Page 123 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE
IN INDONESIA

The most spectacular efforts made for the
economy were related to the rationalization of the
army. Conservative factions within the military
Since the inauguration and conservative political elements opposed

of the Wilopo Cabinet the efforts, resulting in the failed rationalization
in October 1952. The attempt failed, and the
by President Soekarno, result was disastrous for the rationalization

the general election supporters and a blow for cabinet leaders and
their supporters.
has always been an
important issue that One result of that policy, on the morning of

has received significant October 17, a shocking demonstration began
on the streets of Jakarta. A group of people,
attention. One of the estimated at 5,000 men, broke into the parliament

Wilopo Cabinet’s building and called for “Parliament is not a Coffee
Shop”. From there, they marched around the Old
leading programs City, displaying well-painted banners calling for

was to hold general the dissolution of parliament and the holding of
elections.
elections for the

Constituent Assembly A crowd of 30,000 people demonstrated in front
of the President’s house. Then, through his ex-
and the Regional traordinary speech, President Soekarno scolded

Council. and calmed them down. President Soekarno
firmly stated that there would be elections as
soon as possible. He also said that he could not
dissolve parliament that way, and if the people
asked the President to do so, it would mean ask-
ing him to become a dictator.

The dissolution of the DPR was one of the issues in the Incident of Octo-
ber 17, 1952. In a situation of confusion and subsequent command shocks,
parliament could reaffirm the principle of civilian control over the military.

It was also a challenge for politicians to immediately carry out general
elections in a short period. Then, in April 1953, the passing of a law re-
lated to the general election finally came to light. Elections for members
of the DPR were done in September 1955, while elections for members of
the Constituent Assembly were planned for December 1955.

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