Sutan Sjahrir

["First Prime Minister of Indonesia", "Socialist Leader", "National Hero"]

Born Mar 05, 1909

Padang Panjang (West Sumatra), Dutch East Indies

Passed Away Apr 09, 1966 Zurich, Switzerland

Lifespan 57 years old

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Notice / Correction

"A revolution that only changes the skin of the master while keeping the whip of tyranny is not freedom; true liberty means democracy, human dignity, and intellectual enlightenment."

Archival Overview

First Prime Minister of independent Indonesia (1945–1947), intellectual leader of the underground anti-fascist resistance during the Japanese occupation, who secured international diplomatic recognition for the young republic at the United Nations.

Biographical Record

Sutan Sjahrir (1909–1966) studied law at Leiden and co-founded the Indonesian Socialist Party (PSI). Refusing any collaboration with Japanese militarists during World War II, Sjahrir led the clandestine underground network of youth and intellectuals that pressured Sukarno and Hatta to declare immediate independence in August 1945.

Appointed Indonesia's first Prime Minister at age thirty-six, Sjahrir's brilliant booklet 'Our Struggle' (Perjuangan Kita) rejected xenophobic chauvinism in favor of democratic socialism and international diplomacy. In 1947, addressing the UN Security Council at Lake Success, Sjahrir mesmerized the world, establishing Indonesia's case on the global diplomatic stage.

Key Life Milestones

1945

Publication of 'Our Struggle' (Perjuangan Kita)

Authored the foundational democratic socialist manifesto of the Indonesian National Revolution.

1947

Historic Speech at the United Nations Security Council

Delivered the first address by an Indonesian leader before the UN, securing global diplomatic legitimacy.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Kalibata Heroes Cemetery
Jakarta, Indonesia

                         GPS: -6.2575, 106.8489                    

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