaspecialcaseinthelifeofnations.
Unfortunately,Indonesiahastofaceasituationentirelydifferentfromtheoneforecastduringtheyears
ofWorldWarII.TheworldenvisagedthenisreflectedintheideologyoftheCharter,butthepostwar
worldischaracterizedbytheconflict betweentheAmericanandtheSovietblocs.Theopposition
betweenthetwo,duetodifferenteconomicsystems,hasbeenheightenedbyaconflictofideologiesin
every particular. The cold war is an ideological warthe "free world" versus "the peoples'
democracies."TheWesterncountrieswithsimilarcultureandpoliticalconceptsseeksafetyalongside
theUnitedStates,whichpossessesgreateconomicandindustrialpower.TheCommuniststatesbehind
theIronCurtainformacompactblocstretchingfromMiddleEuropetothePacificOceanandcovering
alargeportionofAsia,withatotalpopulationofnotlessthan800,000,000soulsanalmostlimitless
reserveofmanpowerfortheirarmedforces.Insuchasituation,internationallifeisdominatedby
powerpolitics.
Westernnationstendtoholdthatthereisnomiddlepositionfortheweakercountries,andthatthey
mustchoosebetweentheoneblocortheother.Itseemslogicaltothemthatnationswhichdesireto
enjoyindependenceshouldchoosethefreeworld,andtheyremindneutralcountriesofthefateof
BelgiumandtheNetherlandsintheSecondWorldWar.Asalreadystated,however,thepolicyofthe
RepublicofIndonesiaisnotoneofneutrality,becauseitisnotconstructedinreferencetobelligerent
statesbutforthepurposeofstrengtheningandupholdingpeace.Indonesiaplaysnofavoritesbetween
thetwoopposedblocsandfollowsitsownpaththroughthevariousinternationalproblems.Itterms
thispolicy"independent,"andfurthercharacterizesitbydescribingitasindependentand"active."By
activeismeanttheefforttoworkenergeticallyforthepreservationofpeaceandtherelaxationof
tensiongeneratedbythetwoblocs,throughendeavorssupportedifpossiblebythemajorityofthe
membersoftheUnitedNations.Asanillustrationofthispolicymaybecitedtheeffortsmadeby
Indonesia,inconcertwiththeArabandAsiancountries,toputanendtothewarinKorea.
ThisislandarchipelagoisinaverydifferentkindofpositionfromthatinwhichtheNetherlandsand
BelgiumfoundthemselvesatthebeginningofWorldWarII.Itdoesnotshareacommonboundary
withanyofthepossiblebelligerents.Indonesia,itmaybesaid,isboundedbytheBritishNavyandthe
AmericanNavy,whichcontroltheIndianandPacificOceans.ButnoonecansaythatBritainandthe
UnitedStateshaveevildesignsonIndonesia.Onthecontrary,theyaredesirousofseeingIndonesia
remainindependentandbecomeprosperous.Aretheynottheverypeoplewhoholdthattheinfiltration
ofCommunismcanbepreventedonlybyraisingtheeconomiclevelofthemasses?
Further,IndonesiadoesnothavecommonfrontierswithSovietRussiaorChina.Adirectthreatfrom
thatdirectiontoIndonesianindependenceneitherexistsnorispossible.OnlythedomesticCommunist
movementisapoliticalfactorinIndonesia,butinthisregardIndonesia'spositionisnodifferentfrom
thatoftheotherdemocraticcountries.Consequently,thereisnopressingneedforhertomakeachoice
betweenthetwobigblocs.Herindependentpolicykeepsherfromenmitywitheitherparty,preserves
herfromthedamagetoherownintereststhatwouldfollowfromtakingsides,andpermitshertobe
friendswithallnationsonabasisofmutualrespect.Thedesiretoputpoliticalrelationswithother
nationsonafootingofmutualrespect,despitedifferencesinthegovernmentalstructureandideology,
isaprimaryfactorinthisapproachtointernationalrelations.Nationsrecentlybecomeindependentare
stronglyinfluencedbynationalsentimentandfeeltheneedtomaintaintheirselfrespect.Thememory
of the colonial status that bound them for centuries makes them resist anything they consider an
attempttocolonizethemagain,whetherbyeconomicorideologicaldomination.Thispsychological
factorprofoundlyinfluencesIndonesiainherinsistenceuponanindependentpolicy.
