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History Today: How Indonesia declared independence and defied Dutch rule
Sukarno was Indonesia's first president when the country was granted independence. AFP/File Photo
On August 17, 1945, Indonesia declared its independence from the Netherlands. However, the fight for freedom went on until 1949, when the Dutch formally accepted Indonesia as a sovereign nation.
Before independence, Indonesia was known as the Dutch East Indies, or the Netherlands East Indies.
Also on this day in 1999, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey's Kocaeli Province, killing over 17,000 people.
Further, on this day in 1969, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair came to a close after more than three days of peace, love and rock 'n' roll in upstate New York.
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As part of Firstpost Explainers' History Today series, here's a look at what happened on August 17:
Indonesia declares independence
On August 17, 1945, Sukarno, leader of Indonesia's independence movement, announced the country's freedom from the Netherlands. Four years later, after the Dutch formally handed over sovereignty, he became Indonesia's first president, serving from 1949 to 1967.
During the Second World War, the Japanese placed Sukarno in a position of influence, making him their chief adviser, propagandist, and recruiter of workers, soldiers, and prostitutes.
Sukarno pushed the Japanese to allow Indonesia to become independent and, on June 1, 1945, delivered one of his most well-known speeches.
On August 17, 1945, Sukarno announced the country's freedom from the Netherlands. Image: Wikimedia Commons
As Japan's defeat became certain, Sukarno initially hesitated. However, after being kidnapped, pressured, and persuaded by a group of young activists, he went on to proclaim independence.
The struggle for freedom did not end there. As president of the fragile new republic, Sukarno led resistance against the Dutch.
Following two unsuccessful 'police actions' aimed at regaining control, the Dutch officially transferred sovereignty on December 27, 1949.
It was only in 1969, when the United Nations recognised the western part of New Guinea as belonging to Indonesia, that the nation reached its current form.
1999 Turkey earthquake
On this day in 1999, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale struck near Izmit, Turkey. The disaster claimed more than 17,000 lives and left about 500,000 people without homes.
The main tremor lasted less than a minute and was followed by two moderate aftershocks on August 19, roughly 80 kilometres west of the original epicentre.
Entire sections of several towns and cities were reduced to rubble. The worst-hit areas included Golcuk, Derince, Darıca, and Sakarya (Adapazari). Even Istanbul suffered hundreds of deaths and extensive damage.
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Two men search the ruins of a building where they lived in Yalova, south of Istanbul. AFP/File Photo
Most casualties were caused by the collapse of poorly built residential blocks. Anger grew towards private builders accused of poor workmanship and using substandard materials. While some faced criminal charges, only a small number were convicted.
Officials were also criticised for failing to enforce safety regulations on earthquake-resistant construction.
Woodstock's all-night finale
On this day in 1969, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair drew to a close after more than three days of peace, love and rock 'n' roll in upstate New York.
Heavy rain and delays stretched the festival, which was meant to end before midnight, into an all-night music session that went on until after sunrise.
Promoted as 'Three Days of Peace and Music,' Woodstock was organised by John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield and Michael Lang. Their aim was to raise enough money to build a recording studio near the artistic town of Woodstock in New York.
In the lead-up to the weekend, 186,000 tickets had been sold, with organisers expecting a crowd of no more than 200,000. But by Friday night, thousands had already gathered at the gates.
People rest at the campground of the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. AFP/File Photo
Worried about crowd control, the organisers decided to make the event free. Nearly half a million people came, filling the roads around Bethel and creating eight miles of traffic jams.
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This Day, That Year
1947: The Radcliffe Line, marking the final border between India and Pakistan, was officially published.
1978: The first successful transatlantic balloon flight ended when Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman landed the Double Eagle II near Paris.
1988: Pakistani President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq and US Ambassador Arnold Raphel died in a plane crash under mysterious circumstances.
1998: US President Bill Clinton gave testimony to a grand jury from the White House through closed-circuit television about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
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Hans India
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