Sam Ratulangi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1stGovernor of Sulawesi | |
| In office 1945–1949 | |
| President | Sukarno |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Wilhelm Lapian |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gerungan Saul Samuel Jacob Ratulangi (1890-11-05)5 November 1890 |
| Died | 30 June 1949(1949-06-30) (aged 58) |
| Nationality | Indonesian |
| Spouse(s) | Emilie Suzanne Houtman (m. until 1926) Maria Catharina Josephine Tambajong (m. 1928) |
| Children | 5 (Zus) |
| Education | University of Zurich |
Gerungan Saul Samuel Jacob Ratulangi (also written asRatu Langie; 5 November 1890 – 30 June 1949), known asSam Ratulangi, was aMinahasan teacher, journalist, politician, andnational hero fromNorth Sulawesi,Indonesia. He was part of the committee that ratified theConstitution of Indonesia and served as the first Governor ofSulawesi.
The son of Jozias Ratulangi and Augustina Gerungan, both from wealthy, well-respected Minahasa families, Sam Ratulangi was born on 5 November 1890 inTondano in North Sulawesi, which at the time was a part of theDutch East Indies.[1] Jozias was a teacher at theHoofden School (middle school for children of local village heads) in Tondano. He received teacher training inHaarlem,Netherlands around 1880.[2] Augustina was the daughter of Jacob Gerungan, theMajoor (district chief) of Tondano-Touliang.[3]
Ratulangi was a gifted student, who studied at the local Dutch language elementary school (ELS orEuropeesche Lagere School) and then at the Hoofden School.[4] In 1904, he left his home to attendSTOVIA (a medical school inJava) after receiving a scholarship from the school. Once inBatavia (nowJakarta), he had a change of heart and decided to attend the technical high schoolKoningin Wilhelmina.[5] Ratulangi graduated in 1908 and started work on railroad construction in the southPriangan area ofWest Java. There he experienced unequal treatment in wages and employee lodging compared to those who were ofIndo (Eurasian) descent.[6]
In 1911, Ratulangi returned home, because his mother was seriously ill. His mother died on 19 November 1911. His father had died when he was in Java. After their mother's death, Ratulangi and his two sisters divided their parents' inheritance. Ratulangi planned to use the money he received to fund his education in Europe.[7] He arrived in Amsterdam in 1912 and continued his studies that he started in Java, which had been cut short due to his mother's illness. In 1913, he received a certificate to teach middle school level mathematics (Middelbare Acte Wiskunde en Paedagogiek).[8]
Ratulangi continued his studies at a university[Note 1] in Amsterdam for two more years. However, he was not able to complete his studies, because he was prohibited from taking the examination. The university required a high school level certificate, which Ratulangi did not have, because he never completed studies at either aHogere Burgerschool (HBS) orAlgemene Middelbare School (AMS).[9] At the advice of Mr. Abendanon, a Dutchman who was sympathetic[Note 2] to those from Indonesia or what was calledIndië at the time, Ratulangi applied and was accepted to theUniversity of Zurich inSwitzerland.[10] In 1919, he obtained a doctorate in mathematics and science from the university.[11]
During his time in Amsterdam, Ratulangi frequently met with Sosrokartono (R.A. Kartini's brother) and the three founders of theIndische Party,Ernest Douwes Dekker,Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo, andSoewardi Soerjaningrat. Ratulangi was also active in the association for Indonesian students (Indische Vereeniging orPerhimpunan Indonesia). He was elected as chairman of the association in 1914. He invited speakers who were sympathetic to the Indonesian cause, such asConrad Theodor van Deventer and Jacques Henrij Abendanon.[12] In Switzerland, he was active in the Association of Asian Students (Associations d'étudiants asiatiques) where he metJawaharlal Nehru fromIndia.[13]
Ratulangi was also active in writing articles. In one article entitled "Sarekat Islam" that was published inOnze Kolonien (1913), Ratulangi wrote about the growth ofSarekat Islam (a cooperative of local merchants in Indonesia) and also praised theBoedi Oetomo movement in Indonesia. Toward the end of the article, Ratulangi wrote the following:
History has no record of any nation that is colonialized forever. It is hopeful that the inevitable separation (of Indie and the Netherlands) will proceed in a peaceful way, which should make it possible that also thereafter the good interaction of cultural elements between Indie and the Netherlands, that have been entwined throughout the many centuries of history, can continue.[14]
