Indonesia 1947

Background

Some sources list the first United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operation as the Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) established to monitor the cessation of hostilities in Palestine in 1948 (1).  Before then, however, Australians had already been involved in a UN operation.

During the Second World War, Japanese forces occupied the colony of the Netherlands East Indies (now known as Indonesia) to secure the area’s rich natural resources. After two centuries of Dutch control, some viewed the Japanese as liberators who would remove Western influence, place Indonesians into government roles, and promote “Asia for Asians”(2).  The Japanese occupation was not altogether smooth, however, and many were forced into manual labour, while others starved due to food shortages.

After the Japanese surrender in 1945, the Dutch wanted to reclaim the Netherlands East Indies. However, the occupation had stirred the Indonesians into action, and they viewed the end of the war as their chance for independence.

“As soon as Japan surrendered, the Indonesian exerted himself and gained possession of Japanese guns and equipment.” (3)

Negotiations dragged on, and in July 1947 the Dutch launched a military offensive in Indonesia which they labelled a “police action”(4).  Although the Netherlands was a wartime ally, the Australian Labor Government was sympathetic to the Indonesian cause(5).  Together with India, Australia approached the UN to begin negotiations. The UN called for a ceasefire, and a Consular Commission was established to report on its progress. The Commission consisted of international officials based in Indonesia, with Australian Consul-General Charles Eaton representing Australia.

 “We witnessed a mass demonstration by several thousand people … bearing banners with the following slogans: ‘Once free, forever free’, [and] ‘We don’t hate the Dutch, only their Colonial system’.” (6)

Eaton concluded that the “spirit of independence” in the country was strong, and that the ceasefire order was not being properly observed by either side.(7)   As a result, the commission asked its members to provide military observers. Brigadier Lewis Dyke and Major David Campbell of the Australian Army, Commander Henry Chesterman of the Royal Australia Navy, and Squadron Leader Louis Spence of the Royal Australian Air Force, all veterans of the Second World War, became the world’s first peacekeepers.

The Australian peacekeepers made regular reports, covering areas such as the economy, education, and agriculture, and commented regularly on the ceasefire. They noted that challenges arose because of differing interpretations of “ceasefire” and “cease hostilities”, and that confusion arose because the Indonesians did not recognise the demarcation or border lines established by the Dutch, leading to military activities being conducted in contested areas.

To further assist with reaching a resolution, in 1947 the UN Committee of Good Offices (UNGOC, later known as the United Nations Commission for Indonesia (UNCI)) was formed. Australia was elected to join this organisation by Indonesia, joined by Belgium (elected by the Netherlands), and the United States of America (elected by Australia and Belgium). Negotiations took place on board USS Renville, and the Renville Agreement was signed by Indonesia and the Netherlands in early 1948.

When the terms of the agreement were broken by the Dutch when they launched further military action in December 1948, global sympathy shifted to the Indonesian cause. The sovereignty of the Federal Indonesian Republic was formally recognised by the Dutch on 27 December 1949.(8)

[1] https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/our-history

[2] http://factsanddetails.com/indonesia/History_and_Religion/sub6_1c/entry-3954.html

[3] Report from the Australian military observing offices on the military situation in Java, August–September 1947. (NAA: A4355 7/1/7/6 p. 11)

[4] Peter Londey, “Peacekeepers in Indonesia: then and now”, https://www.awm.gov.au/peacekeepers-in-indonesia <accessed 21 June 2019>.

[5] Peter Londey, “The first United Nations Peacekeepers”,  Wartime 1, November 1997, p. 54

[6] Charles Eaton, September 16–21, 1947, ‘Report on visit to Sumatra by Consuls-General Étienne Raux (France), Charles Eaton (Australia), and Lambert (Britain)’,  (NAA: A4355 7/1/7/6, p. 14)

[7] Charles Eaton, September 16–21, 1947, in Report on visit to Sumatra by Consuls-General Étienne Raux

 (France), Charles Eaton (Australia), and Lambert (Britain)’,  (NAA: A4355 7/1/7/6, p. 23)

[8] Peter Londey, Other people’s wars: a history of Australian peacekeeping, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2004, p.26