The Significance of the First Session of the Indonesian National Council

The first session of the Indonesian National Council (Dewan Rakyat) was a pivotal moment in the country's history. It took place on August 17, 1945, and was attended by prominent figures such as Chaeroel Saleh, Soekarni, and Wikana. During the session, Chaeroel Saleh delivered a scathing critique of the Council of People's Representatives (PPKI), which he believed was still influenced by Japan. He advocated for the relocation of the meeting to a more open venue, allowing the public to observe the proceedings. Additionally, he requested that the PPKI be replaced by the Indonesian National Committee (KNI). Mohammad Hatta, as recorded in his book "Untuk Negeriku," responded to the demands of the young generation represented by Chaeroel Saleh. He stated, "To Japan, we say that this is a meeting of the panel, and to the people, we take responsibility for this being the first meeting of the Indonesian National Committee." Sukarno fully supported Mohammad Hatta's statement. During the session, a heated debate ensued regarding the objections raised by adherents of religions other than Islam to the phrase in the draft of the preamble to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, "Ketoehanan, dengan kewajiban menjalankan syariat Islam bagi pemeluk-pemeluknya." A Japanese naval officer conveyed the objections to Mohammad Hatta on the evening of August 17, 1945. Mohammad Hatta discovered that adherents of religions other than Islam in Indonesia's eastern region, including Johannes Latuharhary, felt discriminated against by the presence of the aforementioned phrase. It was said that they preferred to stand outside the newly independent Republic of Indonesia if the phrase was not changed (Hatta, 1970). In response, Mohammad Hatta, as the vice chairman of the PPKI, convened a small meeting with Islamic leaders on the morning of August 18, 1945, before the first session began to discuss the phrase "Ketoehanan, dengan kewajiban menjalankan syariat Islam bagi pemeluk-pemeluknya" that was still present in the draft of the preamble to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. History records that the meeting took place. In conclusion, the first session of the Indonesian National Council was a crucial event that laid the foundation for the country's future. It was during this session that important discussions took place, shaping the course of Indonesia's history. The debates and resolutions reached during this session continue to influence the nation today.