Editing Indonesian National Revolution (section)

==Background==
{{See also|Indonesian National Awakening|Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies}}

The Indonesian independence movement began in May 1908, which is commemorated as the "[[Indonesian National Awakening|Day of National Awakening]]" ({{langx|id|Hari Kebangkitan Nasional}}). Indonesian nationalism and movements supporting independence from Dutch colonialism, such as [[Budi Utomo]], the [[Indonesian National Party]] (PNI), [[Sarekat Islam]] and the [[Indonesian Communist Party]] (PKI), grew rapidly in the first half of the 20th century. Budi Utomo, Sarekat Islam and others pursued strategies of co-operation by joining the Dutch initiated ''Volksraad'' ("People's Council") in the hope that Indonesia would be granted self-rule.{{sfn|Vandenbosch|1931|pp=1051–106}} Others chose a non-cooperative strategy demanding the freedom of self-government from the Dutch East Indies colony.{{sfn|Kahin|1980|pp=113–120}} 

The [[Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies|occupation of Indonesia by Japan]] for three and a half years during World War II was a crucial factor in the subsequent revolution. The Netherlands had minimal ability to defend its colony against the [[Imperial Japanese Army|Japanese army]], and within only three months of their initial attacks, the Japanese had occupied the Dutch East Indies. In Java, and to a lesser extent in Sumatra (Indonesia's two dominant islands), the Japanese spread and encouraged nationalist sentiment. Although this was done more for Japanese political advantage than from altruistic support of Indonesian independence, this support created new Indonesian institutions (including local neighbourhood organisations) and elevated political leaders such as Sukarno. Just as significantly for the subsequent revolution, the Japanese destroyed and replaced much of the Dutch-created economic, administrative, and political infrastructure.{{sfn|Vickers|2005|p=85}}

On 7 September 1944, with the war going badly for the Japanese, Prime Minister [[Kuniaki Koiso|Koiso]] promised independence for Indonesia, but no date was set.{{sfn|Ricklefs|1991|p=207}} For supporters of Sukarno, this announcement was seen as vindication for his collaboration with the Japanese.{{sfn|Frederick|Worden|1993}}