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Sutomo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Bung Tomo" redirects here. For the Indonesian Navy's warships, seeBung Tomo-class corvette.For founder ofBudi Oetomoorganization, seeSoetomo.
Sutomo
'Bung Tomo'
Minister of State for the Affairs of Former Indonesian Fighters
In office
12 August 1955 – 24 Maret 1956
PresidentSukarno
Prime MinisterBurhanuddin Harahap
Succeeded byDahlan Ibrahim
Minister of Social Affairs
(ad-interim)
In office
18 Januari 1956 – 24 Maret 1956
PresidentSukarno
Prime MinisterBurhanuddin Harahap
Preceded bySoedibjo
Succeeded byFatah Jasin
Personal details
Born(1920-10-03)3 October 1920
Soerabaja,
Dutch East Indies
Died7 October 1981(1981-10-07)(aged 61)
Mount Arafat,
Saudi Arabia
NationalityIndonesian
Political party
  • Gerakan Rakyat Baru (New People's Movement)
  • Pemuda Republik Indonesia (Youth of Indonesian Republic)
OccupationJournalist
AwardsNational Hero of Indonesia
Military service
AllegianceIndonesia
RankFront Leader
CommandsIndonesian People's Revolutionary Front
Battles/wars

Sutomo(3 October 1920 – 7 October 1981),[1]also known asBung Tomo(meaning Comrade or Brother Tomo), was an Indonesian revolutionary and military leader best known for his role in theIndonesian National RevolutionagainstDutch colonial rule.He played a central role inBattle of Surabaya,which was fought between British and Indonesian forces from October to November 1945.

Early life

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Official portrait, 1955

Sutomo was born in Kampung Blauran in the centre ofSurabayato a clerk father, Kartawan Tjiptowidjojo, and mother, Subastia, of mixedJavanese,SundaneseandMaduresedescent. He had received Dutch secondary education before theJapanese occupation.

Alongside menial jobs, he joined theIndonesian Scoutingorganisation and at the age of seventeen as the secondPramuka Garuda;a rank achieved by only three Indonesians before the Japanese occupation duringWorld War II.

Japanese occupation

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During the Japanese occupation period, Sutomo worked for theDōmei Tsushin(the official news agency of the Empire of Japan) inSurabaya.He became famous for setting upRadio Pemberontakan(Resistance Radio), which promoted unity and fighting spirit amongpemuda-pemuda Indonesia(Indonesian youth).

In 1944, Sutomo was chosen as a member of the Japanese-sponsoredGerakan Rakyat Baru(New People's Movement) and officer ofPemuda Republik Indonesia(Youth of Indonesian Republic).

Indonesian National Revolution

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Main articles:Indonesian National Revolution,Indonesian People's Revolutionary Front,andBattle of Surabaya

Indonesian People's Revolutionary Front

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On 12 October 1945, Sutomo founded and become a leader ofIndonesian People's Revolutionary Front(Indonesian:Barisan Pemberontakan Rakyat Indonesia), abbreviated asBPRI,is an Indonesianmilitia,with its headquarters inSurabaya.[2]: 42  BPRI was aimed at realizing and defending theProclamation of Indonesian Independence,they rallied the people's resistance against the Dutch who wanted to reign Indonesia after theSurrender of JapaninWorld War II.[3]: 122 

During theNetherlands Indies Civil Administration(NICA) occupation, in the early stages of theIndonesian National Revolution,in theBersiapperiod, Sutomo encouraged atrocities againstIndonesians of mixed European–Asian ancestry[4][5]and personally supervised thesummary executionsof hundreds of civilians. Although there is no conclusive evidence that he personally supervised executions or orchestrated violence on a large scale. These are archived eye witness testimony of the events of 22 October 1945.[6]

Battle of Surabaya

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He played a central role when the battle broke out inSurabayabetween Indonesian nationalists andBritishforces. Although the fighting ended in defeat for the Indonesians, the battle served to galvanise Indonesian and international opinion in support of the independence cause. Sutomo spurred thousands of Indonesians to action with his distinctive, emotional speaking-style of his radio broadcasts. His "clear, burning eyes, that penetrating, slightly nasal voice, or that hair-raising oratorical style that second only to Sukarno's in its emotional power".[1]

Hey British soldiers! As long as the Indonesian bulls, the youth of Indonesia, have red blood that can make a piece of white cloth, red and white, we will never surrender. Friends, fellow fighters, especially the youth of Indonesia, we will fight on, we will expel the colonialists from our Indonesian land that we love... Long have we suffered, been exploited, trampled on. Now is the time for us to seize our independence. Our motto remains:FREEDOMOR DEATH. ALLAHU AKBAR!... ALLAHU AKBAR!... ALLAHU AKBAR!...FREEDOM!"

