Thursday, 21 April 2016

Indonesian Flag History

By Margaret Linson


The first people in Indonesia arrived about 40,000 years ago when sea level was lower and it was joined to Asia by a land bridge. Then at the end of the last ice age about 10,000 BC a new wave of people came. At first, they hunted animals, collected shellfish and gathered plants for food. By about 2,500 BC they learned to grow crops such as taro, bananas, millet and rice. The early farmers also made pottery but all their tools were made of stone.

By the turn of the 20th century, nationalist stirring brought about by nearly three centuries of oppressive colonial rule, began to challenge the Dutch presence in Indonesia. A four-year guerilla war led by nationalists against the Dutch on Java after World War II, along with successful diplomatic maneuverings abroad, helped bring about independence. The Republic of Indonesia officially proclaimed on August 17th, 1945, gained sovereignty four years later.

In December 1948, the Dutch tried to retake Indonesia. This time, the Indonesians turned to guerrilla warfare and they were successful. The Dutch faced strong condemnation from powers like the USA and they realized they could not win the war. Finally, on 2 November 1949, the Dutch agreed to recognize Indonesian independence. Their troops withdrew in December 1949.

The banner of Indonesia is a bicolor banner of red and white, partitioned evenly with red on top and white beneath. The banner has been named Sang Saka Merah-Putih, which means the Sacred Red and White. The red and white of the Indonesian banner speak of the boldness and virtues. An extra typical importance for the hues is that red speaks to physical life and white symbolizes profound life, which joined people.

The flag of Indonesia is a bicolor flag of red and white, divided horizontally with red on top and white below. The flag has been named Sang Saka Merah-Putih, meaning the Sacred Red and White. The red and white of the Indonesian flag represent courage and purity respectively. An additional symbolic meaning for the colors is that red represents physical life and white symbolizes spiritual life, which combined humans.

To imply their freshly discovered freedom, Indonesians took the Dutch banners and uprooted the blue, making the red and white banner till today. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of Indonesian Flag for the future.




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