Learning from Personality AH Nasution

Home , Abdul Haris Nasution, Adam Malik, Ahmad Yani, Dwifungsi, Pancasila Youth, Sudirman

Journal of Contemporary Governance and Public Policy Vol. 1 No. 1, April 2020, 18-26 Available Online at http://journal.ppishk.org/index.php/jcgpp ISSN (Print): 2722-3981 | ISSN (Online): 2722-3973

Learning From Personality A.H. Nasution: Starting from Glory to Getting Out of the Political and Military Stage in Indonesia

Samudra Eka Cipta*) Department of History Education, Faculty of Social Sciences Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, 40154, West Java, Indonesia.

Received: 2020-01-21; Accepted: 2020-03-27; Published: 2020-04-30

Abstract

General Abdul Haris Nasution is a national hero who has been educated from the military. Starting from being the Commander of the KNIL (Dutch East Indies Army) to becoming Minister of Internal Defense. Nasution once served as Commander of the Siliwangi Military Command. Nasution was very true of the military world. Nasution had been the target of murder from the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party). However, Nasution escaped death until he suffered minor injuries and legs. Nasution was also entrusted as Chair of the MPRS (Provisional People's Consultative Assembly). When Soekarno was confronted by Mahmilub (Extraordinary Court) by reading Pel-Nakwasara (Complementary Nakwasara) which contained about the pledoi for his defense efforts related to the G 30 S (September 30, 1965). Nasution, who was then chairman of the MPRS, refused the pledoi and immediately replaced Suharto as president. The New Order period lasted for 32 years Nasution's fate became increasingly tragic. Nasution was withdrawn from military service by Soeharto when it was proven in the Petition Objection 50 which was signed by several former generals and officers loyal to Sukarno to criticize Suharto's policies at that time. This researchs uses historical research methods, in this study aims to study more deeply about the figure of Abdul Haris Nasution began his career as a military until the end of the tragic as a retired soldier. The problem in this research is 1) How is the initial gait of A.H. Nasution? 2) How was Abdul Haris Nasution's role in defending Indonesia's independence 3) how Nasution's relationship with Sukarno and Suharto.

Keywords: Nasution; Militarism; Indonesian; Politics; History

How to Cite: Cipta, S.E., (2020). Learning From Personality A.H. Nasution: Starting from Glory to Getting Out of the Political and Military Stage in Indonesia. Journal of Contemporary Governance and Public Policy, 1(1), 18-26.

Permalink/DOI: https://doi.org/10.46507/jcgpp.v1i1.6

*) Corresponding Author Email : [email protected] http://journal.ppishk.org/index.php/jcgpp Journal of Contemporary Governance and Public Policy 1 (1), April 2020, 18-26 19 of 26

