Earlier today Mike and I was interviewed by the ABC Radio Australia regarding the new movement by the young digital generation in Indonesia. There is one question that Tito Ambyo, the interviewer, asked me that I still thought about for hours into the evening after the interview was over. He asked me what I thought about the statement that Indonesia Unite was like “Sumpah Pemuda” reborn. In the interview I answered that to an extent it probably was, considering that both movement was and is for promoting the idea of united Indonesia.

“Sumpah Pemuda” was a declaration on Oct 28, 1928 by young Indonesian nationalists to proclaim one motherland, one nation, one language. The declaration was known as the Youth Pledge or “Sumpah Pemuda”.

During the Dutch colonization, the political movement of “adu domba” (playing one against the other) seperated the people of the land which at the time was known as the Dutch East Indies. Indonesia is the biggest archipelagic state in the whole world, comprised of 17,000 islands… united (if not seperated) by oceans, seas and straits. We have hundreds of different cultures and 300 different languages and dialects; not to mention the different beliefs and religion the people embrace. Given the rich diversity Indonesia has, it is very easy to disunite the people. It is the one thing that was an advantage taken by the Dutch.

The politics of “adu domba” by the Dutch made it possible for them to stay on our soil for 350 years until at one point in history, the young generation of 1928 arose and basically declared unity, having learned the fact that “Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita runtuh”, which means “United we stand, divided we fall.”

In today’s Indonesia, it has a different setting. Unlike the generation of 1928, digital Indonesia of 2009 is not facing colonizing “adu domba” politics. Today’s generation just started to experience real freedom from 350 years of colonization and 32 years of dictatorship. This is the first generation that actually has a more vague memory of the fear and terror of past defeat by both colonial domination and tyrannt government.

Shortly after the new freedom in 1998, fear and terror of another type of domination, Islamic radicals’, almost overcame them. After the last bombing in 2004, thanks to the great work of the government and the help of Australia, the generation of Indonesia Unite finally got to embrace their new freedom… for 5 years… and two new bombs shook Indonesia.

Although still learning how to handle new freedom and young democracy, a fresh sense of nationalism and anger arose. It was only after they tasted a little bit of freedom, that they understood what it meant to have it taken away from them. Indonesia Unite didn’t rise 5 years ago when the first terrorist attacks happened. It rose only after Indonesians tasted freedom, so that they refuse to live without it anymore.

Against colonial domination or terror by Islam radicals, the same spirit of unity has grown in young Indonesians empowering this generation to stand for their country and actually make a difference, just as they did in 1928.

Back to the question by the interviewer, “Is Indonesia Unite ‘Sumpah Pemuda’ reborn?” In terms of promoting unity, yes. But the movement Indonesia Unite has yet to prove that with the size of the masses and supporters (which is growing every minute) they are actually doing far greater things than what was done in 1928.

Although I would be most honored to be historically recorded as being involved in something like “Sumpah Pemuda” reborn, Indonesia Unite still needs to concretely act and build on this spirit to actually be considered in the same level.

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