Bung Tomo's speech, 9 November 1945.[7]

10 November 1945, the peak of the Battle of Surabaya, was later known asHari Pahlawan(Heroes’ Day), to commemorate and honor the struggles of heroes and fighters in defending Indonesian independence.

The battle for Surabaya was the bloodiest single engagement of the war, and demonstrated the determination of the rag-tag nationalist forces; their sacrificial resistance became a symbol and rallying cry for the revolution. In November 1946, the last British forces left Indonesia.

Post-independence

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In 1955, Sutomo become aminister of statein theBurhanuddin Harahap Cabinetbetween August 1955 and March 1956, an appointment which pleased cabinet supporters because of his nationalist credentials.[8]However, his relationship with PresidentSukarnohad already begun to sour in 1952 after he offended the president by asking about the president's personal relationship withHartini,a married woman who later became Sukarno's fourth wife.[9][10]Sutomo would later sue Sukarno in 1960, due to the president's decision to dissolve thePeople's Representative Council.[11][12]

After the 1956, Sutomo emerged again as a national figure during the1965 turbulent period.Initially, he supportedSuhartoto replace the left-leaning Sukarno government, but later opposed aspects of theNew Orderregime.[1]

On 11 April 1978, he was detained by the government for his outspoken criticism of corruption and abuses of power; upon his release three years later, however, Sutomo continued to loudly voice his criticisms. He said that he did not want to be buried in theHeroes' Cemeterybecause it was full of "fairweather heroes" who had lacked the courage to defend the nation at times of crisis, but when peace came appeared in public to glorify their achievements.[13]

Death

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On 7 October 1981, he died inMecca,Saudi Arabia,while onHajj pilgrimage.[1] Before his death, Sutomo managed to finish a draft of his own dissertation on the role of religion in village-level development. His family and friends had his body returned to Indonesia. Although his reputation and military rank gave him the right to be buried in the Heroes' Cemetery, he was laid to rest in public burial ground at Ngagel,Surabaya,East Java.

Family

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On 9 June 1947, Sutomo married Sulistina inMalang,East Java.[7]He was known as a devoutly religious father of four who took religious knowledge seriously throughout his life.

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdFrederick 1982.
  2. ^Bung Tomo: Soerabaja di Tahun 45.Tokoh Militer (in Indonesian). Tim Buku TEMPO. 2015.
  3. ^Sarip, Muhammad (2015).Samarinda Bahari, Sejarah 7 Zaman Daerah Samarinda. Samarinda: Komunitas Samarinda Bahari(in Indonesian).ISBN978-602-736-170-6.
  4. ^Sidjaja, Calvin Michel (22 October 2011)."Who is responsible for 'Bersiap'?".The Jakarta Post.Retrieved2023-03-22.
  5. ^Meijer, Hans. 'In Indie geworteld, de Geschiedenis van Indische Nederlanders, de twintigste eeuw.' (Publisher Bert Bakker, Amsterdam, 2004) P.245ISBN90-351-2617-3.Note: Citing Dutch newspaper 'De Haagsche Post', article dated 4 December 1954."Extremists Run Amok Against Indische-Nederlanders | Dutch-Indonesian Community".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-12-10.Retrieved2011-08-31.
  6. ^Note: These legal testimonies formerly designatedtop secrethave been made public and are available online. See: Van der Molen, Pia Bussemaker, HermanArchief van Tranenwebsite (2012). Document: 125_A_B_C_D_E_FOnline archive
  7. ^abSulistina Soetomo 1995.
  8. ^Feith 2009,p. 419-420.
  9. ^Taufiq, Fery (2020).PEKIK TAKBIR BUNG TOMO Perjalanan Hidup, Kisah Cinta & Perjuangannya(in Indonesian). Araska Publisher.ISBN978-623-7537-74-8.
  10. ^Chairunnisa, Ninis (2017-11-12)."Bung Tomo dan Bung Karno Pernah Bertengkar Sampai Banting Piring".Tempo.Retrieved2022-12-04.
  11. ^Hatta, Mohammad (1986).Hati nurani melawan kezaliman: surat-surat Bung Hatta kepada Presiden Soekarno, 1957-1965(in Indonesian). Penerbit Sinar Harapan.
  12. ^MAPPAPA, Imam Wahyudiyanta, PASTI LIBERTI."Menggugat Presiden Ala Bung Tomo".detiknews(in Indonesian).Retrieved2022-12-04.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Wahyudi, M Zaid (10 November 2007).Kompas.pp. 1 & 15.{{cite news}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)

Bibliography

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