The Other Side Of Rengasdengklok Incident: When Japanese Colonials Panic Search For Soekarno - Hatta

Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta in an event in January 1950. (ANRI)

The momentum of the kidnapping of Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta panicked the Japanese colonialists. Both were indeed kidnapped by the young group to Rengasdenglok. However, the Japanese colonialists did not know where Bung Karno-Hatta went.

Japanese colonizers became frantic. They thought they were hanging out planning an evil consensus. This condition made the Japanese colonialists seek information on the existence of Indonesian warrior icons. All close people were questioned.

Indonesia's efforts to escape the shackles of colonialism are not easy. The desire to be independent is not enough. Independence fighters are faced with struggles that sacrifice everything, from money, family, to life.

The problem is increasing with efforts to unite ideas among freedom fighters. They are divided into two camps. Old group kubu (Soekarno, Hatta, and others). Young group kubu (Sayuti Melik, Wikana, Sukarni, and others).

The young group tried to force the old group to echo the proclamation of Indonesian independence. The radical method was chosen. They kidnapped two icons of freedom fighters Soekarno and Hatta in the early hours of August 16, 1945.

They were taken to Rengasdengklok, West Java. The young group felt that without both independence and Indonesian unification it would be difficult to perform. The departure actually brought problems. Friends of the non-governmentalists who were told.

The memo didn't have time to be made. Because, the incident took place after the sahur hour. His personal doctor, R. Suharto, did not know where Bung Karno was. He went to Bung Karno's house in Pegangsaan Timur 56 and did not find Bung Karno's family at 06:00 am.

Bung Karno's housekeeper only gave his answer. The hosts have gone by car somewhere. Bung Karno's deserted house also attracted the attention of the Japanese military. This condition is not usually the case.

The Japanese military has begun to lead to speculation. They thought Bung Karno would commit an evil conspiracy. Another thought said that Bung Karno was deliberately kidnapped and brain washed by underground movements.

"On my way home I was in market with Terada, an official (Japanese Military Center Office)Gunseikanbu. He asked me where the two of Bung Karno and Bung Hatta were. He said the police were searching, but it was not successful. Maybe he didn't believe my answer which read: I don't even know.."

When the Bunseikanbu official who is fluent in Dutch asked me whether Bung Karno and Bung Hatta were hiding or hidden. I immediately went home with various questions. I started practicing, but soon Abdurachman came wearing a PETA uniform. He asked for a box of powder milk for Guntur, Bung Karno's son, who was only nine months old, "said Soekarno-Hatta's personal friend and doctor, R. Suharto in the book Historical Witness (1989).

Japanese colonizers began to fluctuate. They did not receive any information on where Bung Karno and Bung Hatta went. The Japanese inspectorate (intelejen) has been pacing on Jalan Pegangsaan Timur 56. They observe every corner.

They came to everyone close to Bung Karno and Bung Hatta. They hope to get information. Because, Japan will feel danger if Bung Karno is considered to have begun to strengthen into the underground independence movement.

It is possible that a war between the bumiputras and Japan broke out. The visitors did not lose their minds. They immediately interrogated Bung Karno's father-in-law, Hasan Din. Fatmawati's father admitted that he did not know the courage of Soekarno and his daughter.

He revealed that he was fast asleep when they left. The answer was not accepted by the Japanese. Accompaniment with the openness then led Hasan Din to the Kempetai Headquarters. Then released. Soekarno went straight to Jakarta from Rengasdengklok and immediately sought protection from Admiral Maeda and formulated the text of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence.

"On August 16, 1945 at 8:00 pm we just arrived in Jakarta. The group all headed to Bung Hatta's residence. After arriving at Bung Hatta's house, I called home asking for a pick-up. Bung Karno and Bung Hatta will go to a meeting using Admiral Maeda's house. Manyyata is already at home with SK Trimurti and Sayuti Melik, as well as several young people.

Guntur diselekan kepada Datuk dan grandmothernya. Sepeninggalku ke Rengasdengklok ternyata ayah di bawah oleh Kempetai (Polisi Militer Jepang) dimintai tentang keberangan Soekarno. Bung Karno kembali ke rumah baru ini sesoknya setelah menggelar rapat di rumah Laksamana Maeda. Bung Karno masuk kamar dan berkata: Fat nanti kita umumkan kemerdekaan bangsa kita, ung Fatmawati dalam buku Catatan Kecil Bersama Bung Karno(2016).