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On his return to Indonesia in 1919, Ratulangi moved toYogyakarta to teach math and science at the technical high schoolPrinses Juliana School.[15] After three years of teaching, he moved toBandung and started the insurance companyAssurantie Maatschappij Indonesia with Roland Tumbelaka, a medical doctor by profession and fellow Minahasan. The company name contained the first known instance of the word "Indonesia" being used in official documents.[16] It has been noted thatSukarno first met Ratulangi when he was visiting Bandung for a conference. He noticed the name of Ratulangi's company that included "Indonesia". He was curious about the owner of the business and met Ratulangi in his office.[17]
In 1923, Ratulangi was nominated by the Minahasa Union party (Perserikatan Minahasa) to become secretary of the regional representative body of Minahasa inManado (Minahasa Raad). He held this position from 1924 to 1927. During his time as secretary, Ratulangi lobbied for more rights for Minahasans. He was widely credited with getting the colonial government to abolishforced labor (Herendiensten) in Minahasa. He was also instrumental in the opening the areas of Modoinding and Kanarom in south Minahasa fortransmigration and the establishment of a foundation to support the education of students with financial needs.[18]
On 16 August 1927, Ratulangi and R. Tumbelaka started the Minahasa Unity party (Persatuan Minahasa). Its predecessor, the Minahasa Union party (Perserikatan Minahasa), included both civilian and military members. Some of the members from the military had revolted against the Dutch and hence they were prohibited from participating in political organizations. Ratulangi and Tumbelaka decided to form a new party, the Minahasa Unity party, which would only have civilian members.[19] The existence of this party representing a specific region of Sulawesi gave its members local identity, but it also served the purpose of promoting national unity. The party "called for the 'solidarity of all population groups of Indonesia'".[20] In 1939,Persatuan Minahasa was one of the political parties that formed theIndonesian Political Federation (GAPI orGabungan Politik Indonesia). The others were Gerindo (Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia), Parindra (Partai Indonesia Raya), Pasundan, PPKI (Persatuan Partai Katolik Indonesia), and PSII (Persatuan Sarekat Islam Indonesia).[21]
Appointed to the People's CouncilVolksraad in 1927 to represent the constituents in Minahasa, Ratulangi continued to agitate for equal rights and advocating Indonesian nationalism by aligning himself with the Nationalist Caucus (Fraksi Kebangsaan) that was started byMohammad Husni Thamrin. He was a co-sponsor of theSoetardjo Petition, which expressed the desire for political autonomy through gradual reforms within a ten year period.[22] The petition passed theVolksraad, but was not accepted by the colonial government. This response to the petition led to the formation of GAPI (described earlier).[23] Ratulangi was not hesitant to criticize the authorities and would eventually be considered a risk to them. He continued to serve in theVolksraad until 1937, when he was arrested due to his increasing political views. He was jailed for several months in Sukamiskin in Bandung.[24]
In 1932, Ratulangi was one of the founding members of the United Scholars of Indonesia (Vereniging van Indonesische Academici).[25] He was also part of a group of church leaders and nationalists (includingB.W. Lapian andA.A. Maramis) who wanted a church denomination that was free and separate from the official church institution of the Dutch East-Indies (calledProtestantsche Kerk in Nederlandsch-Indie orIndische Kerk). In March 1933, the independent Convention of Protestant Churches in Minahasa (KGPM orKerapatan Gereja Protestan Minahasa) was established.[26]
In June 1937, Ratulangi's book "Indonesia in de Pacific" was published.[27] The book was considered to be visionary in its content, in which Ratulangi warned against the militarisation of Japan and foresaw the possibility that Japan might invade the Indonesian archipelago because of its natural resources which Japan lacks. He described the leading role that Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia around the Pacific Rim could play — the Pacific Ocean could equal the Atlantic in importance.
