Timeline of The Indonesian National Revolution - 1949

1949

• January: Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwana IX resigns as head of the Yogyakarta district after refusing Dutch attempts at persuading him to become leader of a new Javanese state. His court becomes a primary communication channel between the city and Republican units in the countryside.
• January: Cabinets of the Dutch controlled states of East Indonesian and Pasudan resign in protest at the 'police action'.
• 5 January: In Sumatra, the Dutch accept a UN call for a ceasefire but guerrilla fighting continues.
• late January: The UN Security Council demands the release of the Republican cabinet, the establishment of an interim government, and full transfer of sovereignty to Indonesia by 1 July 1950. The United States government publicly condemns the Netherlands and threatens to cut off vital Marshall Plan reconstruction aid.
• February: In a clash with another Republic group, Tan Malaka and his army unit were defeated; Tan Malaka is captured and executed.
• 1 March: Lieutenant-Colonel Soeharto leads Republican forces in capturing Yogyakarta for six hours.
• April: The Dutch accept they must relinquish its claims on Indonesia but insist on preliminary talks with the Republican government.
• 7 May: The Dutch and Republic agree that Sukarno and Hatta would order a ceasefire upon their release and return to Yogyakarta, that the Dutch would accept the Republic at a round table conference, and that they would create no more federal states.
• May to June: The Dutch evacuate its citizens from Yogyakarta.
• 6 July: The Republican government is returned to Yogyakarta although the army is initially reluctant to accept civilian authority whom they feel deserted the Republic. The army expresses support for the civilian administration when Suharto threatens to resign.
• July: The round table conference is held in Yogyakarta. The conference agrees that the Republican army will form the core of the military in a new 'Republic of the United States of Indonesia' (RUSI), with Sukarno and Hatta President and Vice-president respectively.
• 1 August: A ceasefire is announced to take effect on 11 August in Java and 15 August in Sumatra. Just before implementation, Republican forces capture Surakarta and hold it for two days. Following ceasefire, Hamengkubuwana IX acts as Coordinator of Security and overseas a gradual transfer of military authority from Dutch troops and Indonesian irregulars, to Republic regular troops. Clashes break out and end in South Sulawesi, East Sumatra, South Kalimantan and West Java where local irregular troops resisted the transfer.
• 23 August to 2 November: A round table conference is held in the Hague. Hatta dominated the Indonesian side of the negotiations earning admiration from all sides. A loose union of the Netherlands and RUSI is agreed upon, with the Dutch queen as a symbolic Head of State. Sukarno is named to be President with Hatta to be both Prime Minister and Vice-president. Dutch investments in Indonesia were provided with various guarantees with further agreement on the need for further financial consultations. Indonesia accepted continued Netherlands sovereignty over Dutch New Guinea, and also accepted to take responsibility for ₤4.3 billion of Dutch East Indies debt.
• August to December: 12,000 Republican prisoners from Dutch jails.
• 27 December: The Netherlands formally transfers sovereignty over Indonesia, with the exception of Dutch New Guinea, to the RUSI.