Introduction
In September 1944, a significant development took place within the Indonesian community in Australia with the formation of the Serikat Indonesia Baroe (SIBAR), or New Indonesia Association. Established in Melbourne, SIBAR marked an important moment in the evolution of Indonesian political activity in Australia during the Second World War.
While Australia had initially hosted Indonesian seamen, soldiers and political detainees as part of wartime necessity, these interactions increasingly developed into a more organised political movement. SIBAR represents the point at which Indonesian aspirations for independence began to take a more structured and visible form within Australia.
Background: from labour conflict to political organisation
The emergence of SIBAR needs to be understood against the backdrop of earlier wartime developments. The Indonesian seamen’s strike of 1942 (see linked article) highlighted tensions over labour conditions, while the subsequent detention and release of Indonesian political prisoners from Tanah Merah (see linked article) introduced a stronger political dimension.
Through these experiences, Indonesian workers and detainees came into contact with Australian unions, political organisations and civil society groups. These interactions played a key role in raising awareness within Australia of Indonesian aspirations for independence, while also providing Indonesians with organisational frameworks and networks.
By 1944, these developments had created the conditions for a more formal political organisation to emerge.
Formation of SIBAR
SIBAR was established in Melbourne in September 1944 as a unifying political organisation for Indonesians in Australia. It brought together several smaller groups that had previously operated independently, creating a more coordinated structure through which political ideas and activities could be developed.
The organisation aimed to represent Indonesian interests and to provide a platform for political expression during a period in which the future of the Netherlands East Indies was increasingly uncertain.
Branches of SIBAR were soon established in other locations, including Sydney and Casino, reflecting the geographical spread of Indonesian communities across wartime Australia.
Membership and ideological influences
SIBAR drew its membership from a diverse group of Indonesians, including:
- former political detainees from Tanah Merah
- seamen and workers involved in earlier labour disputes
- Indonesian personnel associated with Dutch wartime organisations
Many of these individuals were politically engaged and brought with them a range of ideological perspectives. Among them were members or sympathisers of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), as well as broader nationalist elements.
This diversity contributed to SIBAR’s dynamism but also made it a subject of concern for Dutch authorities. The presence of politically active individuals, including those with left-wing affiliations, meant that SIBAR was seen not merely as a community organisation but as a potential centre of political mobilisation.
Links with Australian organisations
One of the defining features of SIBAR was its connection with Australian unions and political groups. These links had developed during earlier disputes and continued to play an important role in shaping the organisation’s activities.
Australian labour organisations provided:
- practical support
- organisational experience
- a platform for Indonesian voices
Through these connections, Indonesian activists were able to engage more effectively with Australian society and to promote awareness of their political goals.
These interactions also contributed to a shift in Australian perceptions. Indonesian aspirations for independence were increasingly understood not as isolated demands but as part of a broader movement for self-determination in the region.
Dutch concerns and political tension
The growth of SIBAR did not go unnoticed by Dutch authorities. Officials within the Netherlands East Indies administration in exile became increasingly concerned about the influence of former detainees and the spread of political ideas within Indonesian organisations.
In December 1944, Hubertus van der Plas warned H. V. Evatt that former internees had established links with the Australian Communist Party and had assumed leadership roles within organisations such as SIBAR, particularly in branches in Sydney and Casino.
These concerns reflected a broader anxiety about the loss of control over Indonesian personnel in Australia. What had begun as a wartime arrangement under Dutch authority was evolving into a more independent and politically active movement.
Significance
The formation of SIBAR represents a key stage in the transformation of Indonesian activity in Australia:
- from labour-based organisation
- to structured political mobilisation
It also highlights the unintended consequences of wartime policies. The detention and subsequent release of Indonesian prisoners, combined with their interaction with Australian society, created conditions in which political organisation could flourish.
SIBAR thus became part of a broader process through which Indonesian nationalism gained visibility and support within Australia.
Conclusion
Serikat Indonesia Baroe (SIBAR) stands as an important example of how wartime circumstances in Australia contributed to the development of Indonesian political organisation. Established in Melbourne in 1944, it provided a platform through which Indonesians could articulate their aspirations at a critical moment in their history.
The organisation’s connections with Australian unions and communities helped to build awareness of the Indonesian independence movement, while its activities reflected the growing divergence between Dutch colonial objectives and emerging regional realities.
In this sense, SIBAR forms part of the wider story of how Australia, initially a base for Dutch wartime operations, became a place where new political relationships were forged — relationships that would influence the post-war transition towards Indonesian independence.