Kertalegawa in the formation of the Introduction Pasundan State from 1947-1949 The man born in Kotanopan, (Kuswandi, 2015). December 3, 1918, in the early days Nasution's career in the of his career had begun to enter the military field was increasing, he was military world. Since the Dutch East appointed as Deputy Commander of Indies opened military education for the TKR. Together with Sudirman the Bumiputera group, then what is Nasution and his forces tried to quell known as K.N.I.L (Koninklijk the rebellion of the Indonesian Nederlands-Indische Leger), then Communist Party in Madiun in 1948. Nasution registered and got his The operation launched by Siliwangi military knowledge in Bandung succeeded in killing Muso while other together with T.B. Simatupang. PKI leaders, including DN Aidit, fled During his military education, In the New Order era, Nasution was always active and Soehartu was sacked from the obedient to his superiors. This also military when he and other former led Nasution to become a middle officers signed ' ' 50 Petitions '. Abdul officer at K.N.I.L because of his Haris Nasution was then blamed for superiors' trust in Nasution's the incidence of 50 petitions and the performance while he was a member new Order Govt made him a house of K.N.I.L. In the period of Japanese prisoner. During the custody of the occupation, when founding PETA house Abdul Nasution did not get the (Defender of the Motherland) by Dai lack of treatment of the rights as a Nippon's Army, Nasution's status was retired military official had not announced from the military world. fulfilled by the new Order Nasution had long been friends with government. But because of the Sukarno when both of them were in attitudes and personality of Abud Bandung. They always carry out Haris Nasution was very patient in his discussions regarding the problems various political trials during the faced by the Nation. For Nasution, post-retired TNI (Mulyana, 2013, p. Sukarno was a teacher and the 85). formation of a young Nasution character. Young Nasution always Research Methods read Sukarno's works about his In the methodology of writing, nationalism ideas and often explained the writer uses a qualitative research to his friends. After Indonesian approach by doing descriptive on Independence, Nasution returned to various sources of literature using active in the military and joined the scientific articles and books as a TKR (People's Security Army). In source of comparison and also uses a 1946 Nasution was appointed as the historical methodological approach Siliwangi Division III Commander. consisting of heuristics, criticism, The hardest task experienced by interpretation, explanation, and Nasution at the beginning of his historiography (Sjamsuddin, 2015, p. tenure as Pangdam was to banish 30). Historical research method is a Dutch Police Operations (or Dutch method or method used as a guide in Military Aggression I) when the Dutch conducting research into historical were accompanied by NICA trying to events and their problems. In other control strategic areas in Bandung. words, the method of historical Another task faced by Nasution was research is an instrument to trying to reduce the separatist reconstruct historical events (history movement initiated by Raden Soerija as past actuality) into history as

Samudra Eka Cipta/Learning From Personality A.H. Nasution: Starting from Glory to Getting Out of the Political and Military Stage in Indonesia Journal of Contemporary Governance and Public Policy 1 (1), April 2020, 18-26 20 of 26 stories (history as written). Within immediately appointed as KSAD the scope of Historical Sciences, the (Army Chief of Staff). Apparently, research method is called the Manai Sophiaan's proposal received historical method. tremendous support, especially from NU, Parkindo, the Catholic Party, PKI, Result and Disscusion Parindra, and the Labor Party, and Murba. In fact, Ignasius Kasimo Tidal Relationship A.H. Nasution proposed the formation of a counter with Sukarno motion idea in the Ministry of Although Nasution had Defense (Leni, 2013, p. 33). The previously had good relations with essence of what parliamentary Sukarno, it was possible that the support was initiated by Manai friendship relations between the two Sophiaan was aimed at improving the would sometimes worsen but structure of the military sector and sometimes it also improved. The realizing efforts to keep the military initial tension between Nasution and generals obedient and obedient to Sukarno when in an incident on Sukarno. Nasution, too, did not October 17, 1952, a battalion was quietly immediately immediately mobilized by Nasution layered with argue with Sukarno. Nasution still steel kaveleri and directed a cannon insisted that it was time for the army towards the front of the palace. The to get involved in determining the action was originally only 5,000 direction of state policy. For him, the people and then increased to 30,000 army is not only needed when the people. The action carried out by country is in a war situation. These Nasution was not intended to make a are the initial seeds of the concept of coup attempt against Sukarno but to the ABRI Dwi Function that Nasution dissolve the DPRS. Starting from the initiated. This idea (the Dwi Function motion of Manai Sophiaan, Secretary of the Armed Forces) was then General of the PNI, who argued that carried out in the New Order period. the DPRS has the right to interfere in Sukarno understood the matter, but ABRI's internal problems. To he was already disappointed with President Soekarno, Colonel AH Nasution's method. In December Nasution demanded to dissolve the 1952, at the behest of the president of DPRS. According to Nasution, the the Attorney General examining DPRS was too meddling in internal Nasution and TB Simatupang. Both TNI matters, especially in leadership are proven guilty. Since then Nasution matters within the Army. The has no longer become a military and President rejected Nasution's his status has been deactivated. After proposal. The reason is that the the dismissal of Nasution as Army President has no authority to dissolve Chief of Staff (Army Chief of Staff) in the DPRS. Despite this, Soekarno did 1952, Nasution later established the not want to be a dictator. Another IPKI Party (Pancasila Support consideration, the masses who Association). IPKI was formed by demanded the dissolution of Nasution as a participant in the 1955 Parliament, according to the elections. Nasution's formation of the president, were only a handful of IPKI was possible without reason but Jakartans and did not represent the because of Soekanrno's efforts to overall desires of the people. eliminate military influence on the However, Nasution's political scene. However, the results subordinate, Bambang Supeno of the 1955 General Election were rejected what was proposed by Manai still very far below Masyumi, PNI, and Sophiaan also urged Nasution to be Samudra Eka Cipta/Learning From Personality A.H. Nasution: Starting from Glory to Getting Out of the Political and Military Stage in Indonesia Journal of Contemporary Governance and Public Policy 1 (1), April 2020, 18-26 21 of 26

