Indonesian English-language Magazine Reports on the British Occupation of Indonesia

Abstract

This study explores how an English-language magazine affiliated with the Indonesian government, The Voice of Free Indonesia (TVFI), conveyed to foreigners Indonesia’s views of the British occupation in Indonesia in October–December 1945. By using historical method, this study argues that for TVFI providing Indonesia’s perspectives to global readers was crucial for Indonesia’s struggle for maintaining independence. The magazine constantly emphasized that Indonesia’s independence was in accordance with the Atlantic Charter, that the British had broken their initial promises to Indonesians, and that the British committed excessive and inhuman violence against the Indonesians. This study shows that at the beginning of their independence, Indonesian nationalists not only fought physically against the British, as is well known, but also tried to win the battle of ‘hearts and minds’ in the international public through the publication of TVFI. This study offers a rethinking on media and colonialism studies by providing Indonesia’s interpretations of the post-war British mission in the context of decolonization, emerging Indonesian nation-state and British occupation that followed.