The Powerless People's Council or Volksraad

In 1916 Sarikat Islam held its first
convention in Bandung and resolved the demand for self-government
for Indonesia in cooperation with the Dutch. When Sarikat Islam
demanded a share in the legislative power in the colony, the Dutch
responded by setting up the Volksraad in 1918 which was virtually a
powerless people's council with an advisory status.


Indonesian representatives on the
council were indirectly elected through regional councils, but some
of the other members were appointed colonial officials.

The Volksraad later developed into a
semi-legislative assembly. Among the members of this body were
prominent nationalist leaders like Dr. Tjipto Mangunkusumo, H.O.S.
Tjokroaminoto, Abdul Muis, Dr. G.S.S.J. Ratulangi, M.H. Thamrin,
Wiwoho, Sutardjo Kartohadikusumo, Dr. Radjiman, and Soekardjo
Wiryopranoto.

Under the pressure of the social
unrest in the Netherlands at the end of World War I, the Dutch
promised to grant self-government to Indonesians. This was known as
the "November promise." It was a promise that was never
met.

Besides the Volksraad, there was
another body called Raad van Indie, "the Council of the
Indies," whose the members were appointed by the Government
Achmad Djajadiningrat and Sujono were among the very few Indonesian
members of this council.

In 1923 deteriorating economic
conditions and increasing labor strikes prompted the colonial
government to put severe restrictions on Indonesian civil liberties
and make amendments to the colonial laws and penal codes. Freedom of
assembly, speech and expression in writing was restricted.

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