Seventy years ago today, and only two days after the Japanese surrender, Indonesia was the first of all the prior colonies in Asia and SE Asia to declare its independence, and to make it crystal clear that the former Dutch colonial rulers who occupied Indonesia for 350 years were not welcomed back.
It was a monumentally gutsy move, and not unlike what the former British colonies of the “New World” did on July 4, 1776.
After some 17 years of 24/7 living in Indonesia, I have only grown in my love and highest esteem for this awesome country, which is most certainly best defined by its wonderful people.
Selamat! And…let's party!