Labour Party of Indonesia
Encyclopedia
The Labour Party of Indonesia was a political party
in Indonesia
.
, the Indonesian Labour Front (Barisan Buruh Indonesia, BBI), on September 15, 1945. At the BBI congress November 9, 1945, BBI transformed itself into a political party and adopted the name PBI.
. But in 1946 Setiadjit returned to Indonesia from exile in the Netherlands, and he assumed leadership of the party and became its chairman. Under Setiadjit, the collaborationist elements lost control over the party. Setiadjit's takeover in PBI was done with active support from the Indonesian government, as Sukarno
had feared strong 'anarcho-syndicalist
' tendencies of PBI. During the first year and half of the party under Setiadjit, the party was closely aligned with the larger Socialist Party
.
The mutation of BBI into PBI was not uncontroversial inside the BBI ranks. A group that wanted to concentrate on trade unionism left the party, and refounded the BBI on December 31, 1945. This BBI later adopted the name Gasbi.
with the Dutch
government. Sajap Kiri consisted of the PBI, Socialist Party
, Pesindo and the Communist Party of Indonesia
. At the time, the PBI was estimated to have around 1,000 members.
In March 1947, the Central Indonesian National Committee
(the Indonesian legislative body) was enlarged from 200 to 514 seats. The PBI faction grew from six deputies to 35.
In January 1948 PBI and Sajap Kiri went into opposition. In the coming month, Sajap Kiri evolved into the People's Democratic Front
, with PBI as one of its constituents.
(BBW) was the women's wing of the party. BBW was led by S.K. Trimurti (the first Indonesian Minister of Labour, serving in Amir Sjarifuddin
's cabinet 1947-1948), who was also a member of the PBI Executive.
was announced. Setiadjit openly declared that he had been a longtime communist.
In December 1949 one sector of the party, that had rejected the merger with the Communist Party, founded the Labour Party
, led by former Socialist Party of Indonesia
leader Iskandar Tedjasukmana.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.
Indonesian Labour Front
The party was founded as a national trade union centerNational trade union center
A national trade union center is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a single country. Nearly every country in the world has a national trade union center, and many have more than one. When there is more than one national center, it is often because of ideological differences—in some...
, the Indonesian Labour Front (Barisan Buruh Indonesia, BBI), on September 15, 1945. At the BBI congress November 9, 1945, BBI transformed itself into a political party and adopted the name PBI.
As a political party
Initially PBI was run by individuals who had worked at the Labour Department during the Japanese occupationJapanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
. But in 1946 Setiadjit returned to Indonesia from exile in the Netherlands, and he assumed leadership of the party and became its chairman. Under Setiadjit, the collaborationist elements lost control over the party. Setiadjit's takeover in PBI was done with active support from the Indonesian government, as Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
had feared strong 'anarcho-syndicalist
Anarcho-syndicalism
Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labour movement. The word syndicalism comes from the French word syndicat which means trade union , from the Latin word syndicus which in turn comes from the Greek word σύνδικος which means caretaker of an issue...
' tendencies of PBI. During the first year and half of the party under Setiadjit, the party was closely aligned with the larger Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Indonesia)
The Socialist Party was a political party in Indonesia. It was founded in December 1945 at a meeting in Cheribon, as the Socialist People's Party of Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir and the Socialist Party of Indonesia of Defence Minister Sjarifuddin merged...
.
The mutation of BBI into PBI was not uncontroversial inside the BBI ranks. A group that wanted to concentrate on trade unionism left the party, and refounded the BBI on December 31, 1945. This BBI later adopted the name Gasbi.
In national politics
The party joined the Konsenstrasi Nasional bloc, a pro-government alliance formed in May 1946. In October 1946, the government was broadened to include leaders from several political forces. A new pro-government coalition, Sajap Kiri, was founded to support the Linggadjati AgreementLinggadjati Agreement
The Linggadjati Agreement, also known as the Cheribon Agreement, was a political accord concluded on 15 November 1946 by the Dutch administration and the unilaterally declared Republic of Indonesia. Negotiations took place 11–12 November...
with the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
government. Sajap Kiri consisted of the PBI, Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Indonesia)
The Socialist Party was a political party in Indonesia. It was founded in December 1945 at a meeting in Cheribon, as the Socialist People's Party of Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir and the Socialist Party of Indonesia of Defence Minister Sjarifuddin merged...
, Pesindo and the Communist Party of Indonesia
Communist Party of Indonesia
The Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
. At the time, the PBI was estimated to have around 1,000 members.
In March 1947, the Central Indonesian National Committee
Central Indonesian National Committee
The Central Indonesian National Committee or KNIP, was a body appointed to assist the president of the newly independent Indonesia. Originally purely advisory, it later gained assumed legislative functions...
(the Indonesian legislative body) was enlarged from 200 to 514 seats. The PBI faction grew from six deputies to 35.
In January 1948 PBI and Sajap Kiri went into opposition. In the coming month, Sajap Kiri evolved into the People's Democratic Front
People's Democratic Front (Indonesia)
People's Democratic Front was a short-lived united front of leftists in Indonesia, founded in February 1948. FDR included the Communist Party of Indonesia, the Socialist Party, Labour Party of Indonesia, SOBSI and the Farmers Union. The leader of FDR was Amir Sjarifuddin....
, with PBI as one of its constituents.
Women's wing
The Working Women's FrontWorking Women's Front
The Working Women's Front was a women's organization in Indonesia, founded in 1945. BBW emerged through the merger of various women's workers groups. S.K. Trimurti was the leader of BBW. BBW was linked to the Barisan Buruh Indonesia . When the Labour Party of Indonesia was founded, BBW became the...
(BBW) was the women's wing of the party. BBW was led by S.K. Trimurti (the first Indonesian Minister of Labour, serving in Amir Sjarifuddin
Amir Sjarifuddin
Amir Sjarifuddin Harahap, also spelled Amir Sjarifoeddin Harahap was a socialist politician and one of the Indonesian Republic's first leaders, becoming Prime Minister during the country's National Revolution. A Christian convert from a Muslim Batak family, Amir was a major leader of the Left...
's cabinet 1947-1948), who was also a member of the PBI Executive.
Dissolution
In late August 1948, a merger of PBI into the Communist PartyCommunist Party of Indonesia
The Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
was announced. Setiadjit openly declared that he had been a longtime communist.
In December 1949 one sector of the party, that had rejected the merger with the Communist Party, founded the Labour Party
Labour Party (Indonesia)
The Labour Party was a political party in Indonesia. It was formed on December 25, 1949 by a group of former Labour Party of Indonesia members, who had disagreed with the merger of PBI into the Communist Party of Indonesia....
, led by former Socialist Party of Indonesia
Socialist Party of Indonesia
The Socialist Party of Indonesia was a political party in Indonesia from 1948 until 1960, when it was banned by President Sukarno.-Origins:...
leader Iskandar Tedjasukmana.