The Volksraad (People's Council) was an advisory, and later semi-legislative institution for the Dutch East Indies, provided for by law in 1916 but only established with the actual installation of the Council in 1918. It was a hesitant and slow attempt at democratisation of the Dutch East Indies as part of the "ethical policy" adopted by the Dutch government. The power of the Volksraad was limited as it only had advisory powers. Although part of the council was elected, only a small proportion of the population had voting rights.
Initially, the Volksraad had 39 members, eventually rising to 60. It was reconstituted every four years. The members were partly elected, and partly appointed by the colonial administration.
Contents
Background
The idea of a representative body in the Dutch East Indies arose partly because of the Ethical Policy implemented by the Dutch government as part of a move away from simple exploration of the colony towards expressing concern for the Indonesian people and their wellbeing. During World War I, the Dutch became worried about a possible Japanese threat to the East Indies. Given the small size of the local Dutch forces available for defense, the colonial authorities asked Indonesian leaders if Indonesians would be willing to be drafted into military service. The Indonesian Budi Utomo political society supported the idea of a militia, but the Sarekat Islam political organization rejected this idea, refusing to fight for a colony in which they had no legislative representation. Budi Utomo came around to this view by 1915. In 1916-1917 a group comprising delegates from Budi Utomo, Sarekat Islam, and the Union of Regents as well as from regions of Java travelled around the Netherlands campaigning for representation and pleaded their case with Queen Wilhelmina. Although the Dutch refused to consider any power sharing, they realized that limited concessions might be necessary, and on 16 December 1916, following a proposal from Colonial Affairs Minister Thomas Bastiaan Pleyte, a Wet (Dutch law) was passed establishing an advisory body without any legislative powers, the Volksraad.
In early 1918, the Volksraad election results were announced. Abdul Muis (Sarekat Islam) and Abdoel Rivai (Insulinde) were elected, but most of the other elected Indonesian members were government officials, not party members. Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies Johan Paul, Count van Limburg Stirum was unhappy with this outcome as he wanted more radical Indonesians in the Volksraad so they could be tamed. He used his authority to appoint other members including Tjokroaminoto (Sarekat Islam) and Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo (Insulinde).
Formation and actions
The Volksraad was officially founded in Weltevreden, Batavia, Java, on 18 May 1918 by the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Johan Paul, Count van Limburg Stirum (1873–1948). The building used for the Volksraad, built by the Dutch in 1830, is on Jalan Pejambon in Central Jakarta. In 1945 it was used for meetings of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence. As future president Sukarno gave his famous Pancasila speech there, it is now known as the Pancasila Building (Indonesian: Gedung Pancasila).
There were two short Volksraad sessions every year. In its first session, which opened on 21 May 1918, Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger was elected chairman for 1918–1919. A motion to send a "loyal cable" to the Queen of the Netherlands was rejected, while another allowing debates to be conducted in Malay was passed. In the second session that year, in November, the 'Radicale Concentratie' was established as a faction. Through it, Tjokroaminito called for the Volksraad to become more than just an advisory body, but a representative body for the people of the Dutch East Indies, especially native Indonesians. The strong criticism of the colonial administration from both Indonesian and Dutch members, especially given the turbulent political events in Europe at the time, caused so much concern that in November Governor-General van Limburg Stirum addressed the Volksraad and promised extensive administrative reforms. This motivated Indonesian nationalist figures and Tjoroaminoto immediately organised members and put forward a motion for the government to immediately bring about the major changes promised to the political system and governance of the East Indies. The motion, proposed by the 'Radicale Concentratie' called on the administration to
immediately establish an elected parliament with the right to pass laws
work with domestic political organisations
establish a new government acceptable to the Volksraad before 1921
The Dutch government established a commission headed by Professor Carpentier Alting to study the motion. Based on the advice of this commission, the motion was rejected almost two years later in 1920. The unkept promises from the governor-general subsequently became known bitterly as the "November promises".
Membership
At the start, 15 of the 39 members were native-born Indonesians, with the other seats occupied by Europeans and "foreign orientals". In 1927 the total number of seats was increased to 60. Of the 30 native-born members, 20 were elected, and 10 were appointed.
In 1922, the Dutch constitution was revised to state that unless specially reserved, all authority was delegated to the East Indies, the constitution of which would also have to be revised and approved by the Dutch parliament. One result was that the three groups represented in the Volksraad, the Dutch, Indonesians, and other orientals, had separate elections for their representatives. This ensured the Indonesian representatives would not have a majority, thus protecting Dutch interests.
The term of office for Volksraad members was three years, in 1925 increased to four years. Famous Indo-European members included Karel Zaalberg and Dick de Hoog.
There were also representatives of the colony's Vreemde Oosterlingen, or 'Foreign Orientals', including Chinese members, such as Khouw Kim An, Majoor der Chinezen, H. H. Kan, Loa Sek Hie, and Phoa Liong Gie. Arab members included Abdullah bin Alwi Alatas.
Among prominent indigenous parliamentarians in the Volksraad were the Javanese Tjokroaminoto and Mohammad Husni Thamrin, the Ahmad Djajadiningrat, the Sumatrans Agus Salim and Mangaradja Soeangkoepon, and the Menadonese Sam Ratulangi.
The last Volksraad election was in 1939, although this was still an indirect process. One-tenth of the population chose 937 electors, and a further 515 were appointed by the colonial administration. The process resulted in eleven of the 19 Indonesian Volksraad members being active or former government officials. Dutch Governor-General van Starkenborgh wanted to appoint an Indonesian, Achmad Djajadiningrat, as chairman but was overruled by Dutch Minister of Colonial Affairs Charles Welter, who appointed Dutchman Jan Jonkman.