Sukarno Speech at Women's Day Meeting (FBIS, 9 Mar 1964)

=== [PDF page 1] === SUKARNO SPEECH A wow’ S DAY MEETING Djakarta Domestic Service in Indonesian 1504 Gur. 9. March 1964-28 (Live Speech by President. Sukarno at. International Women’ s Day gathering at State Palace in Djakarta-on 9 March) | (Excerpts) Our revolution, sisters, vontaias "essential humanity” rendered in English--ed.)--s ocialisn, antieimperialism; anticapitalism; anticolLonialism, and antiexploitation. of man by his fellow man and of a nation by another nation. We have clearly said to Malaysia that Malaysia is a neocolonialist project...What is the meaning of neo? Neo means new--a new model, a new type. Neocolonialism means. a new model of colonialism. A new type of colonialism. |: But the essene is colonialism. I remember that a few months: ago Premier Khrushchev 1 was asked at a press conference the following question: "Mr. Khrushchev, what is your opinion about Malaysia?" Khrushchev replied: "Malaysia is a neocolonialist project. In reality, Malaysia remains a British colony, but the signboard has been changed into ‘This is Malaysian territory.'" Suppose that is the road; there is a signboard here. In the past, it was written that "This is a British colony." That was in the past, but now the signboard does not.read."This is a British colony" a any more, The signboard which indicated "This is a British colony" has been taken away and replaced with a new one; but the British are still here. The British are still in power here. It is cnly the signboard which has been replaced. Now the signboard is not labeled with the phrase "This is a British colony," but. it is labeled with the phrase. "This is an independent region." It is only a change of the signboard and a change in the wording of the signboard. In reality, it is the British who are in power. It is still the British who control the economic resources in the region. Therefore, Premier Khrushchev bas the reporters. that Malaysia is a neocolonialist project. Since the. very - outset--it was not only. since. ‘the proclamation of our independence on 17 August 1945, but-it was,since I was a runny-nosed child, when sisters, you were not yet born; you. were not yet born; you were not yet born; and you were not yet born--it was since the very cutset, sisters, that we have been opposing imperialism and capitalism. Since the very outset, we have been conforming to the message of the people's sufferings, with the aim of attaining a just and prosperous society. Therefore, (word indistinct) is determined to crush Malaysia completely, although it is referred to as an independent state. We call Malaysia a neocolonialist project, and we must crush it completely. We must chew it up completely because we have been anti-imperialist, anticolonialist, anticapitalist, antineocolonialist since the very outset. === [PDF page 2] === Hey yous what school are you attending? Open our constitution. The first sentence of our constitution--what does this first sentence say? The first sentence of tie preamble stipulates that colonialism must be abolished. Colonialism throughout the world mist be abolished. Thus, if we do not crush Malaysia, we will Pind ourselves betraying our own constitution as well as our own national spirit. Therefore, sisters, L am grateful to. Almighty God that ‘the - Indonesian women have clearly stated tonight that they fully agree with the: government, that they fully agree with the revolutionary fighters to crush Malaysia completely. In short, all Indonesian people of both. sexes | are determined to crush Malaysia and“-to seek international unity, to seek international solidarity ‘in erushing Malaysia. You are all lovers of our fatherland, sisters. During the visit of President Macapagal... when I showed oon oe beautiful ‘and charming Bogor, | to Bandung, from Bandung to. Toniak ba, from Jog jakarta to | Bali, they all admired our country, saying "What a green country you” have." (rendered:in English--ed.): "Yés, Indonesia is a beautiful and charming fatherland," (rendered in English--éd.) I said. For this — reason, we love ‘Indonesia till our'death. For this reason, we truly. Love independence. which ‘freed: Indonesia from the shackles of - the. imperialists and colonialists which dominated our beautiful and charming fatherland. Sisters, now I will give you-my command. I will give you my command at this current stage cf the struggle: Mobilize all activities via the radio, television, and other méans to convince the women in. a Malaya, Singapore, and Kalimantan Utara that Malaysia is a neocolonialist _ project, which they alsa should crush. Mobilize your activities --as: has been advocated by Mother (name indistinct), and if it is deemed necessary and it cannot be helped-~to change ‘the menu of cur diet in order to crush Malaysia. | To crush Malaysia: is a portion of our international struggle because Malaysia is a neocolonialist project which is endangering not ‘only Indonesia but also Canbodia, Thailand, and the Philippines. It isnot oniy endangering southeast Asia but in reality it is endangering all of Asia and the whole world. Therefore, we must oppose it (together with the world. peoples?) and particularly together with — the peoples of the emerging, forces. I conelude my ‘speech with, ‘the. ‘above mentioned command. Thank you for your attention to my speech, despite the fact ‘thet your husbands | are waiting for you at home..I thank you..