Central Advisory Council

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The Central Advisory Council (Japanese: 中央参議院, Hepburn: Chūō Sangiin, Kunrei-shiki: Tyuuoo Sangiin, lit. 'Central House of Councillors', Indonesian: Dewan Pertimbangan Pusat) was the name given to bodies established by the Japanese military administration in Java and Sumatra in 1943 during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies to notionally provide Indonesians with popular representation.

In early 1942, the Japanese invaded the Dutch East Indies, overrunning the archipelago in less than two months. The Dutch in Java surrendered on March 8. Initially, Indonesians welcomed the Japanese as liberators from the colonial regime.^[1][2] The Japanese divided the countries into three regions: Sumatra was under the 25th Army, Java and Madura under the 16th Army and Borneo and eastern Indonesia were controlled by Imperial Japanese Navy.^[3] The Japanese came to realize that if they wanted to exploit the nation's resources, they would have to give something back to the people in return, especially given the repressive nature of the occupation regime. The administration therefore decided to work with prominent Indonesian nationalists, including Sukarno - who the Japanese freed from the exile imposed by the Dutch - and Mohammed Hatta. The Japanese promised self-government in the future, and established a nationalist organization called Centre of People's Power (Indonesian: Poesat Tenaga Rakyat, Poetra (old spelling) Pusat Tenaga Rakyat, Putra (current spelling), Japanese: 民衆総力結集運動, romanized: minshū sōryoku kesshū undō). The new body was headed by Sukarno, Hatta, Ki Hajar Dewantara and Mas Mansoer. The Japanese then appointed more advisers and on 15 September 1943, established the Central Advisory Council in Java, chaired by Sukarno. Sessions of the CAC were held in the same building that had been used by the Volksraad in Pejambon, central Jakarta. It is now known as the Pancasila Building.^[4][5]

The Central Advisory Council was even less powerful than the pre-war body set up by the Dutch, the Volksraad, as it was not allowed to criticize the government. Its role was limited to answering questions asked of it by the military administration.^[6] In the view of the Japanese, the council would encourage the people of Java and Madura to take responsibility for their lives in accordance with the wishes of the Japanese. The subjects it was allowed to discuss were:^[7]

• the development of the government
• improvements to standards of living
• education and information
• industry and the economy
• welfare and social assistance
• health

Members were either appointed by the 16th Army commander (23 members) or elected by and from regional representative councils (Japanese: 州参議会, romanized: Shū Sangi-kai), 18 members from special municipality representative councils (Japanese: 特別市参議会, romanized: Tokubetsu-shi Sangi-kai) and 2 members from special region (Japanese: 公地, romanized: kōchi, kooti) councils . Many of them had been members of nationalist organizations and/or the Volksraad. Prominent members included Sukarno, Hatta, Ki Hajar Dewantara, Mas Mansoer and Rajiman Wediodiningrat. The council also had a secretariat (Japanese: 事務局, romanized: jimukyoku, zimukyoku) comprising Javanese and Japanese members. The head as well as the two deputy heads were appointed directly by the head of the military administration. Following 7 September 1944 promise of future independence for the Dutch East Indies, 14 new members were appointed. The members were: ^[8][9][10]

Additional members appointed in 1943:

Additional members appointed in 1943:

• Asmo Asmodisastro (Besuki)
• R. Soedirman (Surabaja)

The session began with an expression of thanks from the Japanese for the willingness of the Indonesians to cooperate with the military regime. On October 17, Sukarno was appointed chairman while R.M.A.A. Koesoemo Oetojo and Boentaran Martoatmodjo were appointed vice-chairmen. All three were inaugurated by the head of the secretariat.^[11]

After this session, on November 10, a delegation from the Central Advisory Council comprising Sukarno, Hatta and Bagoes Hadikoesoemo left for Tokyo. They had been invited to Japan to thank the Hirohito for his generosity in giving the Indonesians the opportunity to work with the military administration. The delegation arrived on November 15. The following day the three men were decorated by the emperor. In a meeting with Japanese Prime minister Tojo, Sukarno asked for the ban on the Indonesian flag and the national anthem to be lifted and was told that the Japanese would consider these demands once they had won the war.^[12][13]

This session discussed the question from the Japanese military commander regarding practical ways the people of Java could organize their strength to be ready for victorious battle.^[14]

The question for this session was how to raise the awareness of the people regarding their obligations as well as to strengthen friendly cooperation regardless of nationality, work or rank.^[15]

In July 1944, Saipan was captured by the Allies. Sinkings of Japanese shipping led to shortages in Java and the military commander ordered the Central Advisory Council to meet to discuss the question of how to increase the workforce, defend the nation and increase production.^[16]

In August 1944, the war situation worsened further for Japan, with the loss of the Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands. Prime Minister Tojo resigned and was replaced by Kuniaki Koiso. On September 7, Koiso promised independence for the 'East Indies' "later on" (di kemudian hari). The next day, the Japanese military commander ordered special session of the Central Advisory Council to discus the question of how the Indonesian people could prove their gratitude to the Japanese government and how to awaken the enthusiasm of the people to destroy the United States and Britain.^[17][18][19]

This session was attended by a large number of Japanese officials and civilians as well as journalists. The question under discussion was how to obtain real results in concentrating the strength of every person to wage war and what must be done to improve living standards as the war reaches a zenith.^[20]

The war situation continued to worsen, as did the economic circumstances. Meanwhile, the Japanese took a slightly softer and Council members began to criticize the administration. The question discussed at this session was how to rapidly implement modernization of people's lives.^[21]

On March 1, 1945, the establishment of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK) was announced by the Japanese to work on "preparations for independence in the region of the government of this island of Java". The opening ceremony was held in the Central Advisory Council building on May 28. The first BPUPK plenary session was help from May 28 to June 1 to discuss the form of a future Indonesian state. On the final day, Sukarno made a speech in which he outlined the philosophical basis for the nation, the five principles subsequently known as Pancasila.^[22][23][24]

Before the beginning of the final session of the Central Advisory Council, Vice-chairman M.A.A. Koesoemo Oetojo resigned because of his age. The members elected Hatta to replace him. In the session, delegates urged the Japanese administration to include more young people in the national leadership. The question put by the military commander concerned how to implement the endeavor to motivate every person to direct their energies and undergo training to strengthen their defenses and purify efforts towards the preparation of Indonesian independence as soon as possible.^[25][26]

The commander of the Japanese Twenty-Fifth Army Lt. Gen Hamada Hiromu, was much less enthusiastic about independence for Sumatra, the region under his authority, and was opposed to the idea of Sumatra being a part of any future indonesian state. Therefore, it was almost years after the establishment of the Java Central Advisory Council, when on March 25, 1945, before a similar body was announced for Sumatra, but it did not meet for the first time until the end of June. It had 40 members, 25 appointed by the Japanese and 15 chosen by the ten regional advisory councils. Mohammad Sjafei was appointed chairman. The vice-chairmen were Abdoel Abas and Teuku Nyak Arif. Like the Java body, this council also had a secretariat. This was headed by Sumatra journalist Djamaluddin Adinegoro.^{[27][28][29][30]}

The membership was as follows:^[31]

The Sumatra Central Advisory Council met in Bukitinggi to discuss questions put to it by the Japanese military authorities. These concerned ways to strengthen the unity and resolve of the Sumatran people. It also passed a number of resolutions, including calling for the establishment of a Sumatran preparatory committee for independence and a 500,000-strong people's army. The Japanese subsequently announced a Sumatran Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence chaired by Mohammad Sjafei.^[28][32]

• Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK)
• Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI)

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