III
The foundationof thispolicy was laidby the Indonesian Government in 1948,while it was still
engagedinastruggleagainsttheNetherlandstomaintainitsnewindependenceandatthesametimeto
freethewholeoftheIndonesianpeoplefromforeignrule.(AsaconsequenceofthefirstNetherlands'
militaryactionandsteadywhittlingawayofitsterritories,theRepublicofIndonesiafounditselfatthat
timeconfinedtoextremeWestandMiddleJavaandNorthandCentralSumatra.)Whiletheleftist
parties under the leadership of the Communist Party of Indonesia were ranged in opposition, the
Indonesian Government made the following policy statement to the Working Committee of the
ProvisionalParliamentonSeptember2,1948:
HavetheIndonesianpeoplefightingfortheirfreedomnoothercourseofactionopentothemthanto
choosebetweenbeingproRussianorproAmerican?Istherenootherpositionthatcanbetakeninthe
pursuitofournationalideals?TheIndonesianGovernmentisofopinionthatthepositiontobetakenis
thatIndonesiashouldnotbeapassivepartyintheareaofinternationalpoliticsbutthatitshouldbean
activeagententitledtodecideitsownstandpoint....ThepolicyoftheRepublicofIndonesiamustbe
resolvedinthelightofitsowninterestsandshouldbeexecutedinconsonancewiththesituationsand
factsithastoface....ThelinesofIndonesia'spolicycannotbedeterminedbythebentofthepolicy
ofsomeothercountrywhichhasitsownintereststoservice.
Prime Minister Wilopo, who assumed office on May 22, 1952, redefined the Government's
independentpolicyinthefollowingsignificantwords:
WhentheGovernmentstatedthatitsconductofforeignaffairswouldbeinan"independent"manner,
theunderlyingideawastomakeitclearthat,infaceofthefactthattherearetwoopposedtrendsin
internationalcircleswhichhavegivenrisetotwoblocstheWesternblocwiththeUnitedStatesandits
allies,andtheEasternblocwithitsadherentstheRepublicofIndonesiahasdecidedtoadopt an
independentattitudeinthesensethat:
(a) it does not permanently take sides by pledging itself to either of the two blocs which are in
controversywitheachother;
(b)itdoesnotpledgeitselfpermanentlytokeepaloofortoremainneutralineveryincidentwhichmay
ariseoutofcontroversybetweenthetwoblocs.
Ontheotherhand,asithassubsequentlyturnedoutthatthestatementregardingan"independent
attitude"thenatureofwhichiswhollynegativehasgivenrisetomisunderstanding,oratleastsome
doubt,amongpoliticalpartiesinourowncountryorbetweenoneorbothoftheopposedblocs,the
Governmenthasgiventheadditionalclarificationthatits"independentattitude"isofapositivenature
inthesensethat,whenaproblemorincidentarisesduetothecontroversybetweenthetwoblocsor
whichmoreorlesshasabearingonsuchacontroversytheRepublicofIndonesiawillcontinueto
baseitsattitudeonitsindependenceofaction,takingintoconsideration:
(a)itsownconceptionofitsaimandpurposeasasincere,loyalandseriousmemberoftheUnited
Nations,and
(b)itsbeliefintheimportanceofthisstateandnationasafactorofgreatinfluenceintheimmediateas
wellasremotefuture.
InviewofitspurposeandaimasamemberoftheUnitedNations,ourRepublicwillrallytoorsupport
everyeffortwithintheframeworkoftheUnitedNationstodoawaywith,oratleastgrindoff,the
sharpnessofthecontroversybetweenthetwotrendsorblocs,soastowardoffasmuchaspossiblethe
croppingupofalargescaleconflictthatmaysetoffathirdworldwar.
Asregardsitsbeliefintheimportanceofthisstateandnation,theRepublicofIndonesiawilladopta
definitestandpointandstriveforadecisionorsettlementofeveryproblemandincidentinorderto
preserve,protectand,whereverpossible,enhanceandstrengthentheinterestsofthestateanditspeople
inkeepingwiththeconditionsorpledgeswhichitmayhavetoacceptwhenarrivingatthedecisionor
settlementindicatedabove.