PKI. Their relationship then improved Incidentally, Nasution's house was when Soekarno recalled what very close to Dr.'s house. Johannes Nasution had sacrificed with his Leimena a Sukarno loyalist. There Siliwang troops to defend Indonesia's had been a fight between Untung's independence in the Age of Physical army and the house guards of Dr. J. Revolution. The President then issued Leimenna. One guard (member of the a Presidential Decree of July 5, 1959 police) was killed after a fight with and appointed Nasution as Minister troops under Untung's pipeline. The of Defense and Security. However, purpose of the attack on the guards of Nasution's position as Minister of the house of J. Leimenna was that Defense has another meaning for when Nasution was about to escape 'kicking up' what Sukarno did with from his house when he was invaded Nasution. But Soekarno-Nasution's by Untung's troops, there was no one relations deteriorated again when the from J. Leimena's house guard to PKI began to play fully in the protect Nasution. The trucks almost Indonesian political arena. Nasution partially carried almost all of the did not like this, so he took distance Cakrabirawa troops and a number of from Soekarno and continued to the Infantry I Brigades and 454 criticize (Anderson, 2017, p. 127). Battalions, and several members of The climax was that in 1964 their Pemuda Rakyat were recruited Nasution embraced his former to ambush Nasution's house. The colleague from the Siliwangi Division Nasution family woke up when he to launch an operation aimed at heard the sound of the door opening. freeing the influence of the PKI in the Mrs. Nasution came out to find out military body in which the operation what had happened. The troops then was understood as 'Operation Budi' tried to break down and search to (Sundhaussen, 1986, p. 290). On the find Nasution. Mardiah Nasution's other hand, Nasution was also at odds younger brother tried to save his with Ahmad Yani because he was brother and incidentally at that time considered too close to Sukarno, even Mardiah was carrying Princess though they were both anti-PKI. Sulung Nasution Ade Irma Soerjani Soekarno, who had bad experiences Nasution. However, without mercy with Nasution, finally "eliminated" then a person from Cakrabirawa Nasution by making him ABRI Chief named Hargyono shot Mardiah and of Staff. This position made Nasution, killed Ade Irma Nasution. At the same like a toothless tiger, appear fierce time, Mrs. Nasution secretly brought but had no power because he did not her husband behind the yard to take have the command to move the refuge in an Iraqi Embassy home. troops (Firdaus, 2016, p. 7) Nasution was shot by Untung's troops who were on guard from the outside Nasution and the September 30 but thought the troops were just a Movement shadow remembering the incident at Like those who had been night to make Nasution's leg supported before, that Nasution fractured. Because he did not succeed really hated the PKI. This triggered in arresting Nasution, the troops fled the PKI's strong reaction to an attack and left Ade Irma's body full of blood. on his house. As with other generals After the incident a few months later who were attacked, the PKI carried in 1966, Nasution asked Soekarno out a method using a very large force. regarding the September 30th About one hundred people involved Movement. Previously, Nasution had in this movement were led by Untung. been appointed by Sukarno as the

