These Are 6 Names Given National Hero Titles On November 10, 2023, There Is A Queen Of Kalinyamat

Illustration. President Jokowi saw a photo of the late. Usmar Ismail after being given the title of national hero at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, November 10, 2021. (Biro Pers Setpres-Rusman)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo conferred the title of national hero for six fighters. This was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud Md, who also serves as Chairman of the Indonesian Council for Titles, Services, and Honors (GTK), Wednesday, November 8.

The six names given the title were Ida Dewa Agung Jambe (Bali), Bataha Santiago (North Sulawesi), Mohammad Tabrani Soerjowitjirto (East Java), Ratu Kalinyamat (Central Java), KH Abdul Chalim (West Java), and KH Ahmad Hanafiah (Lampung).

Mahfud conveyed that the ceremony to award the title of hero led by President Jokowi will take place on Heroes' Day, which is celebrated every November 10.

"Every Hero's Day, we (Indonesian Government, ed.) confer the title of hero to the fighters who used to fight for the independence of the country and or participate in filling independence with their extraordinary service and struggle to the state," said Mahfud MD at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Jakarta.

He explained that the fighters who were approved this year and designated as National Heroes by President Jokowi were those who met a number of conditions.

"There are many conditions, for example, those who have died, have struggled, have never betrayed, that is a general condition. However, the general requirements or special conditions are fully stipulated by the President. So, the President who confers the title of National Hero. Now, we from the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs lead a Council called the Council of Titles, Services, and Honorary Signs. The chairman is the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, but the materials are collected through the Minister of Social Affairs," said Mahfud.

The Ministry of Social Affairs, in the process, also received proposals for National Hero Candidates from local governments.

"Based on Presidential Decree No. 115-TK-TH-2023 dated November 6, 2023, the President awarded the title of National Hero to six fighters ranging from pioneering independence to breaking and physically independent fighters and people who contributed to the Republic of Indonesia at that time," Mahfud said.

Ida Dewa Agung Jambe, also known as the 2nd King of Klungkung, was a fighter who died while battling the Dutch Colonial Army in the Puputan Klungkung War on April 28, 1908.

Meanwhile, Bataha Santiago is the Third King of Manganitu in Sangihe, an area that is currently included in North Sulawesi Province. Bataha is known as the only king in the Sangihe Islands who refuses to sign trade cooperation with the Dutch VOC.

Mohammad Tabrani Soerjowitjirto, who is also the father of Indonesian language, was the pioneer and chairman of the Youth Congress I in 1926, who became the forerunner of the Youth Pledge in 1928. He is known as the first originator of the term Indonesian language', namely in his writing entitled 'Poor' published in the Indian newspaper Baroe on January 10, 1926.

Then, Queen Kalinyamat (real name Retna Kencana), the only woman to receive the title of National Hero this year, was the ruler of Jepara during the entry of Islam to Java Island. He is known as a brave and heroic figure because he has been involved in the battle against the Portuguese several times.

Queen Kalinyamat in 1550 helped Sultan Johor fight the Portuguese army by sending 40 warships and 4,000 troops into the Malacca Strait. The purpose of the fighting was mainly to free Malacca waters from Portuguese domination.

In addition, Queen Kalinyamat also helped the people of Hitu in Ambon fight the Portuguese in 1565. Finally, Queen Kalinyamat sent back 300 ships containing 15,000 troops to help the Sultan of Aceh fight against the Portuguese colonialists in Malacca.

Another fighter, KH Abdul Chalim, is an NU figure who is one of the administrators in the first PBNU management. He is known to have joined forces with other fighters during the war on November 10, 1945.

Finally, KH Ahmad Hanafiah, who is also a NU figure and son of the Lampung region, was known as a fighter who led the resistance to Dutch military aggression in Lampung in 1947.