National Heroes, Should They Always Be Indonesian Citizens?

Photo illustration (setneg.go.id)

JAKARTA - Awarding the title of national hero is an annual ritual for the Indonesian government. This year the country named six new national heroes. They are Sultan Baabullah, Machmud Singgirei Rumagesan, retired Raden Said Soekanto Tjokrodiatmodjo, Arnold Mononutu, Mr Sutan Muhammad Amir Nasution, and Raden Mattaher bin Pangeran Kusen bin Adi. All from Indonesia. Given the many roles of foreign citizens in the nation's struggle, is it possible for the state to give the title of national hero to foreigners?

The determination of the title of national hero has been regulated in Law Number 20 of 2009 concerning the Title of Honors and Signs of Honor. Law 20/2009 regulates a number of requirements that must be fulfilled in every submission of a candidate for a national hero.

Referring to the law, which is classified as a general condition, among which are potential heroes who are Indonesian citizens or people who are fighting in an area that is now the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. The name must also have moral integrity and exemplary, be of service to the nation and state, be of good behavior, and be loyal and not betray the nation and state.

Apart from the existing regulations, there are actually other elements that often determine the title of a national hero to someone: politics. Osa Kurniawan, in his book Proklamasi: A Reconstruction, once highlighted the political element in awarding the title of national hero.

He said that during the New Order era, there were several precedents of awarding the title of hero that were questionable. One of them was giving the title of hero to Siti Hartinah (Bu Tien).

"There is one political case too. Awarding the title of national hero to Mrs. Tien Soeharto. What services (Bu Tien) did? Because she accompanied Suharto?" said Osa to VOI.

Not only during the Soeharto era. The title of national hero in Sukarno's era was carried out without clear procedures. Just like the Soeharto era. The title of national hero in the Sukarno era was also full of subjectivity and political interests.

Determination of the name Sutan Sjahrir, for example. The title of national hero Sjahrir was awarded in 1966, one day after he died in Switzerland as a political prisoner. The awarding of the title to Sjahrir was also believed to be Sukarno's effort to maintain the political balance at that time.

Two years before Sjahrir's death, 1964 to be exact, was the year Sukarno had sold the title of national hero at most. At least ten figures were awarded the title of national hero. The composition is diverse. Two from the TNI, two from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), two from Muhammadiyah, and three from women. And Sjahrir is a representation of Nasakom, the communist element at that time.

Why not?

The law becomes a wall high enough to grant the title of national hero to foreign fighters who have served the nation. Even so, History researcher Rahadian Rundjan, in his writing at Deutsche Welle, had raised the discourse on the appointment of national heroes from non-indigenous circles.

According to him, Law 20/2009 actually provides an opportunity to appoint those who are not Indonesian citizens (WNI) as national heroes. The requirement is to meet other principal criteria written in the Act.

The precedent is there. There is already a Dutch independence figure who was appointed as a hero of Indonesia in 1961, namely Ernest Douwes Dekker. The man who was born in Pasuruan, Dutch East Indies, October 8, 1879, was the initiator of the name Nusantara as the name for an independent Dutch East Indies. He also became one of the Three Serangkai, fighters for the famous Indonesian independence movement.

According to Rahadian, the criteria for Indonesian citizens can be examined if it is related to names that lived before the national movement era in the early 19th century. He gave an example of the physical clash of Sultan Agung, Iskandar Muda, and Hasanuddin with the European nation which was a conflict with a regional context, "plus the minus awareness of 'Indonesia,'" he wrote.

However, it was the form of resistance to European colonialism that was considered to be in line with the essence of the struggle of the Indonesian people, so these names deserved to be appointed. "Isn't it that there will also be opportunities for Dutch figures, and other foreign opponents, to be proposed as national heroes?" Rahadian.

There are several non-Indonesian figures who deserve to be proposed as national heroes. Eduard Douwes Dekker alias Multatuli, for example. The author who reveals the rottenness of the Dutch regime in the archipelago through his novel, Max Havelaar.

His work succeeded in changing the public's view of the Dutch colonial system and triggering a series of political, social reforms. Thanks to him, the perception of the nationality and concept of the Indonesian state opened in the decades after that.

In addition, if you want to see from the militaristic sector there is also a figure who is no less heroic. We can propose Idjon Djanbi to be one of them.

After Indonesia's independence, there were still many physical clashes in the country. The intensity of attacks both from outside and within the country, makes Indonesia need to increase its military forces.

Indonesia needs a highly skilled armed force. Brigadier General TNI Ignatius Slamet Riyadi had the idea of forming a special force. Unfortunately, he died before the idea was realized.

It was Idjon Djanbi who later realized the idea. The hands of a Dutchman who formed the Special Forces Command (Kopasus).

Idjon Djanbi is an influential figure and has contributed to the red beret soldiers. He is a person who hones the mentally and physically selected members of the TNI AD to be trained as tough soldiers who can move in small, impromptu, and covert units.

Despite contributing greatly to the nation, it seems that the criteria for being an Indonesian citizen are difficult to exclude. Historian Ravando Lie said that let alone foreigners, even heroes of Chinese descent and Arab descent need to go a long way to elevate him as a national hero.

If possible, heroes of Chinese and Arab descent need to go through a winding process in order to make it happen. "John Lie was proposed from Minahasa. For example, using Chinese frills, it seems that it will not be the goal," Ravando told VOI today, November 10.

Rear Admiral of the Indonesian National Army, retired John Lie Tjeng Tjoan or known as Jahja Daniel Dharma, was a high ranking officer in the Navy of Chinese ethnicity. He is known for his services as an arms smuggler from Singapore. The struggle was not easy because apart from avoiding the Dutch patrol, they also had to block the ocean waves which were relatively large for the size of the ships they were using.

We have covered a more comprehensive discussion on the issue of national heroes through the series "Becoming a National Hero".