Page 31 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE
IN INDONESIA

the Tweede Kamer (Lower Council) did in the Netherlands. The members
would debate in the first and second terms, then propose a motion and
an amendment.

Meanwhile, towards the end of World War I, so-
cialists in the Netherlands urged the government
to make a democratic change, including regard-
ing the colonies in the Dutch East Indies. For
example, P. J. Troelstra (1860-1930), a politician
who actively supported the socialist labor move-
ment, wished to propel a revolution. Although he
failed, the Dutch Government had sent news to
the Dutch East Indies about the situation in the
mother country.

The news was delivered in the Volksraad meet-
ing on November 18, 1918. Mr. Dr. D. Talma as the
Government’s Representative for General Affairs
(Regeering Gemachtigde voor Algemeene Zaken)
read the November-verklaring (November State-
ment). The statement contained a new guideline
used by the government in its politics. He stated
that the government would revoke ineffective
rules in the Volksraad. This event was more pop-
ularly known as the November-belofte (Novem-
ber Promise).

Responding to the November-verklaring, mem-
bers of the Radical Concentration — Cokroami-
noto, Sastrowiyono, Dwijosewoyo, Cramer, Ra-
jiman Wedyodiningrat, Cipto Mangunkusumo,
Teeuwen, Abdul Muis, and Thayeb — proposed
a motion to the Volksraad on November 25, 1918.
Volksraad member, Kusumo Utoyo
(left side), along with Governor The motion was known as the “Cokroaminoto
General de Graeff after Volksraad Motion” .
Assembly Kick-Off in 1931.

(Source: De Sumatra Post, 29 July
1931) The motion was born out of unclarity in the draft of the guideline created
by the Dutch East Indies Government. Unclear issues included guideline
restrictions and the kind of changes that would take place.

On December 2, 1918, the government responded without answering
the questions posed by the motion. The government did not want to be

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