Labour Party (Indonesia)
Encyclopedia
The Labour Party was a political party
in Indonesia
. It was formed on December 25, 1949 by a group of former Labour Party of Indonesia
(PBI) members, who had disagreed with the merger of PBI into the Communist Party of Indonesia
.
The party had a degree of influence, as it counted on support from trade unions and had influence inside the Ministry of Labour. Iskandar Tedjasukmana was the Chairman of the Political Bureau of the party between 1951 and 1956. Iskandar Tedjasukmana represented the party in government, serving as Minister of Labour in the Sukiman
, Wilopo
and Burhanuddin Harahap
cabinets (1951–1956).
The party was officially Marxist, but in political practice more influenced by nationalism
. Inside the party leadership, there was a division between those who supported the 'oppositionist' positions of the Indonesian National Party
and Murba Party
, and another sector of intellectuals who were closer to the Socialist Party of Indonesia
.
When the People's Representative Council
(DPR) was formed in 1950, seven of its 236 members belonged to the Labour Party. As of 1951, the Labour Party claimed to have 60,000 members. In March 1951, the party was one of eleven parties that formed the Consultative Body of Political Parties
(BPP).
In 1952 trade unionists linked to the Labour Party founded the Himpunan Serikat-Serikat Buruh Indonesia trade union centre. The president of HISSBI A.M. Fatah was a Labour Party member.
The party obtained 224,167 votes in the 1955 legislative election
(0.6% of the national vote), and won two seats in the parliament. After the election the party joined the Fraction of Upholders of the Proclamation
, a hetergenous parliamentary group with ten MPs.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. It was formed on December 25, 1949 by a group of former Labour Party of Indonesia
Labour Party of Indonesia
-Indonesian Labour Front:The party was founded as a national trade union center, the Indonesian Labour Front , on September 15, 1945...
(PBI) members, who had disagreed with the merger of PBI into the Communist Party of Indonesia
Communist Party of Indonesia
The Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
.
The party had a degree of influence, as it counted on support from trade unions and had influence inside the Ministry of Labour. Iskandar Tedjasukmana was the Chairman of the Political Bureau of the party between 1951 and 1956. Iskandar Tedjasukmana represented the party in government, serving as Minister of Labour in the Sukiman
Sukiman Cabinet
The Sukiman Cabinet was an Indonesian cabinet that served from 27 April 1951 until 25 February 1952.-Cabinet Leadership:*Prime Minister: Sukiman Wirjosandjojo*Deputy Prime Minister: Suwirjo -Cabinet Members:...
, Wilopo
Wilopo Cabinet
The Wilopo Cabinet was an Indonesian cabinet that served from 1 April 1952 until 3 June 1953.-Cabinet Leadership:*Prime Minister: Wilopo *Deputy Prime Minister: Prawoto Mangkusasmito -Cabinet Members:...
and Burhanuddin Harahap
Burhanuddin Harahap Cabinet
The Burhanuddin Harahap was an Indonesian cabinet that served from 11 August 1955 until 3 March 1956.-Cabinet Leadership:*Prime Minister: Burhanuddin Harahap *First Deputy Prime Minister: R...
cabinets (1951–1956).
The party was officially Marxist, but in political practice more influenced by nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
. Inside the party leadership, there was a division between those who supported the 'oppositionist' positions of the Indonesian National Party
Indonesian National Party
The Indonesian National Party is the same used by several political parties in Indonesia from 1927 until the present day.-Pre-independence:...
and Murba Party
Murba Party
Murba Party was a 'national communist' political party in Indonesia. The party was founded by Tan Malaka's followers in 1948. The history of the party was largely intertwined with that of the powerful Communist Party of Indonesia . Initially relations between PKI and the Murba Party were fluid,...
, and another sector of intellectuals who were closer to the Socialist Party of Indonesia
Socialist Party of Indonesia
The Socialist Party of Indonesia was a political party in Indonesia from 1948 until 1960, when it was banned by President Sukarno.-Origins:...
.
When the People's Representative Council
People's Representative Council
The People's Representative Council , sometimes referred to as the House of Representatives, is one of two elected national legislative assemblies in Indonesia....
(DPR) was formed in 1950, seven of its 236 members belonged to the Labour Party. As of 1951, the Labour Party claimed to have 60,000 members. In March 1951, the party was one of eleven parties that formed the Consultative Body of Political Parties
Consultative Body of Political Parties
The Consultative Body of Political Parties was a loose coalition of political parties in Indonesia. A preparatory meeting, which would lead to the formation of BPP, was held on February 27, 1951. The BPP was officially launched on March 31, 1951, and a Common Programme adopted. The BPP Common...
(BPP).
In 1952 trade unionists linked to the Labour Party founded the Himpunan Serikat-Serikat Buruh Indonesia trade union centre. The president of HISSBI A.M. Fatah was a Labour Party member.
The party obtained 224,167 votes in the 1955 legislative election
Indonesian legislative election, 1955
Indonesia's first parliamentary general election was held on 29 September 1955. The candidates were seeking to be elected to the 257-seat People's Representative Council, which would replace the existing provisional legislature...
(0.6% of the national vote), and won two seats in the parliament. After the election the party joined the Fraction of Upholders of the Proclamation
Fraction of Upholders of the Proclamation
The Fraction of Upholders of the Proclamation was a parliamentary group in the Indonesian People's Representative Council, formed after the 1955 parliamentary election. The group included ten Members of Parliament...
, a hetergenous parliamentary group with ten MPs.