Wongsonegoro

Mr. Kangjeng Raden Tumenggung
Wongsonegoro
Wongsonegoro, undated
Wongsonegoro, undated
7th Minister of the Interior of Indonesia
In office
4 August 1949 – 20 December 1949
Preceded by Panji Suroso
Succeeded by Anak Agung Gede Agung
5th Minister of Justice of Indonesia
In office
6 September 1950 – 27 April 1951
Preceded by Abdoel Gaffar Pringgodigdo
Succeeded by Mohammad Yamin
9th Minister of Education of Indonesia
In office
27 April 1951 – 3 April 1952
Preceded by Bahder Djohan
Succeeded by Bahder Djohan
Deputy Prime Minister of Indonesia
In office
1 August 1953 – 23 October 1953
Personal details
Born 20 April 1897
Surakarta, Dutch East Indies
Died 1978 (aged 80–81)
Citizenship Indonesian
Political party Great Indonesia Party
Religion Kejawen
This is an Indonesian name; it does not have a family name.

Mr. Kangjeng Raden Tumenggung Wongsonegoro (20 April 1897 – 1978) served as Minister of the Interior, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Education and Culture of Indonesia. He was also Deputy Prime Minister during the First Ali Sastroamidjojo Cabinet.

Biography

Wongsonegoro was born in Surakarta, Central Java, Dutch East Indies on 20 April 1897.[1] He was an active member of the Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence in 1945.[2] During his time on the committee, Wongsonegoro joined several other members in expressing their concern over the wording of the tenet of Pancasila; at the time, it read "Belief in the one and only God, with Muslims required to follow Sharia law".[2] This was feared to come into conflict with adat culture and unnecessarily burden those from other religions, and was eventually changed.[2]

Wongsonegoro's first ministerial job was as Minister of the Interior, replacing Soekiman Wirjosandjojo.[1] He served from 4 August to 20 December 1949.[1]

The following year he replaced Abdoel Gaffar Pringgodigdo as Minister of Justice during the Natsir Cabinet, serving from 6 September 1950 to 27 April 1951.[1] In early February 1951 he attempted to pass legislation requiring the election of a Constituent Assembly; however, the Natsir Cabinet collapsed before the bill could be passed.[3] Wongsonegoro himself was asked to resign by his party before the collapse.[4] He then became Minister of Education and Culture from 27 April 1951 to 3 April 1952.[1]

Afterwards, he served as the formateur of the First Ali Sastroamidjojo Cabinet, completing the cabinet after 58 days of parliamentary crisis.[5] Wongsonegoro received mixed reception as formateur, with nationalist and communist groups in favour and Muslim and socialist groups against him.[6] Communist Party leader Dipa Nusantara Aidit, a hearty supporter of Wongsonegoro, spoke extremely softly (and thus, in Javanese culture, politely) to him at public meetings, to the point that at times the formateur "was obliged to ask another participant to be [Adiet's] microphone".[7] Meanwhile, the Masyumi Party was staunchly against him, expressing concern for his attempt to keep the Socialist Party out of the cabinet.[7] When he eventually finished forming the cabinet on 31 July 1953, he had lost support from Christian political parties and Masyumi, replacing their candidates with minor and communist-sympathizing groups.[8]

Wongsonegoro took the position of Deputy Prime Minister in this cabinet, later taking on additional duties as acting Minister of State with Responsibility for State Welfare on 29 September 1953.[8] He resigned from both positions on 23 October.[8]

Wongsonegoro died in 1978.[1]

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Bahari 2011, p. 40.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Tempo 2011, Dalam Pusaran Tujuh.
  3. ↑ Feith 2007, pp. 153–154.
  4. ↑ Feith 2007, p. 168.
  5. ↑ Feith 2007, p. 331.
  6. ↑ Feith 2007, pp. 336–337.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Feith 2007, p. 337.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Feith 2007, p. 338.
Bibliography
  • Bahari, Adib (2011). Pendekar Hukum Indonesia [Indonesian Legal Giants] (in Indonesian). Yogyakarta: Pustaka Yustisis. ISBN 978-979-3411-04-0.
  • "Dalam Pusaran Tujuh Kata" [In Just Seven Words]. Tempo (in Indonesian). 18 April 2011. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  • Feith, Herbert (2007) [1962]. The Decline of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia. Singapore: Equinox Publishing. ISBN 978-979-3780-45-0.