Traces Of Giant Colonial Headquarters Revealed In Sukabumi

The discovery of a large colonial-era defense structure in Tegal Panjang Hamlet, Cireunghas District, Sukabumi Regency, sparked a new debate among historical researchers. (IST)

SUKABUMI - The discovery of a large colonial-era defense structure in Tegal Panjang Hamlet, Cireunghas District, Sukabumi Regency, sparked a new debate among historical researchers. Culturalist and former West Java Police Chief, Inspector General Pol (Ret.) Dr. Anton Charliyan, revealed the existence of traces of the Dutch and Japanese military headquarters that for centuries were buried and unaffordable to the public.

The defense area is estimated to span about 17 square kilometers, from Sukaraja to the summit of Mount Padang and Sukalarang. The locations are hidden between hills, valleys, and dense forests. The findings of the facilities are considered extraordinary: helipad, hospital, telegraph office, transcendential factory, monitoring post, railroad, limiting fort, soldiers' dormitories, to tunnels.

"From the findings of its military facilities, it is clearly not an ordinary headquarters. The scale and defense system show that this area was once the center of a colonial operation that was deliberately hidden," said Anton Charliyan, who is familiarly called Abah in a written statement received on Saturday, November 15.

Together with independent researcher Ambu Zahwa and a number of local community leaders, Abah Anton assessed that the horseshoe-shaped defense structure was designed to be difficult to attack from behind and not easily visible from the air. The residents' testimony also corroborated the suspicion that the Netherlands, then Japan, had placed great strength in the area.

Many thought Sukabumi only had traces of a colonial police school, but evidence on the ground led to something much bigger a possibility of the Dutch and Japanese military centers of education and defense, said Abah Anton.

Researchers assess that the existence of a colonial police school in Sukabumi could be just a cover to foster military cadres. The identification of artifacts and structures is still ongoing, but these findings are considered to be able to change the understanding of the history of colonial defense in West Java.