National Police Struggle Day in Indonesia Date in the current year: August 21, 2025

The Indonesian National Police (Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia, POLRI) was formally established on August 19, 1945, four days after Japan’s capitulation and two days after Indonesia's proclamation of independence from the Netherlands, marking the beginning of the Indonesian National Revolution.

The following day, Muhammad Yasin (also spelled Moehammad Jasin), the former head of the Japanese-controlled Special Police Unit (Tokubetsu Keisatsutai) in Surabaya, met with his fellow officers to discuss the position of the police in their city. At the meeting, the officers decided to align themselves with the Republic of Indonesia and drafted the Police Proclamation. Yasin read the proclamation in front of around 250 police officers during the morning roll call in the courtyard of the Surabaya Special Police Headquarters on August 21, 1945.

Yasin then took command of a special police corps that disarmed the remnants of the Japanese Imperial Army and participated in the Battle of Surabaya. This new corps was formed on the basis of the former Special Police Unit and was named the Special Police Troops (Pasukan Polisi Istimewa). In November 1946, Yasin’s corps was reorganized as the Mobile Brigade Corps, the Indonesian National Police's special ops, paramilitary, and tactical unit to this day.

Inspired by the Police Proclamation in Surabaya, members of the police force in other Indonesian cities supported the revolution, seized weapons from Japanese garrisons, and joined the fight for Indonesia’s independence from the Netherlands. In 2015, Yasin was named a National Hero of Indonesia for his contribution to the revolution.

In January 2024, National Police Struggle Day was officially established by Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Chief of the Indonesian National Police, to commemorate the Police Proclamation and highlight the national police force’s contribution to the struggle for Indonesia’s independence. The holiday is marked by commemorative ceremonies and other special events honoring the national police and the heroes of the revolution.

National Police Struggle Day should not be confused with National Police Day (Hari Bhayangkara), which is observed in Indonesia on July 1 to commemorate the 1946 government decree establishing the Indonesian National Police as a national agency directly responsible to the government.