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View all search resultsIndependence proclamation: Sukarno in his own words
With two spare sentences on a modest Jakarta porch, Sukarno declared Indonesia’s independence and forged a revolutionary blueprint that sparked liberation movements across the globe.
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Childhood nationalism: Students salute the national flag on July 27, 2026 during a ceremony at an elementary school in the fishing village of Torosiaje, Gorontalo. (Reuters/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)
A
fter almost 350 years of Dutch colonial presence (1600–1942) and a three-and-a-half-year Japanese occupation (1942–1945), the founding father and statesman Sukarno stood on the veranda of his house in Jakarta and declared, with another great founding father and wise man Mohammad Hatta standing by his side, the independence of Indonesia on Aug. 17, 1945.
“We, the people of Indonesia, hereby declared the independence of Indonesia. Matters concerning the transfer of power and other matters will be executed in an orderly manner and in the shortest possible time. Signed, Djakarta, 17-8-‘05. On behalf of the people of Indonesia. Sukarno/Hatta.”
With these short, meaningful, and powerful words, Indonesia gained a free, independent and sovereign state—the State of the Republic of Indonesia.
The proclamation ceremony was held simple. But as Sukarno said in Sukarno: An Autobiography as Told to Cindy Adams, “what we lacked in pomp, we made up in hope. I walked to the microphone stolen from the Japanese radio station and tersely delivered our Proclamation.
“My wife, Fatmawati, had made a flag out of two pieces of cloth. A length of white material and one of red. She sewed them together by hand. This was the official banner of the Republic. After the flag went up we all sang Indonesia Raya.”
With Grand Old Red-and-White flag rising, Sukarno prayed in silence: “Alhamdulillah, God be praised, the colors of the Republic are now raised. If ever they are lowered again, it will be over the dead bodies of our seventy-two million brothers. Let it be that we never forget the slogan of the Revolution: Once Free, Forever Free!”
The struggle for independence was a milestone for our freedom. Indeed, Sukarno stood firmly with the people of Indonesia who have struggled for the freedom of Indonesia for hundreds of years.
