Bung Karno's Adjutant, Mangil Martowidjojo, Received An Enforcement Satyalencana Award In Today's History, November 15, 1967

The Commander of the Soekarno Presidential Guard Detachment, Mangil Martowidjojo, when he greeted 60-year-old President Soekarno in 1961. (Ipphos)

JAKARTA History today, 55 years ago, November 15, 1967, the Commander of ABRI, General Suharto, awarded the Satyalencana Penegakan award to Mangil Martowidjojo. The former leader of the Personal Guard Detachment (DKP) is considered to have contributed to the state.

He played his role as the president's adjutant well. However, the award was not enough to make Mangil's position safe. He was then immediately removed by Suharto like the other loyalists of Bung Karno. Mangil later became a military prisoner for three years.

There is no doubt about the presence of Mangil Martowidjojo. He has been Soekarno's adjutant for a long time. In fact, since the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence was echoed. Raden Said Soekanto (later became: First Chief of Police) has assigned Mangil to guard Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta in East Pengangsaan 56.

He was ready to secure the historic event. His assignment to guard the President and Vice President of Indonesia did not end. He also became one of the police officers guarding Soekarno, Hatta, Fatmawati, and others by train to Yogyakarta.

The incident became known as the beginning of the move of the capital city of Indonesia from Jakarta to Yogyakarta. After that, Mangil's career continued to grow. He was trusted by Soekarno to be the leader of the DKP. A body that many people know as the Presidential Security Forces (Paspamres).

Soekarno's trust in Mangil continues to increase. Even in various attempts to try to kill Soekarno, Mangil was always at the forefront of saving the life of the Son of the Dawn. Bung Karno never doubted Mangil's role. He didn't want to ask for additional security. Because, Mangil and others are more than enough.

In addition, to maintain security within the Palace, the Chusus Guard Datasement (DPC) was formed, which was recruited from members of the Army Military Police Corps (CPM), led by CPM Major Djokosuyatno, who was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel CPM. The president's personal safety guard and his family were entrusted to the Personal Guard Detachment (DKP) of the Police Force led by Police Commissioner Mangil Martowidjojo.

He was promoted to Adjunct Senior Commissioner of Police (Lieuten Police). Most of them have been Soekarno's bodyguards since the capital was still in Yogyakarta. Interestingly, according to Soekarno, as many as 300 people who have blood types have acted as personal guards, said Asvi Warman Adam and his friends in the book Maulwi Saelan: Soekarno's Last Guard (2014).

Mangil's leadership in the DKP was recognized by Suharto. The Smile General, who served as ABRI Commander, realized that he played a role in guarding the president. The task was done well.

As an appreciation, Suharto conferred the Anti-Employment Satyalencana on Mangil on November 15, 1967. The award was welcomed. However, Mangil's happiness did not last long. His status, which was considered a loyalist of Bung Karno, made him languish in military prison three months later.

November 15, 1967, General Suharto, as the Commander of ABRI, awarded the Enforcement Satyalencana to Mangil. Three months later, early February 1968, CPM Tahir Colonel, as the Head of the Central Audit Team, gave an order to the Army Military Police Director to include Mangil in military custody.

Human fate always goes up and down. Mangil is being held in a military detention house for more than three years, without ever being brought to court, as a witness, let alone being a suspect," said Julius Pour in the book Gerakan 30 September: Perpetrator, Hero & Petualang (2010).