After the Japanese defeat in the Pacific, Indonesian politicians began preparing to proclaim the country's independence from Dutch colonial control. Moewardi, by this time living in Surakarta, established the Barisan Pelopor. This group which organised security at Ikada Square (now Merdeka Square) in Jakarta, to help secure the proclamation. Moewardi was one of the speakers at the event. Afterwards, Moewardi tasked his men with organising security for new president Sukarno and vice-president Mohammad Hatta, as well as other government figures. Moewardi was offered the position of Minister of Defence but refused it; the position went, "in absentia", to Supriyadi.