Soekarno's Paspampres Band: As Long As You Are Happy

Soekarno (Source: geheugen.delpher.nl)

JAKARTA - From a long time ago, the role of the Presidential Security Force (Paspampres) was very vital. In a more philosophical sense, the life of a head of state is their responsibility. Paspampres is filled with selected soldiers from various fields. In the Soekarno era, Paspampres was much more than that. Paspampres is the guardian of Soekarno's mood. Bung Karno even had a music corps with Paspamres members. The band was named Asal Bapak Senang (ABS).

During his time as president, Bung Karno's need for entertainment was quite high. Being president, said Bung Karno, is a job that tends to make people get old quickly. Soekarno said, without true entertainment humans will be destroyed by life. A little singing and lenso dances became Bung Karno's favorite. Not alone. Bung Karno sometimes hummed with private aides, as well as Paspamres. From there Bung Karno was seen as a cheerful and humorous person.

“I am 64 years old. Being president is a job that makes people get old quickly. And if people get old, it is certainly not good for someone. Because of that, occasionally I have to run away from this state, so that I can live forever. Many simple pleasures have been taken from me. For example, in my childhood I had traveled around Java by bicycle. Now I can no longer make such trips. Because certainly not a few people will follow me, ”Bung Karno's story was quoted by Cindy Adams in Bung Karno's book: Connect the Indonesian People's Tongue (1965).

Soekarno (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

In order to support his need for entertainment, Bung Karno formed a special corps that could sing, dance and play musical instruments. In every social event, wherever it was, Bung Karno always brought a team of Paspamres members - at that time called the Personal Guard Detachment (DKP) - to play cha-cha music. His personal aide, Bambang Widjanarko confirmed.

Bambang said there were many matches between DKP and Bung Karno at that time. DKP happens to like to play music and does have musical equipment, even though it's simple. At first they just performed to entertain themselves in the dorm with friends and family. Their skills reached Bung Karno's ears. Every Big Brother has a celebration, be a music group from DKP who is chosen as a consolation.

"AKBP Mangil Martowidjojo, the DKP Commander, who had followed Bung Karno since Yogyakarta in 1948, was forced to order his men to also use his musical instruments to play at the Jakarta and Bogor Palaces. When Bung Karno went to another area, outside Jakarta-Bogor, the team members were always brought along. In addition to carrying out the main task of maintaining the security of the president, he was always ready if at any time Bung Karno attended events while taking the floor, "said Bambang Widjanarko in the book Sewindu. Near Bung Karno (1988).

Every time the music was played, Bung Karno continued to invite the audience to take the floor together. In front of the microphone, DKP members take turns singing while presenting original lyrics or other lyrics composed by themselves. Moreover, in certain situations they are required to quickly compile rhymes. The goal is to harmonize the rhymes into delicious songs.

Tercetuslah as long as you are happy

At one time, members of the music corps were bored by continuing to sing monotonous songs. At that time they did continue to sing one cha-cha rhythm for two to three hours, without pause. Improvisation is sometimes done by members of the music corps. However, Bung Karno opposed the improvisation, so they returned to playing cha-cha music. The DKP commander, Mangil then gave advice to keep the members excited. Mangil said: Ah, never mind! Just serve your wishes, as long as you are happy.

“There is no doubt that the accompanying band is also called the ABS Band (Originally Bapak Senang) which consists of police guards of the President. The ABS band served Bung Karno in various casual events. They were active in studying Bung Karno's favorite songs. The musical instruments they use are quite complete. The formation of the band or art team was initiated by Mangil Martowidjojo, Commander of the Private Guard Detachment (DKP) of the Cakrabirawa Regiment and Iskandar Winata, a police officer, "said Herry Gendut Janarto in the book Karlinah Umar Wirahadikusumah: Not Just a Soldier's Wife (2010).

Even though the term was so popular among DKP, officials, and students, Bung Karno did not seem to understand the meaning of ABS. Once upon a time, after meeting hundreds of students, Bung Karno seemed to attend a friendly event. After that, Bung Karno gave a signal to his personal aides. Bambang Widjanarko also summoned Bung Karno's favorite music corps to immediately entertain.

In a slightly loud voice, Bambang Widjanarko said, "Come on, ABS, get ready, we start immediately."

Bung Karno asked "Mbang, what is ABS?"

Bambang answered "O, that's just the name of the band, Pak Mangil, sir."

Soekarno (Source: Geheugen.delpher.nl)

Bung Karno did not budge. Bung Karno, said Bambang, may not have known about the name ABS until his death. On the other hand, Bung Karno gave a different name to the music corps. Bung Karno called his music group Brul-Apen, which literally means monkeys that keep on incubating and cocowetan incessantly. However, in essence the term does not contain any elements.

"The term is pure pure, does not contain the slightest political content. Our band is known for this acronym. The only band that could follow Bung Karno's will was the police band Sukarno's personal bodyguard, "said Mangil Martowidjojo in the book Testimonies on Bung Karno, 1945-1967 (1999).

ABS music group does not exist anymore. But ABS work is worth remembering. As a form that the Paspamres is not completely rigid with the main task of maintaining the safety of the president. Paspamres has other sides, including entertaining the president by playing mainstay songs. One of them is by bringing a love song created by Bung Karno for a beautiful girl named Haryati. The following is a fragment of the lyrics.

Haryati ... You are the rose nurturing the moon

Haryati ... thee is brilliant at the art of worship

The sin of dreaming of loving your lord with your fingertips I kissed tenderly last night

Is it that I worship you in a dream

Only in dream.

MEMORY Other

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