12 Facts About Soediro

Raden Soediro was an Indonesian politician who served as the first Governor of Jakarta, between 1958 and 1960.

Soediro was active in education, becoming the head of a Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs between 1931 and 1933, and later he chaired Taman Siswa in Madiun between 1933 and 1936.

Shortly after the Indonesian proclamation of independence in 1945, Soediro decided to acquire a luxury car for Sukarno.

Soediro's plan was to steal a Buick limousine belonging to the Japanese Chief of Railways, which he believed to be the best car in Jakarta.

Soediro approached the Japanese official's driver, whom he knew, and convinced the driver to aid in the theft by handing over the keys and returning to his hometown.

Soediro became one of the leaders of the Barisan Banteng, the successor to the Barisan Pelopor.

Soediro became the Deputy Resident of Surakarta in 1946 and later the Resident between 1947 and 1950, and then Resident of Madiun between 1950 and 1951.

Soediro was sworn into office in July 1951, and during his time he set up administrative regions in Sulawesi, such as dividing Central Sulawesi into Palu and Donggala administrative regions.

Soediro was then assigned as Mayor of Jakarta in December 1953, replacing the Masyumi Party member Sjamsuridjal.

Soediro's administration saw the preparation for the construction of the Istiqlal Mosque and Hotel Indonesia, and despite little success, Soediro fought for the conservation of both Jakarta's electric tram and historical sites.

Soediro implemented a new system of administrative units based on the 1940s Japanese administration, implementing the rukun tetangga and rukun warga systems to administer the city at neighborhood and block levels.

In December 1959, Soediro opted to not run for the governorship and he was replaced by Soemarno Sosroatmodjo.