Sutan Sjahrir Kidnapped By The Perjoeangan Persatoean Group In Today's History, 26 June 1946

Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir was kidnapped by the Persatoean Perdjoeangan group in Surakarta, Central Java on June 26, 1946, who did not agree with the diplomacy he took to defend independence. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA – History today, 76 years ago, June 26, 1946, the Prime Minister of Indonesia, Sutan Sjahrir was kidnapped from the Merdeka Hotel in Solo, Central Java. The kidnapping of Sjahrir was carried out by the Persatoean Perdjoeangan group. They opposed Sjahrir's policy of being too weak towards the Dutch. Moreover, Sjahrir made diplomatic efforts the spearhead of Indonesia's defense of independence. The path is considered not to reflect the spirit of the country. This is because the Persatoean Perjoeangan group prefers to take up arms.

Indonesia's effort to win independence is not an easy matter. Freedom fighters know that. they had to sacrifice everything to bring Indonesia independence. From time, family, to life. Threats in prison and exile are commonplace. It has become part of the risk of the struggle.

Indonesia became independent on August 17, 1945. The monumental event was greeted with great fanfare by the Indonesian people. In the midst of independence, Indonesia is in fact faced with new problems. The problem is called maintaining independence.

Maybe Japan has left Indonesia. But not the case with the Netherlands. They want to return to control the Mother Earth a second time. The path of war is considered the right option. All the Indonesian people were angry when the Dutch troops carrying the Allies began to enter the archipelago.

Sultan Sjahrir arrived in Jakarta on June 30, 1946, having previously been kidnapped by the Persatoean Perdjoeangan group in Solo on June 26, 1946. (National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia)

Freedom fighters also want to take up arms. However, the option of fighting with weapons was impossible. Indonesia is not yet strong institutionally or military power. Sutan Sjahrir appears to take over the government. Bung Kecil then instigated a new prayer to defend independence. Diplomacy is his name.

“Looking back to the first years of our war for independence, I am now (even though at that time as a young man I was often impatient with negotiating politics) not so sure about the attitude of my friends who adhered to 'hard ideas.' I now tend to justify the politics outlined by Bung Sjahrir at that time.”

“Just imagine with what weapons we could at that time be able to face the British and Dutch war powers, which controlled the air and sea, the new union army that emerged triumphantly from a world war? Now that we don't have to face the danger of death anymore, of course it's easy to say that 'hard-line' politics will be more effective than negotiation politics,” said Rosihan Anwar in the book Memories of Sjahrir (2013).

Sutan Sjahrir gave a press conference before the media on July 3, 1946 regarding the kidnapping of him by the Persatoean Perdjoeangan group in Solo on June 26, 1946. (National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia)

The option of diplomacy has also become a polemic among freedom fighters. They think diplomacy is a 'kemayu' way to independence. Yet the diplomatic option has proven to be very successful. The voice of Indonesia to defend independence was able to get support from various countries from all over the world.

Still, not everyone supports Sjahrir's steps. The Persatoean Perdjoeangan group, for example. For them, taking up arms to defend Indonesia's independence is final. Therefore, Bung Kecil was kidnapped from the Merdeka Hotel, Solo on June 26, 1946. The kidnapping of Sjahrir caused an uproar in Indonesia. Sukarno especially. He also gave an ultimatum to the kidnappers to immediately release Sjahrir.

“This case began with the kidnapping of Prime Minister Sjahrir and two ministers on June 26, 1946 from the Merdeka Hotel, Solo. A day later, President Soekarno took over the government based on the Danger Act No. 6 / June 1946 and called for Sjahrir's release."

Propaganda poster issued by the Persatoean Perdjoeangan group. (Murba Indonesia)

“The kidnapping was on the orders of the III Division Commander. Soedarsono assessed that Sjahrir's compromising actions had disturbed the people. Sjahrir was considered to have betrayed the revolution through negotiations with the Dutch which was detrimental to Indonesia. This kidnapping was carried out with the aim of returning Indonesia to a presidential system of government. After all, Sjahrir was released," explained Yudi Latif in the book Springs of Exemplary (2014).

The kidnapping of Sutan Sjahrir by Persatoean Perdjoeangan on June 26, 1946, which is considered the first coup attempt in Indonesia, colors history today.