Firstandforemost,wemustseethattheindependence,sovereigntyandterritoryofthestatewillnotbe
infringeduponorthreatened,andthattheRepublicofIndonesiadoesnotbecomeinvolvedinany
armed conflict except for the defense of its independence and sovereignty against a direct attack
launchedfromwithoutorwithin.
It will be seen from the above statement that the independent policy is only one aspect of the
Indonesianforeignpolicy,whichasawholecentersaroundapolicyofpeacethatwillguaranteethe
country's freedom. As a young state not possessed of sufficient military strength to defend the
multitudeofislands,largeandsmall,whichcomposeitsterritory,theRepublicthusseekstosafeguard
itsindependence.Itsarmedforcesarewhollydefensive;itsforeignpolicyaimstopreventthecountry
frombeingattacked.Indonesiansbelievethatthepossibilityofattackwillbeminimizedsolongasthe
countryadherestoitsindependentpolicyandactivelytriestopreventtheoutbreakofWorldWarIII.
Inherentinthisindependentpolicyisanendeavortoseekfriendshipwithpeoplesbelongingtoeither
bloc,ortonone,onabasisofrespectforeachother'sindependence.Intheprocessofstrengthening
suchfriendships,Indonesiaispreparedtoreceiveintellectual,materialandmoralassistancefromany
countrywhatsoever,providedthereisnolesseningof,orthreatto,herindependenceandsovereignty.
Indeed,weareawarethatatpresent,whenthetaskofnationalconstructionisjustbeginningtobe
tackled,wearereceivingmorefromtheinternationalworldthanwecangivetoit.Butthetimewill
come when we shall make a real contribution to world progress and to the strengthening of
internationalorganizations.
Ofcourse,foreignpolicyisnotdeterminedjustbyhopesanddesires,norbythelikesanddislikesof
statesmenandnationalleaders.Objectivefactorsplayagreatpartindeterminingitsnatureandkeeping
itonagivencoursedespitechangesinthecomplexionofpoliticalpartiesorofthegroupthatholds
poweratagivenmoment.PostwarconditionshavesuppliedonesuchsetoffactorsforIndonesia.
WhentheKingdomoftheNetherlandstransferredsovereigntyonDecember27,1949,thenewrgime
inheritedadevastatedland.Furthermore,itfounditselfwithanemptytreasury;thebudgetfor1950
envisagedadeficitof1.5billionguilders,approximately17percentofthetotalahugesumforapoor
nationthathadnofacilitiesforraisingcapitalwithinthecountry.TheGovernmentmarshalledallits
energiestoincreasedomesticproduction,but,ascouldhavebeenguessed,thetransferofsovereignty
hadastronginfluenceonthelabormovementinIndonesia,forworkershadneverbeenpermittedto
organizefreelyandhadhadtosubsistonextremelylowwages.Laborhopedthatthechangedpolitical
situationwouldbringaboutimmediateeconomicbenefit,andthestringentcircumstancesinwhichthe
whole countrywas placed bycontinuouslyrisingprices fanned discontent.Alongwithclaimsfor
increased wages which were reasonable enough in the circumstances, there were demands for
nationalizationofindustriesandforachangeinthemanagementofvariousbusinesseswhich,labor
felt,wererefusingtoabandontheoldcolonialattitude.Thisfeelingwasexploitedbyradicalleaders
bentoncreatingturmoil,andtherewerepoliticalstrikesalongwiththosepromptedbyunderstandable
economicmotives.
Thetaskofcreatingorderwasadifficultone.WhiletheNetherlandstroopswerestillinIndonesia,
therewasanuprisingcallingitselfthe"ArmyoftheJustKing"undertheleadershipofamannamed
Westerling,anexcaptainoftheNetherlandsArmy,whohopedtoseizeBandung.Thiscomitadjiwas
supportedbyotherformermembersoftheNetherlandsArmy,andtherewasamutinyinMakassar,
capitalcityoftheCelebes,ledbyanIndonesiancaptainoftheNetherlandsforcesthere, [i] evidently
cordinated with Westerling's activities around Bandung. Not long after that, a unit of the Royal
NetherlandsEastIndiesArmyintheislandofAmboncarriedoutacoupd'tatforthepurposeof
settingupa"RepublicoftheSouthMoluccas."Allthesedifficultieswereovercome,butatthecostof
mucheffort.
