Japanese Liberation

             One  of the main and critical contributors to Indonesian independence was the imperialistic Japanese themselves. Though the Japanese are generally only credited as the oppressors of Asia throughout World War II, they were also instigators of a great nationalistic movement in Indonesia that eventually lead to the decolonization and independence of Indonesia.

            Of course there were several other nationalist movements before the Japanese seized control of the Dutch East Indies from Japan, but they were all in check and under control by the Dutch. Some of the largest of the former movements were associated with specific factions, such as Islam and Communism.(10) However, neither faction by itself held enough numbers or influence to pose a serious threat to the Dutch. After the failed revolt of the Communists, a soon to be influential leader Sukarno created a group that finally associated its nationalistic qualities with just the fight for independence, not with specific factions.

            However, this movement only became largely successful after the Dutch fell from power and the Japanese, having interred Dutch rulers, had to cooperate with the Indonesians for the administration of the country.(11) Sukarno worked within this system to eventually lead to native Indonesian control over the archipelago and independence after the consequent Japanese fall in World War II. (12) It was obvious that the Japanese were important in being the spark that greatly furthered the Indonesian fight for independence.

                                          

                                                                        

 Modern Day Indonesia