MPRS mandate as well as a reaction Abdul Haris Nasution's policy on to what was demanded by his politics towards the transition of students through his 'Tritura', New Order Sukarno immediately formed a new Abdul Haris Nasution was cabinet on July 25, 1965 by forming appointed Minister of Defence by the 'Ampera' I. Cabinet Sukarno after President Sukarno on 10 July 1959 in the year 1965 as if it began to lose its the work cabinet composition III, influence, many ministers in the which he had compiled by Sukarno. Dwikorra Cabinet indicated '' PKI '' As long as the Minister of Defence were later arrested. One of them is there are at least two policies done by Soebandrio, a Minister of Foreign AH. Nasution, the first ratified the Relations. But the most shocking War Emergency Act or in the thing after the event was ‘'The language of his uncle was known as September 30 Movement' is the Staat van Oorlog en Beleg (sob). This arrest of Air Force Marshal Omar law was formed given the prestige of Dani among military officials. For parliamentary democracy, given that Suharto who was then serving as the time the occurrence of various Pangkostrad (Commander of the turmoil in the area of the region that Army Strategic Command) the arrest is about to separate from Indonesia of Omar Dani because Halim (the such as in Ambon with the separative Republic of Indonesia Air Force movement of the RMS (Republic of headquarters) had been used as the South Maluku), Rebellion DI'TII in headquarters of the treason Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Aceh, and movement carried out by the PKI. the rebellion of the PRRI/Permesta as Nevertheless, Nasution actually did a result of the long This legislation not know anything about the arrest of officially formed a guided democracy Soeharto's ministers and military government for the military to officials. Because of the truth, support the policy considering that Nasution's position when ‘'The time the military considers that with September 30 Movement' served as the establishment of a new political Minister of Defense and did not hold style will provide opportunities for the authority for the arrest the military to engage in the politics (Fathurrohman, 2018, p. 66). of Indonesia. Ah. Nasution was given On January 10, 1967 at the end the belief to be Minister of Defence. of his position as president Sukarno However, some parties judge that read a written report containing his Nasution's appointment as Minister pledoi on his involvement in the of Defence was Sukarno's political "September 30, 1965 Movement" step in eliminating his political before the MPRS (Provisional opponents. Nasution was appointed Consultative Assembly) session, Minister of Ministers but had no which was later known as Pelengkap influence whatsoever in carrying out Nawaksara. read by his various habits in the political Soekarnokemudian then strongly sphere. Nasution's figure was merely opposed by Nasution along with the regarded as symbolic of Sukarno's character '' Anti-Sukarno '' and form of political politics. Nasution as the Mandate of the MPRS Secondly, Nasution formulated immediately removed Sukarno as the political policy of ' ' The Middle president for life and replaced Way ' ', the policy was strongly Suharto as Indonesian President at supported by the military because the that time (Wanandi, 2017, p. 127). policy provided full military opportunities to be involved in

