The Soekiman Cabinet (), also known as the Sukiman-Suwirjo Cabinet (), was an Indonesian cabinet that served from 27 April 1951 until it fell on 23 February 1952 following revelations that it had signed a mutual security agreement with the United States, and was dissolved on 3 April 1952.

Formation

On 21 March 1951, the Natsir cabinet fell due to loss of political support. Five days later, President

Sukarno Sukarno (6 June 1901 – 21 June 1970) was an Indonesian statesman, orator, revolutionary, and nationalist who was the first president of Indonesia, serving from 1945 to 1967. Sukarno was the leader of the Indonesian struggle for independenc ...

asked

Indonesian National Party The Indonesian National Party (, PNI) was the name used by several nationalist political parties in Indonesia from 1927 until 1973. The first PNI was established by future President Sukarno. After independence, the new PNI supplied a number of pri ...

(PNI) leader and parliamentary chairman Sartono to form a coalition cabinet, but he admitted failure on 18 April. On the same day, Sukarno asked the chairman of the

Masyumi Party The Council of Indonesian Muslim Associations Party (), better known as the Masyumi Party, was a major Islamic political party in Indonesia during the Liberal Democracy Era in Indonesia (1950-1957), Liberal Democracy Era in Indonesia. It was b ...

party council

Soekiman Wirjosandjojo Soekiman Wirjosandjojo (Enhanced Spelling of the Indonesian Language, EYD: Sukiman Wiryosanjoyo; 19June 1898 – 23July 1974) was an Indonesian politician and physician who served as prime minister of Indonesia from 1951 until 1952. Additional ...

and PNI chairman

Sidik Djojosukarto Sidik Djojosukarto ( EVO: Sidik Djojosoekarto; 7 June 1908 – 8 September 1955) was an Indonesian politician who served as chairman of the Indonesian National Party (PNI) from 1950 until his death. As PNI chairman, he was revered by all pa ...

to try, giving them five days, then an extra three days. Both men agreed that both parties would have same number of seats. However, there was disagreement over the post of prime minister. Eventually the PNI gave in to Soekiman's demand for a Masjumi prime minister providing this was not Natsir, who had held the position in the previous cabinet. Sukarno subsequently suggested Soekiman himself for the role, which he accepted. This led to a disagreement between the Soekiman and Natsir factions within the party, and the Natsir-led Masjumi executive body refused to accept Sidik and Soekiman's suggested composition for the cabinet. As a result, no members of Natsir's faction were appointed.

Composition

The composition of the cabinet was announced on 26 April. Like its predecessor, it was based around a PNI-Masjumi nucleus. However, the Masjumi members were supporters of the Soekiman faction in the party, and the opposing Natsir-led faction criticized the make-up of the new cabinet. Only six members from the previous cabinet were given posts. The composition was as follows:

Cabinet leadership

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

(

) *

Deputy Prime Minister A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a Minister (government), government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to th ...

: Soewirjo (

– PNI)

Cabinet members

*Minister of Foreign Affairs: Achmad Subardjo (

) *Minister of Home Affairs:

Iskaq Tjokroadisurjo Iskaq Tjokrohadisurjo ( EVO: Iskaq Tjokrohadisoerjo; 11 July 1896 – 11 September 1984) was an Indonesian politician and advocate. A member of the Indonesian National Party, he served as Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister of Home Affair ...

(

- PNI) *Minister of Defense: Sewaka (PIR) *Minister of Justice:

Muhammad Yamin Muhammad Yamin (24 August 1903 – 17 October 1962) was an Indonesian poet, politician, historian and national hero who played a key role in the writing of the draft preamble to the 1945 constitution. Early life and education Yamin was born ...

*Minister of Finance: Jusuf Wibisono (

) *Minister of Information: Arnold Mononutu *Minister of Agriculture: Suwarto (PKRI) *Minister of Trade and Industry:

Sujono Hadinoto Sujono Hadinoto ( EVO: Soejono Hadinoto; 28 June 1915 – 29 December 1977) was an Indonesian politician, ambassador, academic, and lawyer. Born in Blora Regency, he studied law in the '' Rechts Hogeschool''. After graduating, he became ac ...

