31 Facts About Amir Sjarifuddin

Amir Sjarifuddin Harahap was an Indonesian politician and journalist who served as the second prime minister of Indonesia from 1947 until 1948.

Amir Sjarifuddin returned to Indonesia due to family troubles but continued his education at the Rechts Hogeschool in Batavia.

Amir Sjarifuddin became involved with left-wing politics and led a group of younger Marxists in the establishment of the Indonesian People's Movement.

In 1933, due to his political activities, Amir Sjarifuddin was imprisoned, and almost exiled to the Boven-Digoel concentration camp, had it not for the efforts of his cousin and teacher.

Amir Sjarifuddin faced a backlash over the cabinet's decision to ratify the Renville Agreement, and he resigned from the prime ministership, being succeeded by Vice President Mohammad Hatta as prime minister.

Amir Sjarifuddin Harahap was born in Medan, Dutch East Indies, on 27 April 1907.

Amir Sjarifuddin's father, Djamin, was a nobleman, with the title of Sultan Soripada Harahap, however he later left the religion and became a Muslim, after marrying Amir Sjarifuddin's mother, Basunu Siregar, a devout Muslim woman who came from a well-respected family from the Malay-Islamic community.

Amir Sjarifuddin was the eldest child of seven children and was given the title of Sutan Gunung Sualoon.

Amir Sjarifuddin came from a family of prosecutors, with both his grandfather and father practicing the profession.

Amir Sjarifuddin began his education in 1914 when he attended the Europeesche Lagere School in Medan.

Amir Sjarifuddin continued his education at the Gymnasium in Haarlem, though Mulia returned to Indonesia, as he had completed his schooling already.

Amir Sjarifuddin became involved in the Batak student organization Jong Batak and was becoming increasingly interested in Christianity and the Bible.

Amir Sjarifuddin returned to Indonesia following family troubles, as his father had lost his job as Chief Prosecutor because he punched a prisoner.

Amir Sjarifuddin would continue his education at the Rechts Hogeschool, and later converted from Islam to Christianity in 1931, being baptized in the Huria Church, in Batavia.

Amir Sjarifuddin would go on to give sermons at the church.

In 1933, Amir Sjarifuddin was imprisoned by the Dutch for his Aksi Massa essay, an essay published in the Banteng Partindo magazine that encouraged the public to drive out the colonial invaders.

Amir Sjarifuddin was imprisoned for two years, being released on 5 June 1935.

In 1937, towards the end of the Dutch rule, Amir Sjarifuddin led a group of younger Marxists in the establishment of the Indonesian People's Movement.

Gerindo was one of the more significant cooperative parties in the years leading to World War II whose objectives included a fully Indonesian legislature; It had modest goals in comparison to the Dutch-suppressed radical nationalists led by the likes of Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, whom Amir Sjarifuddin had met before the War.

Amir Sjarifuddin was one of a few prominent Indonesian politicians who actively fought against the Japanese, together with fellow future prime minister Sutan Sjahrir.

The seventeen-member cabinet was composed mostly of 'collaborating' nationalists; Amir Sjarifuddin was appointed Information Minister under the new cabinet, though at the time his fate was unknown, as he was then imprisoned by the Japanese.

Amir Sjarifuddin was eventually released on 1 October 1945 and took office shortly after.

Early in the Revolution, Amir Sjarifuddin worked closely with the country's first prime minister Sutan Sjahrir; the two played a major role in effectively shaping the arrangements linking the new government of Indonesia with its people.

On 16 October 1945, Sjahrir and Amir Sjarifuddin took control of the Central Indonesian National Committee, and following the 11 November transition to parliamentary government, Amir Sjarifuddin was appointed to a new cabinet with Sjahrir as Prime Minister.

Amir Sjarifuddin left the position of Information Minister on 4 January 1946 and was replaced by Mohammad Natsir.

Amir Sjarifuddin's position as minister was a source of friction with the People's Security Army and its new commander, Sudirman, who had nominated their candidate, Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX of Yogyakarta.

Amir Sjarifuddin was a central figure in the government's 'anti-fascist' program with the army a key target, which caused further frictions.

Amir Sjarifuddin promoted the Red Army as a model of a citizens' army loyal to the government and holding socialist ideals.

On 19 February 1946, Amir Sjarifuddin inaugurated a socialist and Masyumi politician-dominated 'education staff' for the army.

Amir Sjarifuddin was not able to effectively impose such ideals on unit commanders, particularly as Sudirman and other PETA-trained resented the 'fascist' slur cast on them.

Amir Sjarifuddin joined the fold, and heavily criticized Hatta and his cabinet, labelling it as the "Masyumi Cabinet", as it was dominated by members of the Islamic Masyumi Party.