Page 150 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

EFFORT TO REUNITE THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
(1950 – 1960)

of Staff dated June 3, 1959, No. Prt/Peperpu/040/1959. The regulation
contained the prohibition to carry out political activities throughout
Indonesia.

Soekarno, in the end, chose another way to return to the 1945 Constitu-
tion, namely through a Presidential Decree, which was unconstitutional.
However, many people accepted the decree as a solution because even
the constitutional steps through the Constituent Plenary Session, which
were filled by long debates, could not be fully realized. Moreover, the fear
of the impending government crisis and pressure from the Army were
driving forces behind Soekarno’s presidential decree.

On July 5, 1959, Soekarno issued a Presidential Decree on Returning to
the 1945 Constitution. Soekarno’s crucial action was based on staats-
noodrecht or national safety law in a state of extreme danger. Through
the Presidential Decree of July 5, 1959, Sukarno’s ideas in the Presidential
Concept stated two years earlier in 1957 were achieved. A copy of the
decree:

DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
INDONESIA/SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMY

ON THE RETURN TO THE 1945 LAW

BY THE GRACE OF GOD ALMIGHTY
WE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA/
SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMY,

Hereby solemnly declare:

Whereas, the recommendation of the President and the Gover-
nment to return to the 1945 Constitution, delivered to all Indone-
sians by Presidential Mandate on April 22, 1959, did not obtain
a decision from the Constituent Assembly as specified in the
Provisional Constitution;

Whereas, in connection with the statement of the majority of
Constituent Assembly members to no longer attend the sessi-
on, the Constituent is no longer likely to deliver the task entrus-
ted to it by the People;

dpr.go.id 143