The Story Of The First National Police Chief General Soekanto Asks For Indonesian Blessings To Stay Free To Pope Pius XII

Raden Said Soekanto Tjokrodiatmodjo (most convex) who had served as the first National Police Chief in the 1945-1959 era. (IPPHOS)

JAKARTA - Raden Said Soekanto Tjokrodiatmodjo's efforts to develop the Indonesian Police (Polri) were not short. He was even assigned during the Revolutionary War to study and seek support abroad. The task was carried out well.

He not only studied the ins and outs of the police, but also opened a gap in diplomacy. Soekanto visited the Vatican and met Pope Pius XII. In particular, Pope Pius XII also prayed for Indonesia's struggle to defend independence.

The Indonesian government mandated General Soekanto to lead and build the National Police Department (now: Polri) in 1945. The task was carried out well by Soekanto even in the midst of limited funds, lacking personnel in the era of the Revolutionary War.

Soekanto's seriousness was also noticed by the Vice President, Mohammad Hatta. Bung Hatta gave an order to Soekanto to visit abroad on June 11, 1948. Soekanto was asked to review the shapes, composition, and equipment of the police abroad.

Soekanto was also charged with other important tasks. He was asked to find weapons and carry out diplomatic missions. He tried to learn all the intricacies of the United States (US) police. The task was not only carried out in one police district, but many police.

Soekanto toured the Park District Chicago Police, New York City Police, International Police Academy, to the FBI headquarters in Washington. He did not waste that opportunity. He recorded every experience in the US. He observed every important detail related to the US police.

The process was carried out for almost a year. However, that does not mean that Soekanto's life in the US is smooth. He must be faced with the fact that the Dutch are aggressively doing propaganda. Indonesia is vilified to the US.

The Netherlands referred to Indonesia as the mastermind behind actually synchronizing the PKI Madiun, aka engineering. The issue was deliberately raised so that the communist allergic US would no longer sympathize with the Indonesian envoy. However, Soekanto has his own way of parrying all Dutch propaganda and showing direct evidence.

Instead of Soekanto being hated, he actually received a lot of sympathy from the US government and local businessmen. Many support Indonesia's struggle to defend independence in the Revolutionary War.

"In an effort to find relationships with various parties, both with government officials and businessmen, I accidentally obtained political information/information, which makes it a bit difficult for my position towards Indonesian employees who are here. However, this is very profitable because this can happen because I am the direct envoy of Vice President Mohammad Hatta."

"Even so, I stick to official duties. On another occasion, the two of them made visits to the local Police Agency, including: FBI, Country Police, and City Police," said Soekanto as written by Achmad Turan and his friends in the book General RS Soekanto: First Head of the Indonesian National Police 1945-1959(2000).

Soekanto continues to seek support. The first National Police Chief visited Italy, then the Vatican. The goal is clear to seek support for Indonesia's struggle. He met many people and made Indonesia known to the world.

In particular, the diplomatic journey brought Soekanto together with the great leader of Catholics who at that time served, Pope Pius XII. The Pope Puis XII, who is known to be quite busy with the agenda of guiding Catholics, took the time to meet Soekanto at his official residence.

This acceptance was the beginning of the opening of good relations between Indonesia and the Vatican. Soekanto was well received. He stated his purpose of coming and told that Indonesia's struggle to achieve independence and was defending independence.

Pope Pius XII, who often carries out the mission to maintain world peace, actually sympathizes with Indonesia's struggle. The great leader of the Katolithic people even prayed for the struggle of the Indonesian people to defend independence. The prayer made Soekanto happy.

The encounter in fact had a big influence. Soekanto's arrival to Italy was finally discovered by many representatives of other countries because photos of Soekanto visiting Pope Pius XII's residence were present in several European mass media. Finally, many countries began to build communication with Soekanto.

With the remaining time, Soekanto visited Pope Pius XII in Rome. Soekanto wears Teluk Belana clothes from songket cloth holding a family heirloom keris. Soekanto was warmly accepted. The cardinal who received Soekanto joined with a kneeling attitude on a red chapter. Then, the Pope prayed for the safety of Indonesia, Soekanto Won Indonesia. After the meeting at the Pope's Palace Pius XII, Soekanto was photographed at the gate with the guard of the Pope from Switzerland.

The photo was published in the Rosino Observatory magazine in London and arrived in Indonesia. After Soekanto appeared in the magazine, several countries learned that he was in Rome and knew a little about his efforts to ask America for help. This has resulted in several countries coming to Rome, they are trying to meet Soekanto to obtain real information about American assistance to Indonesia," Awaloedin Djamin and G. Ambar Wulan said in the book of Police General RS Soekanto Tjokrodiatmodjo (2016).