Inadditiontotheseuprisings,therehasbeenaninsurrectionarymovementtermedthe DarulIslam
whichhasbeenespeciallyactiveinWestJava,MiddleJavaandSouthCelebes.Theobjectiveofits
members is the overthrow of the Republic and the establishment of an Indonesian Islamic state
accordingtotheirspecialconceptions.Remnantsoftheformer"ArmyoftheJustKing,"underthe
leadershipofaNetherlandernamedVanKleef,unitedthemselveswiththismovement.Ithasdone
much damage, terrorizing the people and showing no respect for human life. The Indonesian
GovernmenthasbeendoingitsbesttoputanendtoitandsuccessiveCabinetshavegiventhequestion
ofsecuritypriority.
Although Indonesia had been administered asone unit uptothe Japanese occupation, the rise of
nationalismledtheNetherlandsGovernmenttobelievethatcuttingupthearchipelagowouldhelpin
perpetuatingitsrule.Followingtwomilitaryactionsin1947and1948,therefore,itsplitIndonesiainto
16separateunits,linkedadministrativelyonafederalbasis.ThemutiniesinBandungandMakassar
promptedastrongdemandbythepeople,firstinWestJavaandEastIndonesiaandthenthroughoutthe
wholecountry,thattheIndonesianGovernmentputanendtothisarrangementtodivideandrule.
Althoughafederalsystemis,infact,suitableforsuchafarflungarchipelagoasIndonesia,andmight
beexpectedtostrengthenthefeelingofunity,themannerandtimingofthemovebytheNetherlands
IndiesGovernmenthadarousedsuchantipathytowardideasoffederationthatitwasfoundnecessary
tomakethechangefromafederaltoaunitarystatebeforeaconstituentassemblycouldbeformedto
drawupadefinitiveconstitution.
TheseareinstancesoftheproblemsthatbesettheyoungRepublic.Internalconsolidationistheprimary
task. The Government must concentrate on the task of building up the nation, and it must show
evidenceofeconomicandsocialbettermentifitistooffsettheinfluenceofagitationbyradicalcircles.
Aforeignpolicythat alignedthecountrywitheitherblocoftheGreat Powerswouldrenderthis
internaltaskinfinitelymoredifficult.
Influencingthisdecisiontopursueanindependentpolicyis,again,thehistoricidealofpeaceand
friendshipwithallraceswhichissodeeplyimbeddedintheIndonesianpeople.Anditisreinforcedby
theobjectivefactsofIndonesia'sgeographical situation.Naturehasordainedthat Indonesia,lying
betweentwocontinentstheAsianmainlandandAustraliaandwashedbythewatersoftwovast
oceanstheIndianandthePacificmustmaintainintercoursewithlandsstretchinginagreatcircle
aroundit.Fromtimeimmemorial,ithashadrelationshipswithallofthem,variedastheyare.Its
positionattheveryheartofanetworkofcommunicationshasforcenturiesmadethearchipelagoa
haltingplaceforall racesandastagingbaseininternational travel.Whenoneconsidersthat the
territoryofIndonesiaextendsformorethan3,000milesandiscomposedofthousandsofislands,large
andsmall,themagnitudeoftheproblemofmaintainingthesecurityofthecountryisapparent.So
extensiveanareacannotbedefendedpurelybymilitarystrength.
Foreconomicreasonsalso,Indonesiamusthaverelationshipswithdiversecountries.Thelandisrich
innaturalresourcesandrawmaterials,butthecountryhasnotreachedthestagewhereitcanconvert
itsrawmaterialsintofinishedindustrialgoods.Alargeportionofitseconomyisstilldependenton
export.Indonesiacannotpossiblyreconcileherselftobeingtiedtotheeconomiesofafewnations,all
themoresobecausecertainarticlesofexportsuchasrubberaresubjecttomuchfluctuationinprice.
Only by adhering to a peaceful yet independent policy can Indonesia adequately safeguard its
economicinterests.
IV
Last butnotleast ofthefactorswhichshapetheforeignpolicyoftheIndonesianRepublicisthe
Panchasila, the Five Postulates that constitute the basic national philosophy, referred to at the
beginningofthisarticle.NogroupthatholdsthereinsofgovernmentintheRepublic,nomatterwhat
itspoliticalaffiliations,willbeabletocarryontheaffairsofstateifitdoesnotstrivetoactinharmony
withtheseprinciples.
