Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – A new book is challenging the long-held claim that Soeharto was the initiator of the historic March 1, 1949, offensive to retake Yogyakarta from the Dutch colonial administration.
According to Serangan Oemoem (or General Offensive), written by Eka Hartoto, the offensive was initiated by Col. Bambang Sugeng, then commander of the Army Division III overseeing security in Central Java.
The book was launched here on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subiyanto – Soeharto's son in law, businessman Hasyim Djojohadikusumo, Soeharto's former deputy Try Sutrisno, and historians Soekotjo Tjokroatmodjo and Batara R. Hutagalung.
History books written during Soeharto's 32-year-rule cite him as the initiator and leader of the offensive on Yogyakarta, which was then the capital of Indonesia. A film about Soeharto's role in the campaign was produced during his reign.
Batara said facts surrounding Soeharto's role in the 1949 event had been twisted and he called for the Yudhoyono government to rewrite history.
"Soeharto, who was a lieutenant colonel at that time, led the offensive that involved some 2,000 Army personnel, but the decision to launch the strike was made by Col. Bambang Sugeng," said Soekotjo, himself an Army lieutenant when Bambang was appointed Army chief by former president Sukarno in 1952.
Batara and Soekotjo were but two of many historians who have asked the Defense Ministry and the Education Ministry to rewrite history books so as not to mislead younger generations.
"Like books on the disputed Sept. 30, 1965, communist coup, the ones on the General Offensive must be rewritten. History teachers should use alternative books to allow students to learn the truth," he said.
The biography also discusses Bambang's military and diplomatic career. The book says Bambang took the initiative to launch the offensive to retake Yogyakarta from the Dutch colonial government which refused to recognize the 1945 Indonesian proclamation of independence.
The Dutch sent founding president Sukarno to exile in Bengkulu. By controlling Yogyakarta as capital of the republic, the colonial government had an excuse to reject a UN resolution recognizing Indonesian sovereignty.
After the General Offensive, Sukarno promoted Bambang as Army chief in 1952, a position he held until 1955, with the role of settling internal conflicts in the Army.
After retiring from military service, Bambang was appointed as ambassador to the Vatican, Japan and Brazil consecutively. Born in Magelang, Central Java, in 1913, Bambang died June 24, 1977.