Wongsonegoro

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]

Wongsonegoro was a Kejawen.[9] He interpreted the Article 29 of the Constitution of Indonesia about religious freedom to also include non-religious beliefs (kepercayaan), such as mysticism (kebatinan).[10]

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