(

- PNI) *Minister of Transportation:

Djuanda Kartawidjaja Djuanda Kartawidjaja ( EYD: Juanda Kartawijaya; 14 January 1911 – 7 November 1963), more commonly referred to mononymously as Djuanda, was an Indonesian politician and technocrat who held various positions during the presidency of Sukarno ...

*Minister of Public Works and Power: Ukar Bratakusumah (

- PNI) *Minister of Labor:

Iskandar Tedjasukmana Iskandar Tedjasukmana (Cianjur, 22 July 1915 – 1981) is a former Minister of Labor from 1951 to 1953. He was a teacher and judge. Early life and education Tedjasukmana was born in Cianjur 22 July 1915. He finished his elementary education at ...

( Labour Party) *Minister of Social Affairs: Samsuddin (

) *Minister of Education & Culture:

Wongsonegoro Kanjeng Raden Mas Tumenggung Wongsonegoro (20 April 1895 – 4 March 1974) was an Indonesian politician who served in various offices, including as deputy prime minister and governor of Central Java. He also served as a minister several times. ...

(PIR) *Minister of Religious Affairs:

Wahid Hasyim Abdul Wahid Hasyim (1 June 1914 – 19 April 1953) was the first Minister of Religious Affairs in the government of President Sukarno of Indonesia, a post he held in 1945, and from 1949 to 1952. He was the son of Nahdlatul Ulama founder Hasyim ...

(

) *Minister of Health: Dr. Johannes Leimena (

Parkindo The Indonesian Christian Party (), better known as Parkindo, was a Christian political party active in Indonesia from 1950 until 1973, when it was merged to make the Indonesian Democratic Party. Founded by Johannes Leimena and Melanchton Sirega ...

) *Minister of General Affairs: M. A. Pellaupessy ( Democratic) *Minister of Employee Affairs: R. P. Soeroso (Parindra)

Changes

* Sumitro Kolopaking was the original Defense Minister, but refused the appointment and was replaced by Sewaka on 9 May 1951. *On 19 May, the Ministry of Trade and Industry became the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Economics Minister Sujono Hadinoto was dismissed on 16 July and replaced by Wilopo. *Justice Minister Muhammad Yamin resigned on 14 June. General Affairs Minister Pellaupessy was also appointed Minister of Justice ''ad interim''. Mohammad Nasrun was appointed Justice Minister on 20 November. * A Ministry of Agrarian Affairs was established on 20 November 1951 with Gondokusomo appointed Minister of Agrarian Affairs. However, Gondokusomo died on 6 March 1952 and had not been replaced by the time the cabinet was dissolved. * While Transport Minister Djuanda was overseas, Public Works and Manpower Minister Ukar Bratakusumah was appointed Minister of Transport ''ad interim'' effective from 13 December 1951.

Cabinet program

The cabinet announced a six-point program with a stronger emphasis on public order and with less emphasis on early elections than its predecessor. The program was as follows: # Take firm measures to guarantee security and order. Reform the organizations that exercise state power. # Draw up and implement a national prosperity program to improve people's welfare in the short term. # Complete preparations for a general election to establish a constitutional assembly. Hold this election in the near future. Accelerate the implementation of regional autonomy. # Pass laws on the recognition of trade unions and on collective agreements. # Implement a free and active foreign policy aimed at bringing about peace. Implement the Dutch-Indonesian union as a normal international treaty. # Incorporate

Western New Guinea Western New Guinea, also known as Papua, Indonesian New Guinea, and Indonesian Papua, is the western half of the island of New Guinea, formerly Dutch and granted to Indonesia in 1962. Given the island is alternatively named Papua, the region ...

into the Republic of Indonesia at the earliest opportunity. It also announced end-of-

Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (''Fasting in Islam, sawm''), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed ...

bonuses and monthly rice assistance packets for civil servants, and decided to nationalise the Dutch-owned Java Bank (''De Javasche Bank''), which at the time was Indonesian's circulation bank. In August 1951, the cabinet embarked on aggressive mass arrests of communists, leftists and Chinese Indonesians.

References

Bibliography

* * {{Cabinets of Indonesia Cabinets of Indonesia Liberal democracy period in Indonesia 1951 establishments in Indonesia 1952 disestablishments in Indonesia Cabinets established in 1951 Cabinets disestablished in 1952