After being released from prison in 1938, Ratulangi became the editor ofNationale Commentaren, a Dutch-language news and issues magazine.[28] He used the magazine to write opinions against the colonial government's unfair actions and also to make his fellows Indonesians aware of the current state. Subscribers of the magazine included the offices of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Colonies, and the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies.[29]
After the Dutch surrendered the Dutch East Indies to the Japanese, on 20 March 1942 the Japanese authorities prohibited any kind of political activity.[30] Because all political organizations were disbanded, Ratulangi participated in the relief effort of the families of Dutch Colonial army (KNIL orKoninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger) soldiers. In 1943, Ratulangi was assigned as adviser to the occupying military government.[31] In 1944, he was transferred to advise the military government inMakassar inSouth Sulawesi, which was part of the eastern territory that was controlled by theJapanese Navy.[32] In June 1945, Ratulangi established an organization called Source of People's Blood (SUDARA orSumber Darah Rakyat). The naming is very close to the Indonesian word "saudara", which in meansbrother/sister. Ratulangi used the organization to energize nationalist sentiments in Sulawesi in anticipation of possible independence in the near future.[33]
In early August 1945, Ratulangi was appointed as one of the members of thePreparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI orPanitia Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia) from Sulawesi.[34] On 17 August 1945, Sukarno announced theProclamation of Indonesian Independence. Ratulangi had already arrived in Batavia with the other PPKI appointees from the eastern territory for meetings and hence he was present during the proclamation ceremony.[35] The subsequent PPKI meetings starting on the day after the proclamation produced the Constitution of Indonesia and the appointment of Sukarno andMohammad Hatta as President and Vice President, respectively, by acclamation. The meetings also organized the country into administrative regions where Ratulangi was appointed Governor of Sulawesi.[36]
Upon returning to Makassar and formally announcing the proclamation of independence, Ratulangi was faced with a very delicate situation. The Japanese were initially not ready to surrender their weapons.[37] TheAllied Forces under the command ofAustralian Brigadier GeneralIvan Dougherty arrived in September 1945 with the appointment as Military Governor. With him came elements of theNetherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA orNederlandsch-Indische Civiele Administratie) who were ready to assume the Dutch East Indies state as before the war. Along with NICA came KNIL soldiers to assist the Dutch civil government. With all the foreign influx, the local youth in Sulawesi were prepared to fight at all costs to maintain Indonesian independence.[38] In addition, Ratulangi received support from the local traditional chiefs (raja-raja) including from theSultanate of Bone and theKingdom of Luwu who pledged their allegiance to the newly established Republic.[39]
Ratulangi was able to hold negotiations in an effort to maintain the peace, but it only held for two months. Nevertheless, he was able to organize some semblance of a region government that operated for nine months. On 5 April 1946, Ratulangi and several of his staff were taken from their homes and held by the Dutch military police. They were imprisoned for three months until their exile to Serui Island in theYapen Islands archipelago inWestern New Guinea.[40]
Ratulangi was exiled to Serui with six of his staff and their families: Josef Latumahina, Lanto Daeng Pasewang, Willem Sumampouw Tanod 'Wim' Pondaag, Suwarno, I. P. Lumban Tobing, and Intje Saleh Daeng Tompo.[41] In Serui, the group looked for activities and interactions with the local community. They established a local school and a social organization to assist the women in the community.[42] Politically, Ratulangi was involved in the establishment of theIndonesian Irian Independence Party (PKII) in Irian that was led bySilas Papare with Ratulangi as an adviser.[43]
