A look at the risible role of the Indonesian Social Democratic Party, largely made up of colonials, in overseeing Dutch imperialism in the colony.

‘How the Social Democrats Betray the Workers in Indonesia’ by M. Muzzo from International Press Correspondence. Vol. 8 No. 1. January 5, 1928.

In a colony like Indonesia where the workers are totally deprived of any rights, the position of the social democrats is rather difficult. They are appealing to the colonised people to unite under their guidance. Along a peaceful and evolutionary way, avoiding all barbaric violence or bloodshed, after a certain time Indonesia will get its emancipation from the Dutch domination. The social-democracy in Indonesia, being a semi-governmental party, used the above phrases to counteract the revolutionary propaganda of the Communists. There, where the conflict between labour and capital is also aggravated by the hateful race and colour prejudices, the social democrats, of whom most are Dutchmen, without hesitation, stand on the side of the oppressors. During the uprising, when they knew that the workers could not get the victory, they stated that it was the duty of every loyal worker, to back the government by breaking the Communist influence among the workers. The communists intend to destroy the existing authority and to disturb the peace of society. Therefore the Indonesian Social Democratic Party (I.S.D.P.), co-operating with its brother party in Holland, fights with might and main against those who intend to make Indonesia free from Dutch domination.

The social democrats in Indonesia being Dutchmen, most of them are high officials of the Government and well-paid employees of capitalist concerns.

Nowadays after the uprising (November 1926) when the government is getting very aggressive against all organisations which have the slightest aim to act against the existing authority or against the imperialists, the social demcrats are entirely driven to the side of the ruling class. From many reactionary quarters the proposals were made to purge the government’s apparatus from all officials who had socialist tendencies. Not only the communists but also the social democrats were marked as those who were considered as being dangerous. The capitalist press in Indonesia without distinction heatedly discussed this question. Both the social democrats and the Communists are opposed to the monarchy. But the practice is quite different. Social democracy in Western countries and in Indonesia can co-operate with the ruling class, but this is not the case with the Communists. But another conservative paper, “The News van Den Dag”, the organ of a catholic group in Indonesia, stated that the social democrats when they get the opportunity, can be as dangerous as the Communists. Therefore not only the Communists but also the social democrats must be kept out of government departments.

To Indonesian social democracy this proposal was like a bolt from the blue. Real consternation reigned among the social democrats, because most of them were functioning government officials. In order to prevent this, the Executive of the Indonesian Social Democratic Party made an application to the municipality of Meester Cornelis.

Here below is a summary of the request of the Executive Committee of the I.S.D.P. printed in “De Indische Courant” of August 20, 1927:

“The Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party of Indonesia has learned of your proposal to the effect that no member of the S.P.D. of Indonesia or of the C.P. of Indonesia can be employed either in the State or municipal service. Should this proposal be adopted, then all social democrats who are members of the State administration or are State officials will be deprived of their posts. The motive and the tendency of this proposal lie in a misunderstanding regarding the character of the Social Democratic Party.

“The social democracy shows by its participation in parliament and other organs in Indonesia, Holland etc., that it aims solely at carrying out constructive work. The loyalty of its character is proved by its participation in the government and other institutions in various countries.

“That this character is also acknowledged by the government is shown by the appointment of two social democrats as members of the Volksraad (People’s Council). The exclusion of the social democrats from the municipalities and government apparatus is based on a wrong idea as to the democracy, conception of the Soreover, it would be in contradiction with the ordinance of the Indonesian Government No. 193 issued in May 25th, 1926, etc., etc.”

The above quoted statement of the Indonesian social democracy is that further evidence the social democracy in general, when the fight between labour and capital has reached the culminating point, is becoming an integral part of the capitalist clique. Fortunately the majority of the colonised Indonesian working class is already awakened and understands very well the hollow phrases of the lackeys of the bloodsuckers.

Owing to the fact that the leaders of the social democracy in Indonesia belong to the class of the oppressors, the influence of the I.S.D.P. has reached only the Dutch population. Even native intelligentsia and native high officials are immune from the influence of the yellow socialists. Up to the present time the social democrats have succeeded in attracting Dutch postal and railroad workers and some well-paid native officials. In leading the trade unions of the Dutch workers the social democrats have shown distinctly that they are willing and conscious servants of the imperialists. Last September the People’s Council discussed the abolishment of the exorbitante rechten (the special right given to the governor general to banish everyone who is suspected of being a dangerous element). On the basis of this Exorbitante Rechten, after the uprising there were more than 2000 communists and leaders of trade unions exiled to the malaria smitten district of Boven Digul amidst the jungle in New Guinea. The social democrats declared earnestly that for the time being (a score of years to come) the Exorbitante Rechten was necessary. This was not only because they wished to deceive the workers, but also because they knew, although in illegality, there was in Indonesia still a great number of communists whose influence was still predominant among the workers and the peasants. The social democrats were glad that they, by means of the government, could get rid of their antagonists, the communists, who had fought courageously shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed and exploited workers of Indonesia.

International Press Correspondence, widely known as”Inprecorr” was published by the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) regularly in German and English, occasionally in many other languages, beginning in 1921 and lasting in English until 1938. Inprecorr’s role was to supply translated articles to the English-speaking press of the International from the Comintern’s different sections, as well as news and statements from the ECCI. Many ‘Daily Worker’ and ‘Communist’ articles originated in Inprecorr, and it also published articles by American comrades for use in other countries. It was published at least weekly, and often thrice weekly.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/international/comintern/inprecor/1928/v08n01-jan-05-1928-Inprecor-op.pdf