Indonesia Calling by Joris Ivens 1946 - Indonesian Subtitle

The Indonesian Struggle for Independence and Allied Support
📌 The video recounts the historical context of the Indonesian Republic's proclamation and the immediate threat posed by the return of Dutch colonial forces seeking to reclaim economic control over rich islands.
⚓ Ships in Australian harbors were intended by the Dutch to transport soldiers and arms to suppress the young Indonesian Republic, which was seeking freedom, organization, and assembly.
✊ Australian workers, including waterside workers, initiated direct action by refusing to load ships carrying arms, inspired by solidarity and the principles of the Atlantic Charter.

Labor Solidarity and International Action
🗣️ Australian trade unions presented a flag to Indonesians as a symbol of support for their fight for independence, emphasizing solidarity between Australian and Indonesian workers.
🚫 The "Black Ban" on Dutch ships carrying military cargo spread across Australian ports (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide), leading to widespread strikes by various unions, including transport workers, painters, engineers, and seamen.
🌍 International support mirrored this action, with cables of support received from leaders like Pandit Nehru and Jinnah of India, Soviet officials, and union leaders like Harry Bridges of the American Longshoremen’s Union.

Overcoming Obstacles to Support
🚢 A critical moment involved the "Sterling Castle" carrying 1,600 armed Dutch soldiers, which was only halted when Indian crew members famously refused orders, stopped the engines, and sided with the Indonesian cause, despite threats.
💰 Dutch authorities tried to disguise military shipments as mercy ships loaded with food and medical supplies to bypass the worker blockade.
🤝 The unified action across five nations (including Chinese, Indian, New Zealander, and Canadian support) successfully stalled the Dutch effort to use ships to reconquer Indonesia, symbolized by the idle ships lying under the bridge.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ Australian workers upheld the Atlantic Charter principles by refusing to be complicit in suppressing the freedom of a nation that fought alongside them against Japan.
➡️ The Australian waterside workers organized and mobilized fellow unions, demonstrating that collective labor action (strikes and black bans) can effectively counter military and colonial objectives.
➡️ The resistance of the **Indian crew on the *Swanson***, who refused to transport arms despite threats, highlights how individual and cross-national solidarity was crucial in ensuring the survival of the new Republic.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Feb 20, 2026, 05:24 UTC