Rengasdengklok

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Rengasdengklok is known in Indonesia from the Peristiwa Rengasdengklok or 'Rengasdengklok Affair' that happened on 16 August 1945. The day before, Japan had surrendered, effectively ending the Second World War. As allowed by the Japanese a few weeks before, Soekarno (leader of the nationalist movement) had established the PPKI committee to prepare the government structure of an independent Indonesia. However, in the early morning of 16 August, another nationalist group (PETA) kidnapped Soekarno and brought him to a house in Rengasdengklok (about 70 km from Central Jakarta), to pressure him to declare independence as soon as possible. In Rengasdengklok, the first draft of the declaration of independence was prepared. Later that day, Soekarno was taken back to Jakarta, and in the morning of 17 August 1945 the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence was read. Rengasdengklok is about 15 km north of Karawang. The town can be easily reached from both Karawang and Bekasi (30 km). To get to Rengasdengklok by public transport, there is an angkot (public minivan) route from the bus terminal of Karawang.