On 23 March 1948, after the signing of theRenville Agreement, the Dutch released Ratulangi and his colleagues.[44] They were transferred toSurabaya and then escorted to the demarcation line nearMojokerto andJombang where they made their way to the capital of the republic in Yogyakarta.[45] They were greeted warmly on their arrival in Yogyakarta and a reception was held by Sukarno with many Indonesian leaders in attendance.[46] Ratulangi was appointed special adviser to the Indonesian government and a member of the Indonesian delegation in negotiations with the Dutch. He also visited troops inEast Java and attended a financial conference in Kaliurang.[47] Around this time, his was having issues with his health.[48]
On 10 November 1948, a manifesto was announced by theRadio Republik Indonesia that urged the people of eastern Indonesia who were under the control of the Dutch to keep their unity with the Republic of Indonesia in order to one day become fully independent throughout Indonesia. The manifesto was calledManifes Ratulangie orManifes Djokja and in addition to Ratulangi, it was also signed byI Gusti Ketut Pudja,Sukarjo Wiryopranoto, and others.[49] The first point of the manifesto reads:
That the struggle, which is now being fought out by the Republic of Indonesia does not only involve the material, mental, moral, and political essentials of that part of the Indonesian people limited to the Republic of Indonesia, but also the national freedom and national dignity of the whole Indonesian people and the recognition of the fundamental rights of that people to live as a free and independent nation, on the soil and on that part of the world, which the Almighty God bestowed on them.[50]
DuringOperation Kraai (the second Dutch military aggression against Indonesia), Yogyakarta was captured and the Indonesian leaders including Sukarno and Hatta were captured and exiled toBangka. Ratulangi was captured by the Dutch on 25 December 1948. He was transferred to Jakarta on 12 January 1949 to be subsequently transferred to Bangka. However, due to his failing health, he was allowed to stay in Jakarta on house arrest.[51] Ratulangi died on 30 June 1949. Ratulangi was temporarily buried inTanah Abang, Jakarta.[52] On 23 July 1949, his remains were transported toManado on theKPM shipSwartenhondt.[53] On 1 August 1949, the ship reached Manado. The next day Ratulangi's remains were transported and buried in his hometown of Tondano.[54]
Ratulangi was married twice. He married Emilie Suzanne Houtman and had two children, Corneille Jose Albert 'Odie' Ratulangi andEmilia Augustina 'Zus' Ratulangi. Ratulangi and Houtman divorced in 1926. Ratulangi married Maria Catharina Josephine 'Tjen' Tambajong in 1928. They had three children, Milia Maria Matulanda 'Milly' Ratulangi, Everdina Augustina 'Lani' Ratulangi, and Wulan Rugian Manampira 'Uki' Ratulangi.[55]
Ratulangi had two older sisters, Wulan Kayes Rachel Wilhelmina Ratulangi and Wulan Rachel Wilhelmina Maria Ratulangi. Both had notable achievements. Wulan Kayes was the first Indonesian woman to pass theklein-ambtenaars examination for low-level government jobs in 1898. Her marks were higher than the men who took the exam. Wulan Rachel was the first Indonesian woman to receive thehulpacte basic certificate for elementary education in Dutch in 1912.[56]
In August 1961, Ratulangi was posthumously awarded the title ofNational Hero of Indonesia by Sukarno.[57] He also received posthumously theBintang Gerilya in 1958, theBintang Mahaputera Adipradana in 1960, and theBintang Satyalancana in 1961.[58]
Ratulangi is well-regarded in the Minahasa region of North Sulawesi. Main artery roads in all cities in Minahasa (Bitung, Manado,Tomohon, and Tondano) are named after Ratulangi. Manado'sinternational airport is also named after him as is thestate university in Manado. Statues and busts of Ratulangi can be found on the intersection between Jalan Sam Ratulangi and Jalan Bethesda in Manado, on the campus of Sam Ratulangi University, beside Ratulangi's tomb in Tondano, in Jakarta and Serui, and even in a park inDavao City[59] (Philippines), which is located just north of the island of Sulawesi. In 2016, theMinistry of Finance issued new2016 series notes in which the Rp. 20,000 valued note depicts Ratulangi on the front of the note.[60] Sam Ratulangi is also featured on the newer 2022 series.
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