Page 54 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

FROM VOLKSRAAD TO THE CENTRAL INDONESIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
(1917–1949)

The advisory nature of the Chuo Sangi-In was ac-
tually similar to the Volksraad previously formed
by the Dutch East Indies Colonial Government.
Like the Chuo-Sangi In, the Volksraad’s authority The Japanese only
was limited to providing recommendations, not a established the
full-fledged legislative body.
Chuo Sangi-In for

At that time, war prohibited the Japanese from the sole purpose of
considering and establishing a people’s repre- answering questions
sentative system. The Japanese only established
the Chuo Sangi-In for the sole purpose of an- posed by the Japanese
swering questions posed by the Japanese mili- military government
tary government and providing inconsequential
recommendations to the operations of the Japa- and providing
nese occupation. inconsequential

Indonesian political figures were given a venue to recommendations to
express their aspirations, an institution to speak the operations of the
up just as the Dutch gave them the Volksraad, but
they were only expected to produce recommen- Japanese occupation.
dations that aligned with the Japanese military
government’s political strategy on Java, where
the Japanese issued a series of regulations in the
early days of occupation.

Based on Osamu Seirei No. 36 of 1943, Chuo Sangi-In could discuss is -
sues, such as: the expansion of the Military Government; improvement of
the people’s status, education and information; industrial and economic
issues; prosperity and social assistance; and health.

At a glance, the Chuo Sangi-In might seem to cover all important issues.
However, all was done in favor of the Japanese interests. As for the Indo-
nesian people, the contrary was true in areas such as status, welfare, so-
cial assistance and health. The occupation government proved to neglect
the above topics, although the Chuo Sangi-In had repeatedly proposed
these issues in the sessions. In fact, the Indonesian people’s status, wel-
fare, and health had continued to decline since the Japanese occupation.

All Chuo Sangi-In sessions were held in Jakarta. Regular sessions were
held every three months. Ten days before the trial was held, the Saiko
Shikikan would announce the matters to be discussed and the session’s
rules. Meanwhile, the Chuo Sangi-In Special Session was only held as

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