Simalungun Community Encourages Government To Give National Hero Titles To Rondahaim Saragih

The discussion entitled 'Mr Rondahaim Saragih-The Forgotten Fighter of Land Independence Simalungun' was held by the Syndicaters.

JAKARTA - The Simalungun Community has encouraged the government to award the National Hero Title to the King of Namabajan, Mr. Rondahaim Saragih for his struggle to expel the invaders from the land of Simalungun, and its surroundings.

"What we are talking about today is the National Hero candidate, but the National Hero who came from the regions. This is a regional contribution to the Republic of Indonesia. This is important because it builds Indonesia, it must come from the regions," said the elder of the Simalungun community, Bungaran Saragih.

This was said by Bungaran together with a number of Simalungun community elders and historians in a discussion entitled "Mr. Rondahaim Saragih-The Forgotten Fighter of Land Independence Simalungun" held by the Syndicate, Friday, October 27.

"If the regions do not get attention from the central government, in a broad sense, it will be difficult for the Republic of Indonesia to develop in the future. Therefore, the central government must realize that the strength of this nation, is in the regions," he continued.

The man who once served as Minister of Agriculture for the period 2000-2004 said Rondahaim Saragih was one of his ancestors who often became a role model in his family.

Rondahaim Saragih's struggle to expel the invaders from his homeland has often become an important story in the journey of the Saragih family.

"I always get advice from parents that it is in our family part of the person who participated in the struggle to expel the Dutch, with an unprecedented struggle in the land of Simalungun before," he said.

In line with what was conveyed by Bungaran, Professor of History of UIN Syarif Hidayatulah, Dien Madjid said that efforts to encourage the government to award Rondahaim Saragih the title of National Hero are an important step.

"We must ask the Regent of Simalungun to be active, Dr. Jopinus Ramli Saragih to make a declaration to support the awarding of the title of National Hero to Mr. Rondahaim Saragih," he said.

"While the second option is how the current DPRD together with the Governor and other figures can bring this proposal to the President. We convey that based on academic studies and others, how can this big figure from Simalungun land be appointed," continued Dien.

Meanwhile, the chairman and founder of the Nation and Character Building Institute (NCBI), Juliaman Saragih, said that the organizers hoped that the National Hero's title would be given to Rondahaim Saragih on Heroes' Day which falls on November 10, 2023.

The reason, he said, is Rondahaim Saragih, who is the Recipient of the Main Service Star of the Republic of Indonesia (based on the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Number 077/TK/UN 1999, dated August 13, 1999), actually representation of the Simalungun Tribe in North Sumatra (North Sumatra).

Another consideration is the absence of the awarding of National Heroes from the land of Simalungun, even though the Simalungun tribe has played a major role in the history of the nation's struggle, from the Dutch colonial period to the war period of independence.

"In addition to the political considerations of power, how do we assess and formulate propriety towards figures and the track record of Mr. Rondahaim Saragih's struggle, with the hope that he can complete and strengthen the consideration of the President's decision to appoint Mr. Rondahamim Saragih as a National Hero in 2023," he said.

Rondahaim Saragih, said Juliama, was the only king of North Sumatra who had never been arrested by the Dutch until the end of his life. His consistent, firm and unyielding attitude then gave birth to a leadership style that was respected and obeyed by his people.

Juliaman explained that apart from being an expert in war strategies, Rondahaim Saragih was also able to mobilize thousands of Simalungun people from the Maropat Kingdom (4 Kingdoms, across ethnic groups) to fight to expel the Dutch colonialists, and send troops along the border of the Kingdom of Deli and Tanah Karo when the Dutch had conquered the coastal areas of East Sumatra, especially Bandar Khalifah (Labuhan Kerajaan Padang).

"Building Defense Forts in Suggestions of Remaining: Local Genius; utilizing topography (state of nature) and guerrilla warfare techniques. The reach of the Struggle of Mr. Rondahaim Saragih penetrated out of Simalungun, even having a broad impact not only reaching Medan, Batavia but reaching the Netherlands: Become talks in the Dutch parliament (colonary minister)," said Juliaman.

In fact, he continued, the Dutch recognized the superiority of the war strategy of Mr. Rondahaim Saragih, so they did not dare to attack and arrest him. Until five years after his death, the Dutch only dared to come to Raya to force their son, Mr. Hapoltakan Saragih, to recognize Dutch power over the land of Simalungun.