January Revolution

January Revolution
Date 16 – 16 January 2011 Location Indokistan Result Revolutionaries victory  • Dissolution of Socialist Republic of Indokistan  • Establishment of Second Republic
Belligerents
Communist government	Indokistani revolutionaries
Commanders and leaders
	Farhan Abbas
Strength
Communist government loyalists, Indokistan Armed Forces	Indokistani revolutionaries, dissident members of the Indokistan Armed Forces

January Revolution (Indonesian: Revolusi Januari), previously known as Indokistan civil war was a series of protests and riots occured in Indokistan in 2011, occured from 16 January and ended in 25 January. The protests was the climax of citizens dissatisfaction on the governance of the communist government, which they seem as authoritarian, and not in accordance with the wishes of the population. A failed coup attempt by revolutionaries sparked a new protests by populations supporting peoples involved on the attempt, which culminated into a protests. The protests ended violently as armed citizens infiltrated president office on 25 January, forcing him to resign under gunpoint.

Background

The Communist Party, one of major parties inside Indokistan at that time, successfully staged a coup d'état against Farhan Abbas in December 2010, forcing him to exile. After successfully took over Farhangrad building, the central government building, they declare the estabishment of the Socialist Republic of Indokistan, which shook the citizens. Oppositions immediately arose, but quickly suppressed by the ruling authority.

Despite of immediate arising oppositions, the communist government remained unshakened by it. The public image of the authority made worse after they declared a new tax for every citizens. The tax rate was very high compared with yearly income of citizens, and fear that the communist government may abuse the money, made the citizens refused to pay the tax. Beside on high tax rate, the government also unpopular because of its attacks against freedom of speech and personality cult on its leader. Events dedicated to Communist Party and its leader, consuming national budget, was a routine agenda.

Farhangrad Coup Attempt

Fueled with oppositions against the communists by the citizens, a group of armed militia staged an attack against Communist president in early of January 2011. The morning attack was quickly surpressed, with its suspects entirely arrested and tortured. Citizens immediately mounting support for the armed militia, as they representing "what the peoples desired", and held demonstrations to show the support. Torture of the suspects also sparked a new wave of oppositions and protests, committed to not to stop until the communist government toppled.

Timeline

Demonstration

United on the group "Revolutionaries", they staged a demonstration on 19 January, marching to Farhangrad building and showed their protest by staging a sit-in. Protesters pledged to not to leave the place until the communist president left his office. Unsatisfied by respond of the authority that ignored their action, they begun to create barricades in the noon of 20 January. Instead of offering negotiation, the authority ordered the deployment of the military to Farhangrad in 21 January, confusing more the protesters.

Riot

In 23 January, the armed forces received order from the communist president to shot the demonstrants if they failed to left the area on the designated time. The armed forces commander later announced an ultimatum forcing the demonstrant to left the area on the evening that day, the protesters resisted. In the night that day, the commander announced his final warning, that he will shot if protesters refused to leave the area after 9 PM that day. At 9.23 PM, by the order from the president, the soldiers begun to attack the barricade and shot the demonstrants. Riots followed, with protesters resisted the attacks and the riot spreads nationwide.

Night 24–25 January

Triggered with the riot starting from 23 January night, armed opposition forces planned to infiltrate the Farhangrad building and attacks from inside the building in the morning of 25 January. At 6 AM of that day, armed protesters successfully enters the Farhangrad building, despite of overwhelming resistance of the armed forces. Starting on this point, armed forces members starting to defect against the communist authority, instead giving their support to the revolutionaries.

Trapped inside the room, the communist president was defenseless when he was arrested by the opposition powers. Under the gunpoint and after a long arguement, the communist president agreed to sign his resignation letter and to appoint the successor of his government from the opposition groups. In the end of the day, an announcement on the dissolution of the socialist republic were announced, replaced with the previous Indokistani Republic.

Aftermath

Dissolution of the socialist republic was inevitable since the announcement of the dissolution was announced by the communist president itself. Armed forces, failed to gain respond from the communist president, decided to obey the new authority and was "ready to defend it". The new government purged all communists inside the government, ban the party, and forced the communist president exile.