Federal Consultative Assembly
Encyclopedia
The Federal Consultative Assembly, or Bijeenkomst voor Federaal Overleg (BFO) was a committee established by the Netherlands
to administer the Republic of the United States of Indonesia
(RUSI) during the Indonesian National Revolution
(1945–1949). It consisted of the leaders of the 15 federal states and special territories within the RUSI with each state having one vote. It would be responsible for establishing an interim government by 1948 as envisioned in the BIO Decree. Most of the BFO representatives came from the Outer Islands where the Republican presence was weaker and support for the Dutch federal states was stronger.
Due to its ties with the Dutch, the BFO were regarded as collaborators by the Indonesian Republicans who distrusted the federal system and advocated a unitary
Republic of Indonesia. Following the Second Dutch police action
in December 1948, the BFO supported the United Nations
Security Council resolution which called for the restoration of the Republican government in Yogyakarta prior to engaging in the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference
at the Hague. Following meetings with the imprisoned Republican leadership at Bangka
and a successful Republican counter-attack on Yogyakarta in 3 March 1949, the BFO became increasingly disillusioned with Dutch atrocities and advocated the inclusion of the Republicans in negotiations and the federal system.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to administer the Republic of the United States of Indonesia
Republic of the United States of Indonesia
The Republic of the United States of Indonesia , also abbreviated as RUSI, was a federal state to which the Netherlands formally transferred sovereignty of the Dutch East Indies on 27 December 1949 following the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference...
(RUSI) during the Indonesian National Revolution
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
(1945–1949). It consisted of the leaders of the 15 federal states and special territories within the RUSI with each state having one vote. It would be responsible for establishing an interim government by 1948 as envisioned in the BIO Decree. Most of the BFO representatives came from the Outer Islands where the Republican presence was weaker and support for the Dutch federal states was stronger.
Due to its ties with the Dutch, the BFO were regarded as collaborators by the Indonesian Republicans who distrusted the federal system and advocated a unitary
Unitary state
A unitary state is a state governed as one single unit in which the central government is supreme and any administrative divisions exercise only powers that their central government chooses to delegate...
Republic of Indonesia. Following the Second Dutch police action
Operatie Kraai
Operatie Kraai was the code name for a Dutch military offensive against the newly formed Republic of Indonesia in December 1948 - January 1949...
in December 1948, the BFO supported the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council resolution which called for the restoration of the Republican government in Yogyakarta prior to engaging in the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference
Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference
The Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference was held in the Hague from August 23 - November 2, 1949, between representatives of the Netherlands, the Republic of Indonesia and the BFO representing various states the Dutch had created in the Indonesian archipelago...
at the Hague. Following meetings with the imprisoned Republican leadership at Bangka
Bangka Island
Bangka is an island lying east of Sumatra, Indonesia. Population 626,955. Area: c.4,600 sq mi .There is an additional small island named Pulau Bangka in northern Sulawesi, Indonesia.-Geography:...
and a successful Republican counter-attack on Yogyakarta in 3 March 1949, the BFO became increasingly disillusioned with Dutch atrocities and advocated the inclusion of the Republicans in negotiations and the federal system.