Page 27 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE
IN INDONESIA

tions. The goal was to discuss matters regarding the Volksraad and pre-
pare for the election. Organizations that participated in the committee
included Budi Utomo with two representatives, four royal organizations
with six representatives, the Regent Association with two representa-
tives, CSI with one representative, and two representatives from the
Teachers Association of the Dutch East Indies (PGHB). Of all organiza-
tions, PGHB was the only organization not being
assigned to leave for the Netherlands.

Approaching the election for Volksraad, the
Elected members were Dutch settlers in the Dutch East Indies simulta-
officially inducted to neously formed political parties. Conservative
groups consisting of Dutch government officials
the Volksraad on Mei were represented by Vereeniging van Ambtena-

18, 1918, with the first ren bij het Binnenlandsch Bestuur (VABB) or As-
sociation of Civil Servants at the Interior Admin-
session being opened by istration, formed in 1911.

Governor-General Mr. The elites, Dutch officials or otherwise, formed
Johan Paul Graaf van Nederlandsch-Indische Vrijzinnige Bond (NIVB)

Limburg Stirum. or the Dutch East Indies Liberal Association in
1916. This party was managed flexibly, with mem-
bership open to all indigenous populations.

Christians also formed their parties, such as the
Protestants who established Christelijke Ethische
Partij (CEP) or the Ethical Christian Party in September 1917. After the
Volksraad became official, the Roman Catholics established Indische
Katholieke Partij (IKP) in 1918. Before that, driven by Budi Utomo’s initia-
tive, the Chinese held a meeting on October 7, 1917 to select candidates
for the Volksraad.

The election was believed to have taken place in January 1918. Governor-
General Van Limburg Stirum presented the voting results to Colonial Mi-
nister Pleijte on January 21, 1918.

Elected members were officially inducted to the Volksraad on May 18,
1918, with the first session being opened by Governor-General Mr. Johan
Paul Graaf van Limburg Stirum. In his speech, he touched briefly on the
colonial government’s effort in establishing an advisory body since the
19th century. Furthermore, he expressed his optimism for the success of
this body in the future.

20