ThisisnottheplacetoelaboratethestatephilosophyoftheRepublicofIndonesia,butafewofits
aspectsmustbementioned,forourfriendsabroadwillneverreallyunderstandourpoliciesunlessthey
realizehowimportanttheseprinciplesaretous.The Panchasila,containedinthepreambletothe
Constitution,carriestheacknowledgmentthattheIndonesianRepublicisbaseduponbeliefinDivine
Omnipotence, humanism, nationalism, democracy and social justice. Acknowledgment of Divine
OmnipotencedoesnotmeanthatIndonesiaisatheocraticstate.Itshouldbeconstruedasadeclaration
bytheIndonesianpeopletotheeffectthatthemajorityofthembelieveinGod,and,asacorollary,
acknowledgetheexistenceofcertainbasicmoralvalues.TherebytheIndonesiannationacknowledges
theexistenceofaHiddenPowerthatguidesmankindinitsactionstowardthepathoftruth,justice,
goodnessandhonesty.BymakingbeliefinDivineOmnipotencethefirstoftheFivePostulates,the
Indonesianpeoplehaveplacednationalpolicyonastrongmoralbase.
TheotherPostulateshumanism,nationalism,democracyandsocialjusticederivefromtheideals
thatanimatedtheIndonesiannationalmovementandgavecontentandspirittoitsstruggle.Allwho
took part in that struggle pledged themselves to put these ideals into practice as soon as a free
Indonesiahadbeenachieved.The Panchasila wasaccepted"inordertoenjoyprosperity,peaceand
freedominsocietyandinthecompletelysovereignandconstitutionalStateofFreeIndonesiawhich
shallbegovernedbyjustice."TheobjectiveswereembodiedintheConstitution,togivecontinuous
guidance to the administration and be incorporated in governmental programs. The ideal of
"prosperity"cannotberealizedtothefullwithoutinternationalcoperation,butourowndomestic
effortscantakeustowardit.Realizationoftheidealsof"peace"andofa"freeIndonesia"depend
partiallyonourrelationswiththeoutsideworld.
TheConstitutionoftheRepublicofIndonesia,devisedinharmonywiththeidealsofthe Panchasila,
hasprovidedthattheforeignpolicyofthecountrywillbeworkedoutinademocraticmannerthrough
partnershipbetweentheexecutiveandlegislativebranchesofthegovernment.Governmentalaction
lookingtotreatiesandagreementswithforeigncountriesiscarefullyscrutinizedbyParliament.Unless
otherwisespecifiedbylegislation,agreementsandtreatiesareinvaliduntil ratified byParliament.
Similarly Indonesian participation in an existing international agreement, or abrogation of any
agreement or treaty, will have to be carried out under constitutional forms. There is almost no
possibilitythatthegovernmentcouldenterintoasecrettreatyoragreementwithouttheawarenessof
Parliament.Inordertostrengthentheidealsofpeaceandinternational solidarity,theConstitution
provides that the "Government shall work for the inclusion of the Republic of Indonesia in
internationalorganizations,"andshall"endeavortosolveitsdifferenceswithotherstatesinapeaceful
manner,andinthatconnectiontoaskforandacceptinternationalarbitrationorthejurisdictionof
internationalcourts."
The provisions of the Constitution show clearly that the aim of Indonesian foreign policy is to
strengthentheidealsofpeaceandinternationalsolidarityaslaiddownintheCharteroftheUnited
Nations. The country's "independent and active" policy is an expression of these aims. Internal
consolidation is, to some extent, dependent upon the success of this independent policy; and,
conversely, Indonesia will assume international significance, morally and materially, only when
internalconsolidationhasbeenachieved.TheRepublicofIndonesiaisawarethatitistooweakastate
toexertaneffectiveinfluenceontherelationshipsofthetwoopposedblocsininternationalpolitics,
butitbelievesinthemoralstrengthofitspolicyofconciliation.
[i]
TheNetherlandsarmyofmorethan100,000menwasconstitutedintwosections,onemadeup
entirely of Netherlanders called the Royal Netherlands Army, and another known as the Royal
NetherlandsEastIndiesArmycomposedlargelyofIndonesianswithNetherlandsofficersintheupper
echelons.BythetermsoftheRoundTableAgreement,Indonesiansservinginthelatterwerepermitted
tooptforintegrationintothearmyoftheRepublic.
