I was recently reminded that Soekarno’s birthday is in June, and then remembered a visit to the former Dutch Landraad courthouse in Bandung.
The Landraad Courthouse Bandung
It was here in 1930 that Soekarno gave his famous speech against colonialism, ‘Indonesia Menggugat’ or ‘Indonesia Accuses’ in the Dutch courtroom, before being sentenced to four years in prison.
Soekarno, his three co-accused and their lawyers
The building has since been restored as a museum dedicated to the memory of Soekarno and the three other leaders who were sentenced with him. In a beautiful touch of irony the restored building was officially opened by his daughter President Megawati Soekarno in 2002.
The Memorial Plaque
I was struck by the significance of a poster displayed in the building, of President Soekarno telling the nation:
“My struggle was easier because it was to expel the colonialists, but yours will be more difficult because it is against your own people.”
I was even more struck by another poster on display quoting the same words by Soekarno.
spiceislandsblog 
Good observation. Indeed an objective analysis today will show that Indonesia is its own worst enemy. This Tanahair has so much resources and potential, it should have been a BRIC country, but it’s lagging behind the BRICs. I say with this with sympathy and sadness as I’m half-Indonesian. 😦