Labor Solidarity and Nasionalism Defending Independence

Have you ever thought about the role of laborers in the struggle for Indonesian independence?

The film masterminded by Joris Ivens, a well-known poet, was able to spark the film product Esperance Bay's Journey which can awaken the spirit of nationalism by telling gradually about the anxiety over oppression and exploitation of both natural and human resources experienced by Indonesian workers by the allies. for the three and a half centuries (350 years) that this was the Netherlands. The film is full of meaning with the solidarity aspect of other nations, such as in the scene of the declaration of independence for the Indonesian people delivered by the Australian trade union.

At the beginning of the story, 1,400 Indonesian citizens leave the land of kangaroos for the archipelago, whose main goal is the island of Java in 1945. The story of Indonesia Calling also contains various groups of trade union organizations from various countries, such as Waterside, Seaman Unions, Chinese Unions, and Indisans. Seamen Unions also supported the struggle for Indonesian independence, although at the core Australia was the main pioneer behind the various assistance and support received for the boycott movement for Indonesian workers in Australia. It was also told that the brotherhood between Indonesians who are in Australia and Australians runs harmoniously and is able to co-exist with full tolerance.

The beginning came from the stop work movement which was a response to the news of the proclamation of Indonesian nationality by the Dutch allies who immediately mobilized troops in Australia to attack and again try to occupy Indonesia. However, several workers who worked at the port and also joined the labor union there immediately informed their other colleagues so that all the workers there took an organized strike attitude. This effort was considered successful as seen by the cessation of all activities at the port and the activity of stopping work or boycotting all ship activities containing thousands of troops with sufficiently complete weapons who were planning to launch a military aggression towards the archipelago. waged by workers from other cross countries such as workers from China, India, Australia and even some Dutch workers also participated in this movement based on a social sense, a sense of solidarity and a sense of nationalism which is inherent globally within their respective workers.

 declaration of oath of independence of workers on the streets of sydney city (Source Media: The Conversation)

The view from the Australians themselves is that Indonesians who are far away from their homeland still think about the conditions for the independence of their nation and this spirit is very much reflected in the activities that Indonesians carry out, even in one scene it is said that Indonesian workers do not hesitate to swear against Indonesian independence on the streets of Sydney City. Leaders of various countries also support the principles of the Atlantic Charter which contains freedom for all nations and this includes the freedom to live as a state, among the country's leaders include Pandhit Nehru (India), Manuilsky and Vyshinky (Soviet Union), and President Romulo (Philippines)

If you have principles like what has been explained in the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution that independence is the right of all nations. And now the Indonesian people must also admit that the success of the struggle for independence for the Indonesian nation was not only the efforts of the heroes who died on the battlefield, but also the work of nations around the world who have supported it in various ways and at high risk.

From several things shown in the film Indonesia Calling, we disseminate that to contribute to an emancipatory movement or the spirit of advancing the nation, we do not have to look at things that are physical in nature, such as skin color or religion. My own personal perception of viewing this film is a slap in the face for the people who were swayed on the issue of sara during the electoral contest. Seeing this film, we can see for ourselves the paradigm devolution of Indonesian society. With the built narrative that the military and elites play a greater role in the struggle of the Indonesian nation, even though in reality the struggle and movement of the workers are often sidelined or underestimated, when examined more deeply in fact all these parties play an important role in the struggle. defend Indonesian independence.