Four Corners: Sukarno's collaboration with Japan during WW II, 1966

SUBJECTS:  Civics and Citizenship, History

YEARS:  9–10

Imagine that, in order to preserve your freedom, you had to fight alongside your enemy.

During World War II, Indonesian nationalists — led by Sukarno — collaborated with Japanese invaders.

Richard Oxenburgh's commentary provides a well-argued historical explanation for Sukarno's collaboration with the Japanese in Indonesia.

Things to think about

1. 1.How far would you go to gain or preserve your freedom? What do you know about the Japanese forces during World War II, including their attacks on Australia?
2. 2.Why might ABC Four Corners have chosen to begin this clip with footage that illustrates Japan's military might during World War II, rather than with footage of prisoners of the Dutch colonial rulers, such as Sukarno before his release? What were the different strategies adopted by Indonesian nationalists during the Japanese occupation? What do these strategies suggest was most important to the nationalists?
3. 3.Knowing what you now know about World War II, do you think it is accurate to say that the Japanese believed in 'Asia for the Asians'? To what extent do you believe that 'the end justifies the means' in a time of war?
4. 4.

   Using evidence from this clip, what did the Indonesian people hope to achieve following independence? What does this suggest about Dutch rule of Indonesia?

Date of broadcast: 7 Sep 1966

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