Supriyadi

Supriyadi, older spelling Soeprijadi (April 13, 1923 – 1945?), was an Indonesian national hero who rebelled against the occupying Japanese in 1945.

Early life

In this 1945 newspaper report, Minister of Defense ("Menteri Pertahanan") is listed as "not yet appointed" ("beloem diangkat"). This is due to uncertainties about Supriyadi's fate.

Supriyadi was born in East Java, Dutch East Indies, on April 13, 1923. He attended junior high school, then a school to prepare him for government bureaucracy in Magelang. However, the Japanese invaded Indonesia before he graduated. He then switched to high school and underwent youth training (Seimendoyo) in Tangerang, West Java.[1]

Involvement with PETA

In October 1943, the Japanese established a militia, PETA (Defenders of the Fatherland) to assist Japanese forces against the Allies. Supriyadi joined PETA, and after training was posted to Blitar, East Java. He was tasked with overseeing the work of the Romusha forced laborers. The plight of these workers inspired him to rebel against the Japanese. When Supriyadi join with PETA, he was given the rank of shodancho or platoon commander.

The Blitar rebellion

When nationalist leader Sukarno visited his parents in Blitar, PETA officers told him that they had begun to plan a rebellion and asked for Sukarno's opinion. He told them to consider the consequences, but Supriyadi, leader of the rebels, was convinced the uprising would succeed.

In the early hours of 14 February 1945, rebels attacked Japanese troops, causing heavy casualties. However, the Japanese defeated the rebellion and put the ringleaders on trial. Six (or eight[2]) people were sentenced to death and the rest were given jail sentences ranging from three years to life. However, Supriyadi reportedly was not executed. Some say Supriyadi escaped and hid from the Japanese.[1][3] He was not seen again after the failure of the rebellion.[4]

Disappearance

On 6 October 1945 in a government decree issued by the newly independent Indonesia, Supriyadi was named minister for public security in the first cabinet. However he failed to appear, and was replaced on 20 October by ad interim minister Muhammad Soeljoadikusuma. To this day his fate remains unknown.[1][5]

He was officially declared a National Hero on 9 August 1975 in Presidential Decision No. 063/TK/1975.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sudarmanto (1996), pp. 231-232
  2. ↑ Ricklefs (1982) p 196
  3. ↑ Mutiara (1999), p 90
  4. ↑ Cribb (2008), p 93
  5. ↑ Simanjuntak (2003), p18

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