Ignatius Slamet Rijadi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rijadi in 1949 | |
| Birth name | Soekamto |
| Born | (1927-07-26)26 July 1927 |
| Died | 4 November 1950(1950-11-04) (aged 23) Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia |
| Allegiance | Indonesia |
| Branch | Army |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards | National Hero of Indonesia |
Brigadier GeneralIgnatius Slamet Rijadiⓘ (Perfected Spelling:Ignatius Slamet Riyadi; 26 July 1927 – 4 November 1950) was an Indonesian soldier.
Rijadi was born inSurakarta,Central Java, to a soldier and a fruit seller. Rijadi was "Sold" to his uncle and renamed as a toddler to cure his illnesses, Rijadi was raised at his parents' home and studied at Dutch-run schools. After theJapanese occupation of theDutch East Indies, Rijadi studied at a Japanese-run sailor's academy and worked for them upon graduation; he abandoned theJapanese army towards the end ofWorldWar II and assisted resistance operations for the rest of the occupation.
AfterIndonesia's independence on 17 August 1945, Rijadi led Indonesian forces in the Surakarta area during therevolution against the returning Dutch. Starting with a guerrilla campaign, by 1947, when he fought against Dutch offensives inAmbarawa andSemarang, he was in charge of the 26th Regiment. During asecond Dutch offensive, Rijadi lost control of the city butsoon retook it, later leading counter-offensives inWest Java. In 1950, after the end of the revolution, Rijadi was sent to theMoluccas to put downa rebellion. After several months of planning and a month crossingAmbon Island, Rijadi was killed near the end of the operation by a rebounding bullet.
Since his death, Rijadi has received much recognition. The main street in Surakarta is named after him, as is afrigate in theIndonesian Navy, the KRISlamet Riyadi. Awarded several medals in 1961 posthumously, Rijadi was given the title ofNational Hero of Indonesia on 9 November 2007.
Rijadi was born with the name Soekamto inSurakarta,Central Java,Dutch East Indies, on 26 July 1927;[1] he was the second son born to Underlieutenant Raden Ngabehi Prawiropralebdo, an officer in the sultan's army, and Soetati, a fruit seller.[2][3] When Soekamto was one year old, his mother dropped him; he afterwards became frequently ill. To help cure his illness, his family "sold" him in a traditionalJavanese ritual to his uncle, Warnenhardjo; after the ceremony, Soekamto's name was changed to Slamet. Although formally Warnenhardjo's son after the ceremony, Slamet was raised at his parents' house.[4] He was aRoman Catholic,[5] and it is said that since he was young Rijadi liked"'tirakat' fasting and 'mystical' things'".[2]
Rijadi's primary education was done at Dutch-run schools. His elementary school was taken at the Hollandsch-Inlandsche School Ardjoeno, a private school owned and run by a Dutch religious group.[4] While at Mangkoenegaran Middle School, where numerous students were named Slamet, he received an additional name, Rijadi;[6] it is also during middle school that his father bought him back.[4] After middle school and theJapanese occupation in 1942, he attended a sailor's academy in Jakarta. After graduation, he worked as navigator on a wooden ship.[1][7]
Rijadi, who when not at sea lived in a dormitory nearGambir Station inCentral Jakarta, occasionally met with underground resistance.[8] On 14 February 1945, with Japan facing defeat in WorldWar II, Rijadi and other sailors abandoned their dormitory and took up arms; Rijadi moved back to Surakarta and supported resistance movements there.[9] He was not captured by theJapanese military police or other units for the remainder of the occupation, which ended with Indonesia's independence on 17 August 1945.[1]
After the Japanese surrender, the Dutch attempted to re-occupy the newly declared Republic of Indonesia; unwilling to be colonised, the Indonesiansfought back. Rijadi began a guerrilla campaign against Dutch posts and quickly rose through the ranks.[1] He was in charge of a Battalion of the 26th Regiment, 4th Division/Panembahan Senopati inPacitan.[10] DuringOperation Product, a general offensive by Dutch forces in mid-1947, Rijadi led Indonesian forces in several parts of Central Java, includingAmbarawa andSemarang; he also led a cleansing force between mountsMerapi andMerbabu.[2]
In September 1948 Rijadi was promoted and given control of four battalions of soldiers and one of student soldiers. Two months later, the Dutchlaunched a second attack, this time on the nearby city ofYogyakarta (then serving as the nation's capital). Although Rijadi and his troops launched attacks on Dutch forces approaching Solo throughKlaten, ultimately the Dutch soldiers entered the city. Applying adivide and conquer policy, Rijadi was able to drive the forces out in four days.[2]
During the remainder of the war, Rijadi was sent toWest Java to fight againstRaymond Westerling'sLegion of the Just Ruler.[11]
Not long after the end of the war, theRepublic of South Maluku (RMS) declared its independence from the nascent Indonesia. Rijadi was sent to the frontline on 10 July 1950 as part ofOperation Senopati.[11][12]To retake theisland of Ambon, Rijadi took half his forces and invaded the eastern shores, while the other half was tasked with invading from the northern coast. Although the second group experienced heavy resistance, Rijadi's group was able to take to the beach in native canoes unopposed; they later landed more infantry and armour.[13]
On 3 October, the troops, along with ColonelAlexander Evert Kawilarang, were tasked with capturing the rebel capital atNew Victoria. Rijadi and Kawilarang led a three pronged assault, with forces approaching by land from the north and east, and naval forces pulling directly into Ambon harbour. Rijadi's forces approached the city through mangrove swamps,[13] a journey which took a month. During the trip, RMS snipers armed withjungle carbines andOwen guns shot constantly at the troops, often pinning them down.[14][15]
Upon arriving in New Victoria, Rijadi's forces made short work of the RMS troops. However, he did not see the end of the battle. As Rijadi was riding atop a tank towards the final rebel stronghold on 4 November, a volley of machine gun fire erupted in his direction. A single bullet rebounded off the tank's armour and into Rijadi's abdomen. After being rushed to ahospital ship, Rijadi insisted on returning to the front; instead, the doctors gave him much morphine and attempted unsuccessfully to treat the wound. Rijadidied of wounds that night; the battle ended the same day.[11][14] Rijadi was buried in Ambon.[11]
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Numerous things have been named after Rijadi. The 5.8-kilometre (3.6 mi) long main road of Surakarta is named after the brigadier general.[16] The KRISlamet Riyadi, afrigate described as one of the most sophisticated in theIndonesian Navy, is named after him.[17]
Rijadi has received numerous awards. He received several medals posthumously, including the Bintang Sakti in May 1961, the Bintang Gerilya in July 1961, and the Satya Lencana Bakti in November 1961.[11] On 9 November 2007, PresidentSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono gave Rijadi the titleNational Hero of Indonesia;[18] Rijadi received the title along withAdnan Kapau Gani,Ida Anak Agung Gde Agung, andMoestopo based on Presidential Decree Number 66 / TK of 2007.[19]
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