Do you know a song that Indonesians have sung for fifty years? It is called the "PETA March". PETA means Homeland Defense Volunteer Army in Indonesian.

"Asia rose against its enemy.
They have sacrificed themselves and tried their best.
To destroy the United Nations Army, they sacrificed their own lives.
March forward! PETA. You are the hero of Asia and Indonesia.
May God bless holy Asia.
Old Asia has struggled with their unhappy history. We suffered from tyranny many years.
The Great Japan stood up to the tyrants, saved Asia and protected us all.
March forward! PETA. You are the hero of Asia and Indonesia...."

Why Indonesian people sang about sung "The Great Japan"?

Frankly, when Japan made inroads into colonial Indonesia, its people got a chance to their independence from the Netherlands' colony. Indonesians have believed that as Asians, a colored race, they could not escape from the Caucasian's dominance by the Dutch's cruel and systematic colonial policies. However, suddenly the Japanese, smaller than Caucasians, came to Indonesia and the Dutch Army totally surrendered after only nine days. The Japanese had the same body color and hair color and they beat the white people instantly. Indonesians saw this fact and believed they too can do that.

They now had the courage to do so. The Japanese were welcomed by the Indonesians. Japanese brought off Achamad Sukarno and Muhamad Hatta, the Indonesian independence leaders, from the place of exile and asked them cooperate with the Japanese occupation. They believed the Japanese promise will help the independence of Indonesia and agreed with the Japanese approach. Then, after three and a half years--until the surrender of Japan, the Japanese army established a military administration, totally differed from the Dutch colonial system. If you want to know more details, you can read some materials we recommend at the end of this article (but books written in Japanese).

Let's take a look at a history textbook for the 9th grade students in Indonesia:

"The Japanese occupation left great merits to influence our history. First of all, Japanese prohibited the speaking of Dutch and/or English language. Hence, Indonesian language grew and spread throughout the country. During the three and a half years of Japanese occupation, the Indonesian language improved marvelously. Secondly, the Japanese provided military training to young Indonesians. Prior to this, they used poor weapons of bamboo spears and wooden model rifle guns. However, Indonesians were taught by the strict Japanese military discipline and trained to fight bravely and to not surrender easily. Thirdly, the Japanese gave us a higher position because Dutch was gone from part of our country, especially the working place. They trusted us and left important assignments with responsibilities."

Sculpture imaged from bamboo spears

Japanese people never learn these facts, but Indonesian students are taught of these facts in school.

However, after Japan surrendered to the United Nations, the British Army came to re-occupy Indonesia first, and then the Dutch Army but Indonesia was not what she used to be. Indonesians were now warriors to fight to regain their independence on their own power. Before the United Nation's Army came to Indonesia, Sukarno and Hatta read The Declaration of Independence of Indonesia in front of its citizens on August 17th, 1945 at 10 a.m. The date of the document of The Declaration of Independence of Indonesia was written on "17-8-05" ? What is this the year of "05"? It was based on the Japanese original imperial calendar called "Koki" or "Jinmu Kigen". Anno Domini began from the year of birth of Jesus Christ. "Koki" began from the year of the Emperor Jinmu(Jinmu Tenno), the first emperor of Japan ascended the Imperial throne. However they are not accurate, because both episodes came from a legend or a myth.

The year A.D. 1945 is Koki 2605. Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia and Hatta, the first vice president decided to use "Koki" on their most important declaration date. If you doubt the fact, you can see the relief of The Declaration of Independence of Indonesia between the bronze statues of Sukarno and Hatta in the Sukarno-Hatta memorial park (the piazza of Declaration of Independence) at Jakarta. Also in Bali, a popular sightseeing resort of honeymooners and surfboarders, you can buy a "Koki" calendar.

Statue of Sukarno and Hatta

Let's get back to the original topic. Indonesians wanted to gain independence, however, their lost the Japanese power to back them up. They suffered from a deadly combat. They were militarily trained by the Japanese for three and a half years, however, they could not win the British and Dutch armies easily with the modern weapons. At that time, many Japanese officers and soldiers stayed in Indonesia (they felt responsible for the Indonesian independence). Japanese Officers and soldiers lead the battle and stood in front of the Indonesian people and fought the Independence War. As many as half of those Japanese died during the war. Indonesian people fought against the British and Dutch Armies for four years and 800 thousand Indonesians sacrificed their lines. The heroes of the war were dispatched with a reverence at the National Heroic Cemetery in Karibata, suburb of Jakarta. Japanese volunteer army did the same.

On the Independence Day of Indonesia, PETA's veterans have a ceremony. A man and woman in traditional Indonesian wears, with a man in old Japanese Army uniform display a big national flag of Indonesia. They respect the old Japanese army. They remember the Japanese assistance for Indonesia's independence. Regretfully, most Japanese do not know this honorable truth.

PETA soldiers and a ceremony of PETA veterans

During the war compensation conference between Japan and Indonesia, Aruji Karutawinata, the chairman of National Congress, negotiated with Nobusuke Kishi, Japanese Prime Minister. Aruji Karutawinata knew the Japanese effort for the Indonesian independence, because he was one of the great readers of PETA. He said to Kishi " Give us 'compensation' as a gift for our independence. I have never complained of Japanese war crime during WWII. At that time, in Indonesia, they advanced a suggestion to send a mission of appreciation to Japan. You can understand the reason why Indonesians sing the song we introduce earlier in this article. Believe it or not, we the Japanese, and Indonesians were connected by such historical friendship.

Such is the ignominious record of Dutch colonial administration. The Dutch are demanding the Emperor for an apology for past history, yet their Queen Beatrix who visited Indonesia in 1995 said not a word of apology for past history.

Surely the term "Dutch account" is not a selective procedure of taking into account what are convenient of one's history. Originally, it must have meant fair and equitable behavior for both sides.

*For more information about the relations between Japan and Indonesia, please read following books or watch these video software or website:

"Sekai Kara Mita Daioua-Sensou" (The Grate East Asia War, from the viewpoint of the world)
By NAGOSHI Futaranosuke / Published by Tenden-sha, Tokyo

"Asia Ni Ikiru Daitoua-Sensou" (The Grate East Asia War, living in Asia)
By ASEAN Center / Published by Tenden-sha, Tokyo

"Minami No Sokoku Ni Ikite--Indonesia zanryuu nihon-hei no genzai"
(Living in Southern motherland-- the present status of Japanese soldier stayed in Indonesia)
BY KAMISAKA Fuyuko / Published by Bungei-shunju, Tokyo

"Kyokasho Ga Oshienai Tounan-Asia, Thai, Malaysia, Indonesia Hen"
(What Schools Don't Teach about Southeast Asia; Thai, Malaysia and Indonesia)
By FUJIOKA Nobukatsu & Jiyu-suhugi Shikan Kenkyukai / Published by Fusou-sha, Tokyo

VIDEO : "Dokuritsu Asia no Hilkari-- Tounan-Asia No Rekishi to Gendai"
(The light of independence ASIA --The history and present status of the Southeast Asia)
from Nihon Kaigi, Tokyo

WEBSITE : AKANO Tatsuya "Houkago Honne No Nihonshi" (True Japanese History Taught After School) http://members.at.infoseek.co.jp/redfieldskardia/