Proclaimer Sukarno and Moh. Hatta considered to still play a role in the incident General Offensive March 1, 1949 in the city of Yogyakarta despite being detained in Menumbing, Bangka Belitung.
“Here is the key. For what? Even though they are imprisoned, they still carry out struggles or diplomatic steps through what is called counter-counter propaganda,” said Sri Margana, historian from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), in an online discussion entitled ‘Understanding Presidential Decree No. 2 concerning State Sovereignty Enforcement Day’, Monday (7/3).
He who is also one of the experts in the Academic Manuscripts for the Day of State Sovereignty Enforcement, revealed that Sukarno, Hatta, and several ministers were exiled in Menumbing, Bangka Belitung Islands, when the General Offensive of March 1, 1949 occurred.
According to him, the government at that time was under the leadership of the Indonesian Emergency Government (PDRI), chaired by Sjafroeddin Prawiranegara.
One of the forms of counter-propaganda between Sukarno-Hatta and the detained figures was the publication of a 54-page document that exposed the Dutch black campaign against Indonesia in the eyes of the international community.
The 54-page file arrived at the desk of the Committee of Good Offices or known as the Three Nations Commission (KTN) formed by the United Nations Security Council, on January 21, 1949.
Consisting of three countries in it namely, Belgium, Australia, and the United States, the KTN functioned to facilitate negotiations between Indonesia and the Netherlands at that time.
The document written by M. Roem and Hatta reveals the Dutch treatment of political prisoners held in Menumbing. That, Sukarno, Hatta, and the ministers were placed in a small room measuring 4×6 meters with a wire screen in the front.
This is in contrast to the claim of the Dutch diplomat, Jan Herman van Roijen, who was treated well.
“Due to this protest, members of the committee (KTN) visited them in Bangka, and there it was discovered that the Dutch had lied,” said Margana.
As a result, KTN asked the Netherlands to give freedom to political prisoners in Menumbing to freely breathe the air of the 4,500-mile island. Sukarno, Hatta, and the ministers were also guaranteed the right to communicate with anyone.
However, after that Sukarno was still separated from his ministers at that time by being placed in Wisma Ranggam, Muntok, because he could not stand the cold weather.
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Infographic of the Winding Road to the Suharto Foundation Case. (Photo: CNN Indonesia/Laudy Gracivia)- – |
“With the guarantee of freedom of communication, negotiations can be carried out. How can they negotiate if they are not allowed to communicate with other political figures in other places, including those in Jogja,” he explained.
Through this document, Van Roijen’s claim that Indonesia only has high-ranking officials can be dismissed. The existence of Indonesia began to rise again.
“These diplomacy require military support. To show Indonesia’s existence it is not only political but must be militarily.
“This is where the key is, then in Yogya move. Sri Sultan HB IX started to launch ideas regarding the March 1 General Offensive,” he concluded.
Likewise, UGM historian Julianto Ibrahim added that the role of Sukarno, Hatta, and the ministers was more to the trigger for the General Offensive on March 1, 1949. It was thanks to their documents that Indonesia’s existence did not disappear completely before the movement in Yogyakarta City.
Previously, Member of Commission I DPR Fadli Zon assessed that Sukarno and Hatta had no role in the March 1 General Offensive because they were still being held in Menumbing, Bangka Belitung.
(godfather / arch)
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