The morning air brushed against the faces of the women lined up in front of the Wani (Indonesian Women’s Association) office in the SKP (Girls’ Vocational School) building (later the Metropole or Megaria cinema) on Jalan Pegangsaan in Menteng, Jakarta, on August 17, 1946. They were about to march to the site of the proclamation at Jalan Pegangsaan Timur 56.
At that time, President Sukarno’s residence became the office of Sutan Sjahrir, the prime minister who also served as foreign minister. Meanwhile, Sukarno had moved to Yogyakarta because Jakarta was unsafe following the Dutch occupation, which was supported by the Allies, and the establishment of NICA (the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration).
Dressed in red and white, the women marched toward Pegangsaan Timur 56. Despite being blocked by Gurkha troops, they continued on to celebrate the first anniversary of independence and witness the inauguration of the Proclamation Monument.
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