Amir Syarifuddin Was Sentenced To Death By Japanese Colonizers In History Today, February 29, 1944

Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Indonesia, Amir Syarifuddin. (ANRI/IPPHOS)

JAKARTA History today, 80 years ago, February 29, 1944, the Japanese colonialists sentenced the freedom fighters Amir Syarifuddin to death. The punishment was given because Amir was considered to have the potential to interfere with the Japanese agenda in the archipelago.

Previously, the Japanese colonialists were active in inviting freedom fighters to collaborate in their power. The strategy was carried out by Japan to win the hearts of the bumiputras. Problems arise. Not all freedom fighters are willing to collaborate with Japan.

The presence of Japan as the new ruler of the archipelago is full of dynamics. They use the strategy of embracing, rather than hitting. Many of the freedom fighters are invited to collaborate in the government. This attitude was also shown by the Japanese straregy of privileged Muslims.

Japan's strategy is none other than so that the natives fully support Japan in the Pacific War. Japan has even promised the natives to be independent. A gift that is considered valuable because colonialism or colonialism has suffered the natives.

Many freedom fighters are part of the People's Energy Center (Putara). Soekarno, Hatta, Ki Hajar Dewantara, to KH Mas Mansoer are in it. There are also many who become defenders of the country (Meta).

Those who are members come from many scholars, former teachers, and government officials. The collaboration brought benefits. Indonesia's independence agenda can be widely discussed unlike the Dutch colonial era.

However, not all freedom fighters want to collaborate with Japan. Take for example Amir Syarifuddin. The left independence fighter led the anti-Japan underground movement with Dutch support.

The movement against Japanese domination is considered disturbing. Amir and his followers are like threats of Japanese existence in the archipelago. This condition made Amir hunted. Japan wants to cut down the anti-Japanese movement. Amir's resistance ran aground. He and his followers were arrested by Japan in early 1943.

The old-generation political figures contacted by students were Soekarno and Hatta and they were drawn by the Japanese military government to work in government agencies that had been prepared by Japan. Meanwhile, Amir Syarifuddin, an intellectual Dutch education who before the war erupted, worked in the Dutch economic affairs office, instead was arrested by Kametai, a Japanese military intelligence agency, on charges of having the duty of the Dutch government to create an organizational network against Japan.

"Maybe the one who reported him to Japan was a Dutch member of the NSB (National Socialistche Bond who was labeled the 5th Nazi German colony) who worked in the Jawatan as well. As is well known, the Japanese Fascist, like the German Fascist, considers communism as the greatest enemy. Along with the arrest of Amir Syarifuddin, a number of Indonesians suspected of being communists were also arrested and imprisoned," said Hario Kecik in the book Military Thoughts 1: Throughout the Time of the Indonesian Nation (2009).

Prison sentences forced Amir to make him live. Every day he was tortured without humanity. His life is getting ahead. He was also tried military-style. Japanese colonizers then sentenced Amir to death on February 29, 1944.

The verdict is the most common punishment in the Japanese era. The punishment is ordinary in two ways. Cuted by a catarium or shot by a nambu restaurant (a semi-automatic Japanese-made gun). However, everything changed when freedom fighters Soekarno and Hatta tried to intervene.

They lobbied Japan so that Amir would not be sentenced to death. The lobby managed to melt Japan. Finally, the Japanese colonialists changed Amir's sentence from the death penalty to life imprisonment.

There was also a report to me that Amir Syarifuddin, one of our leaders from the underground movement, for weeks had been hanged by Kempetai with his feet up. He was told to drink his own urine. He will not be able to last much longer. I negotiate his release by affirming to the officials concerned. Free him or otherwise, don't be expected to cooperate with me again."

To be able to make such a statement, it really takes a strong heart. However, to be able to look at Amir Syarifuddin's condition when Japan released him, it requires even greater heart strength. His body is thin like a lidi. People can't believe it, that someone is still able to hold back such suffering and it is possible to escape the lifeless state," said Bung Karno as written by Cindy Adams in the book Bung Karno: Connecting the Tongue of the Indonesian People (2007).