On 11 March 1966 in Jakarta , in a tense situation following the ” 30 September 1965 movement “, Indonesian President Soekarno rallied his government. He is told that “unidentified troops” surround the presidential palace. Soekarno takes a helicopter and goes to the presidential palace in Bogor , 60 km south of Jakarta.

General Soeharto , who had taken the lead in the repression of the “September 30th movement,” went to Bogor, accompanied by two other generals. They come back with a ” Surat Perintah Sebelas Maret ” (“Order of 11 March”) signed by Soekarno, whereby the president “orders” General Soeharto to “take the necessary measures to ensure the security and calm, the stability of government and the smooth running of the Revolution “. This “order” will be considered by Soeharto as a transfer of power.

The name Supersemar alluded to Semar, a Javanese wayang kulit ( shadow theater) character, both a servant and advisor to princes, the incarnation of the supreme deity.

With the severe economic crisis following the Asian financial crisis of 1997 , Indonesian students are mobilizing to denounce the regime.

The document

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

ORDER

I. Recital
1.1 The Present State of the Revolution and the National and International Political Situation
1.2 The Agenda of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces / President / Major Commander of the Revolution of March 8, 1966

II. Take into account
2.1 The need for calm and stability of the government and the progress of the Revolution
2.2 The need for a guarantee of the integrity of the great leader of the Revolution, [the armed forces] and the people to preserve the leadership and the obligations of the President / Supreme Commander / Grand Commander of the Revolution and his teachings

III. Decides / Orders
GENERAL OF ARMY BODIES Soeharto, MINISTER / Commander of the Army
For: On behalf of the President / Supreme Commander / Grand Commander of the Revolution
1. Take all measures deemed necessary to ensure the security and calm as well as the stability of the course of the Revolution, as well as to guarantee the personal security and the authority of the leadership of the President / Supreme Commander / Great Leader of the Revolution / holder of the mandate of the [Provisional People’s Consultative Assembly] for the good of the integrity of the Nation and State of the Republic of Indonesia, and resolutely implement all the teachings of the Great Commander of the Revolution.
2. Coordinate the execution of orders to commanders of other forces to the best of his ability.
3. Report all actions related to rights and responsibilities as above.

IV. Finished

Djakarta, March 11, 1966

PRESIDENT / SUPREME COMMANDER / GREAT COMMANDER OF THE REVOLUTION / HOLDER OF THE MANDATE OF [The Consultative Assembly of the Provisional People]

SUKARNO 1

Bibliography

  • Cayrac-Blanchard, Françoise, Indonesia, the army and the power , L’Harmattan, 1991

References

  1. ↑ Sekretariat Negara Republik Indonesia (1985)