Samudra Eka Cipta/Learning From Personality A.H. Nasution: Starting from Glory to Getting Out of the Political and Military Stage in Indonesia Journal of Contemporary Governance and Public Policy 1 (1), April 2020, 18-26 23 of 26 practical politics. Nasution always memorandum of DPR-GR, campaigned the policy to officers and confirmation of decision dated 20 the ranks of the military. According to February 1967, juridical fact Salim Said (2003) said that the concerning Sukarno's relationship concept initiated by Nasution is a with G. 30. S/PKI. In the meantime, concept as defensive against the General Suharto as the ruling holder influence of communism in Indonesia of MPRS No. IX/1966 gave a report to which has become an enemy for the the MPRS special hearing about the TNI and the NU (Nahdatul Ulama). relationship between President The September 1965 Movement Sukarno and G. 30. S 1965 the event decided Nasution to apply the political point of President Sukarno's policy. The army gained a lot of fault was to remain confident that the sympathy from the community after PKI could be united with Pancasila, the killing of several generals and the general Suharto. (DTS). The trial made the strong adoption of the also succeeded Suharto as president concept. His political concept is also and was automatically discharged known as the concept of the dual from the President (Dwipayana & function of ABRI. When Nasution was Sjamsuddin, 2003, p. 165). the speaker at a military seminar in Bandung in 1966 which was attended Nasution in New Order Era. by all officers from various divisions Suharto came to power, then in Indonesia for the introduction of the influence of Nasution had begun the idea. But the political to be forgotten. Slowly Nasution implementation of road Tenagh began to be removed from the conducted by Nasution also military world. The presence of participated in every effort and General Djuhartono and Ali Moertopo activities of society in the field of as Suharto's 'accomplice' exacerbated ideology, politics, economics, social, Nasution's career in the military. and Culture (Notosusanto, 1970). Until finally Nasution was retired The idea of the concept actually gives disrespectfully from the TNI. Unlike enough channels to soldiers not as Soekarno's time who always insisted organizations, but as individuals (all when he was disturbed. However, in military members) who become the New Order era when he felt exponent in the formation of political threatened by his military career forces in Indonesia, by participating Nasution continued to struggle even in formulating and executing state though the influence of Soeharto's policies and placing at the position of generals 'helpers' was far stronger executive institutions and legislative than he was. In 1971 in the early days states (Church, 1988, p. 24). of the Soeharto Government General Thirdly, Nasution was Djuhartono, who was the general of appointed chairman of the Soeharto's loyalties, formed a Joint Provisional People's Consultative Secretariat of the Working Group Assembly (MPRS), as long as the (before becoming a political party). chairman of the MPR AH. Nasution The aim of the formation of the was a trial witness of the Movement Golkar Joint Secretariat was to event 30 September 1965. Nasution support all kinds of Suharto's policies. listened to Sukarno's testimony of the At the same time Soeharto carried out incident. Nasution then opened a a policy in which political parties special session of MPRS. The trial must be fused. Soeharto for the discussed the complement of the formation of Golkar in addition to Nawaksara, the resolution and strengthening the consolidation of

Samudra Eka Cipta/Learning From Personality A.H. Nasution: Starting from Glory to Getting Out of the Political and Military Stage in Indonesia Journal of Contemporary Governance and Public Policy 1 (1), April 2020, 18-26 24 of 26 the New Order's power between them may be jealous because they Soeharto-Military-Civil Servants, feel more merit than some members Golkar was formed to stop various of the "core group", or have not kinds of divisions between each received the expected material political party related to ideology and rewards. Seeing the insubordination political party orientation. Especially carried out by general officers, when the events of September 1965 Suharto then approached the officers. Soeharto knew very well that the Starting from being given a warning incident was not repeated again by even the arrest and dismissal of ABRI limiting the number of political as felt by General TNI Pranoto parties and political participants to Reksosamodra was captured by maintain security stability at that Suharto and Nasution was time (Jenkins, 2010, p. 250). dishonorably dismissed from ABRI. In However, the establishment of the addition, after the signing of the Golkar Joint Secretariat actually has Petition Nasution often received the duties and functions of political treatment that was not worn by parties. At the beginning of the Soeharto's personal aides. This was formation of Golkar there was a great felt by Nasution when he wanted to deal of opposition, especially among address Adam Malik's body, Nasution the military forces of the 45's.For the was pulled out of the room on the opposition, especially former ex- grounds that former Vice-President officers, 45 Golkar Joint Secretariat Umar Wirahadikusuma would put has committed irregularities in Adam Malik's body in check. Not only political matters. On May 5, 1980 that, the less weary actions felt by army officers made a petition Nasution led to the unilateral containing criticism of Soeharto's termination of the water channel to policies in which Nasution was his house to force him to make his involved. The petition is known as own well to get water. Nevertheless, ‘'Petition 50’ ’not only Nasution but General Nasution was not a vindictive other names involved in the petition person, he was very persistent in are: Ali Sadikin, M. Jasin, Hoegeng facing all forms of trials approaching Imam Santoso, A.Y. Mokoginta, and the end of his life. Nasution as a Mohammad Nazir. Other generals retired military officer, in the end he who participated and were involved founded a youth organization namely in the signing had another motive, ’'Pemuda Pancasila’’. the goal of the namely that not all officers of the establishment of the Pancasila Youth Army45 who also fought for organization was initially built to Indonesian Independence during the increase the sense of nationalism and Defending of Indonesian love of the homeland (Makruf, 2019, Independence in 1945-1950 could p. 33). become members of the political elite especially in the "core group". More Conclusion and more ABRI officers (Indonesian During his lifetime Nasution Armed Forces) and civilian politicians continued to experience various trials became disillusioned with the as "Political Victims" starting from Soeharto regime, because all Sukarno's time after the October important political positions were 1952 incident but Nasution at the monopolized by close people insistence of Muhammad Hatta asked personally with the President. The Sukarno that Nasution immediately less satisfied generals are often return to serve as KSAD (Army Chief dubbed "Barisan Sickness" . Among of Staff). Hatta succeeded, Nasution

