Indonesian nationalism in Suriname: the Javanese political movement, 1946–1954

Abstract

The existence of Indonesian nationalism in the Javanese political movement in Suriname during the early independence of Indonesia (1946–1954) has received little attention. The study of Indonesian nationalism in the Javanese movement in Suriname can serve as evidence of the connection of the Indonesian people within a national framework at the dawn of independence, although they were far from the Indonesian archipelago. The purpose of this research is to explain the factors contributing to the growth of Indonesian nationalism in the Javanese movement in Suriname, to identify the forms of Indonesian nationalism within the Javanese movement in Suriname, and to analyze the impact of Indonesian nationalism on the Javanese movement in Suriname. Meanwhile, the research findings indicate that two Javanese political movements in Suriname, namely the Indonesian Farmers’ Union (KTPI) and the Indonesian People’s Movement of Suriname (PBIS), play a crucial role in instilling Indonesian nationalism among the Javanese-Surinamese community. The result of the struggles of the two Javanese movements was the widespread sense of nationalism among the Javanese-Surinamese community, as well as successfully prompting the Indonesian government to pay attention to the existence of the Javanese-Surinamese people as part of the Indonesian nation.