Wilopo Cabinet
The Wilopo Cabinet was the cabinet of Indonesia from April 1952 to August 1953. Led by Wilopo as prime minister, the cabinet was a coalition government consisting of the Indonesian National Party and the Masyumi Party, along with several smaller parties.
Composition
Cabinet Leadership
- Prime Minister: Wilopo
- Deputy Prime Minister: Prawoto Mangkusasmito
Cabinet Members
- Minister of Foreign Affairs ad interim: Wilopo
- Minister of Home Affairs: Mohammad Roem
- Minister of Defense: Sultan Hamengkubuwana IX
- Minister of Justice: Lukman Wiriadinata
- Minister of Information: Arnold Mononutu
- Minister of Finance: Sumitro Djojohadikusumo
- Minister of Agriculture: Mohammad Sardjan
- Minister of Economic Affairs: Soemanang Soerjowinoto
- Minister of Transport: Djuanda
- Minister of Public Works and Power: Suwarto
- Minister of Labor: Iskandar Tedjasukmana
- Minister of Social Affairs: Anwar Tjokroaminoto
- Minister of Education & Culture: Bahder Djohan
- Minister of Religious Affairs: Fakih Usman
- Minister of Health: Dr. Johannes Leimena
- Minister of Employee Affairs: R. P. Soeroso
Tenure
17 October affair
The Wilopo Cabinet's proposals to reorganize the army to conserve budgets were unpopular with the army. The Army's high command came into dispute with the parliament in what it saw as excessive civilian meddling within military affairs. After a dismissal of a pro-government officer in July 1952, the parliament began demanding a significant restructuring of armed forces leadership, and after three months tensions culminated in thousands of demonstrators mobilized by the army in Jakarta. President Sukarno managed to temper the demonstrators and assure the army officers, but refused to concede to any demands. Soon after the incident, a significant proportion of the army's high command was replaced.Tanjung Morawa affair
On 16 March 1953, a clash between peasant squatters and the police occurred in Tanjung Morawa, North Sumatra. The incident, known as the Tanjung Morawa affair, stemmed from a land dispute between the squatters and foreign plantation owners, resulted in the deaths of five peasants and the downfall of the cabinet.Changes
- Mukarto Notowidagdo was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs on 29 April 1952, releasing Wilopo from his dual role.
- On 11 May 1953 Social Minister Anwar Tjokroaminoto resigned and was replaced by Employee Affairs Minister Suroso. Responsibility for employee affairs was transferred to Prime Minister.
- On 2 January 1953 Defense Minister Sultan Hamengkubuwana IX resigned and Prime Minister Wilopo became ad interim Defense Minister.