The Indonesian Embassy

The first flag was courageously flown amidst Japanese occupation forces on the day Indonesia’s independence was proclaimed. Since then it has been hoisted at Independence Day commemorations in front of the presidential palace in the capital city of Jakarta. This historical flag or "bendera pusaka," was flown for the last time on August 17. 1968. Since then it has been preserved and replaced by a replica woven of pure silk.

The Indonesian national flag is called "Sang Saka Merah Putih." As provided for in Article 35 of the 1945 Constitution, the flag is made up of two colours, red on top of white. Its width is two-thirds of its length, or two meters by three meters. It is hoisted in front of the presidential palace, of government buildings and Indonesian missions abroad.

The Indonesian coat of arms depicts a golden eagle, called "Garuda." which is a figure from ancient Indonesian epics. It is pictured on many temples from the 6^th Century. The eagle is a symbol of creative energy. Its principal colour, gold, suggests the greatness of the nation. There are 17 feathers on each wing, 8 on the tail and 45 on the neck. These figures stand for the date of Indonesia’s independence proclamation: 17 August 1945.

The motto. "Bhinneka Tunggal lka" (Unity in Diversity), is enshrined on a banner held in the eagle’s talons. Empu Tantular, a saint of the Majapahit Kingdom, introduced this old Javanese motto in the 15^th Century. It signifies the unity of the Indonesian people despite their diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The shield symbolizes self-defence in struggle and protection of oneself. The red and white colours on the shield’s background denote the colours of the Indonesian national flag. The five symbols on the shield represent the state philosophy of Pancasila. The bar across the centre indicates the equator which passes through the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Halmahera.

The golden star on the black background in the center of the shield represents the first principle of the Pancasila, belief in the One and Only God. The chain symbolizes successive human generations. The round links represent women and the square ones men. It is the symbol of the second principle, just and civilized humanity. The "beringin," or banyan tree, symbolizes the third principle, the unity on Indonesia. The head of the "banteng," or wild bull (bos javanicus), which is black on a red background, represents the fourth principle, democracy guided by the inner wisdom of deliberations of representatives. The gold and white paddy and cotton ears symbolize the fifth principle, social justice for all Indonesian people.

Following the resignation of President Suharto in 1998, Indonesian political and governmental structures have undergone major reforms. Four amendments to the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia have revamped the executive, judicial, and legislative branches. Highest authority is placed on the people represented in the Parliament. The president of Indonesia is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces, and the director of domestic governance, policy-making, and foreign affairs. The president appoints a council of ministers, who are not required to be elected members of the legislature. The 2009 presidential election was the second in which the people directly elected the president and vice president after the election in 2004, whereby President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla were elected into office. See United Indonesia Cabinet II (2009 - 2014).

The national anthem is "Indonesia Raya," which means The Great Indonesia. The song was composed in 1928. The colonial policy of the day was "divide and rule." It was a policy that deliberately aggravated language, ethnic, cultural and religious differences amongst the people. The birth of Indonesia Raya marked the beginning of Indonesian nationalist movements. Its composer, Wage Rudolf Supratman, at the second All Indonesian Youth Congress on October 28, 1928 in Batavia, now Jakarta, first introduced the song. It was the moment when Indonesian youth of different ethnic, language, religious and cultural backgrounds resolutely pledged allegiance to:

One native land, Indonesia;
One nation, the Indonesian nation;
One unifying language, the Indonesian language.

Soon the national song, which called for the unity of Indonesia, became popular. It was echoed at Indonesian political rallies, where people stood in solemn observance. Listen to Indonesia Raya.

The highest representative body at national level is the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Its main functions are supporting and amending the constitution, inaugurating the president, and formalizing broad outlines of state policy. It has the power to impeach the president. The MPR comprises two houses; the People's Representative Council (DPR), with 550 members, and the new chamber Regional Representatives Council (DPD), with 168 members. The DPR passes legislation and monitors the executive branch; party-aligned members are elected for five-year terms by proportional representation. Reforms since 1998 have increased the DPR's role in national governance.