Samudra Eka Cipta/Learning From Personality A.H. Nasution: Starting from Glory to Getting Out of the Political and Military Stage in Indonesia Journal of Contemporary Governance and Public Policy 1 (1), April 2020, 18-26 25 of 26 was later appointed by Sukarno to The author would like to thank become Minister of Defense. Then, to Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Nasution, who was initially very for research support and writing this contradictory to Sukarno, then fully article. supported Sukarno's custom in the era of Leadership Democracy. There was another purpose for the appointment of Nasution by Sukarno to be Defense Minister namely References Sukarnno wanted to 'kick up' Anderson. (2017). Kudeta 1 Oktober Nasution so as not to mess with what 1965: Sebuah Analisis Awal. was done by Sukannrno. This was Yogyakarta: Gading Press. proven when the G30 S (September Church, H. (1988). The Army and 30 Movement) event in which a Politics in Indonesia. New York: conflict between the Army and the Cornell University Press. PKI (Indonesian Communist Party) Dwipayana, & Sjamsuddin, N. (2003). took place, Nasution, who was then Jejak Langkah Pak Harto 01 Minister of Defense, could do nothing Oktober 1965-27 Maret 1968. about the incident. In fact, Sukarno Jakarta: CV Kharisma Bunda. commissioned Suharto, who was then Fathurrohman, E. (2018). Peranan the Pangkostrad (Commander of the Jenderal AH Nasution Dalam Army Strategic Command) without Peristiwa 17 Oktober 1952. UIN notifying or assigning Nasution Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin directly in dealing with treason Banten. events carried out by the Indonesian Firdaus, D. W. (2016). Kebijakan Communist Party. The political Dwifungsi Abri Dalam atrocities felt by Nasution continued Perluasan Peran Militer Di until the New Order period. Nasution Bidang Sosial Politik Tahun was disliked by Suharto because 1966-1998. Jurnal UPI: Nasution was considered by Suharto Bandung, 1–13. to be the mastermind behind the Jenkins, D. (2010). Soeharto dan ‘'Signatory of the 50’ Petition' which Barisan Jendral Sakit Hati. was actually just a form of Nasution's Depok: Komunitas Bambu criticism of Suharto's performance as Press. president at that time. However, Kuswandi, K. (2015). Pengaruh Suharto's response considered it a Perang Kemerdekaan II movement of treason or coup to Terhadap Pengakuan overthrow him as president. As a Kedaulatan RI Tanggal 27 result, Nasution was dismissed from December 1949. Jurnal the Army disrespectfully by Suharto. Artefak, 3(2), 207–220. Not only that, as a consequence of Leni, N. (2013). Keterlibatan Militer what he did to Suharto, even Nasution dalam Kancah Politik di did not get any state facilities or even Indonesia. Jurnal Tapis: Jurnal allowances. Nevertheless Nasution Teropong Aspirasi Politik Islam, was a patient figure even though 9(1), 31–45. political atrocities continued to befall Makruf, A. (2019). Peranan Abdul him from Sukarno's time to Suharto's Haris Nasution dalam peristiwa Period. Bandung Lautan Api tahun Acknowledgments 1945-1946. Universitas Siliwangi.

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Samudra Eka Cipta/Learning From Personality A.H. Nasution: Starting from Glory to Getting Out of the Political and Military Stage in Indonesia