Page 17 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE
IN INDONESIA

Volksraad (1918–1931)

The formation of the Volksraad in the Dutch East Indies was due to the situation

and condition of the people colonized by the Dutch East Indies Colonial Govern-
ment at the time. The foundation of the government system was designed by

Governor-General Herman Willem Daendels (1808–1811).

Established in 1918, the Volksraad can be

considered the precursor of the people’s

representative council in the Dutch East Indies

(now Indonesia). Volksraad is Dutch for people’s
T
council or parliament.

wo Dutch colonies had the Volksraad: the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek
(the South African Republic) and the Dutch East Indies. In South Africa,
the Volksraad had existed since the mid-19th century up until 1902. This
body had initially been unicameral with members as many as 24 people,
but in 1890 it became bicameral.

What about in the Dutch East Indies? The Volksraad in the Dutch East
Indies was not merely a consequence of the government system in the
Netherlands. According to Regerings Reglement (RR) 1854, the Dutch
government’s regulations, leadership in the Dutch East Indies was held
by a governor-general (gouverneur generaal). He must be Dutch and an-
swered to the Dutch King/Queen and parliament. According to the RR,
the Dutch East Indies was a wingewest, or profitable territory to the King-
dom of Netherlands.

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