47 Facts About Sukarni

Sukarni Kartodiwirjo was an Indonesian freedom fighter and activist who demanded independence for Indonesia during the Dutch colonial era and the Japanese occupation, and was the chairman of the Murba Party until his death.

Sukarni was born on 14 July 1916 in Sumberdiran, Garum, Blitar.

Sukarni was the fifth child of Dimun Kartodiwirjo, son of Prince Diponegoro's right-hand man Onggomerto, and Supiah, a woman from Kediri.

Sukarni studied at Mardisiswo in Blitar, similar school to Taman Siswa that time.

Sukarni continued to study at Hollandsch-Inlandsche School.

When Sukarni graduated from HIS and registered for Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs, his father died in 1929.

In 1930, Sukarni joined Perhimpunan Pemuda Pelajar Indonesia, which was later renamed to Indonesia Muda, and became the chairman of the Blitar section.

At the Indonesia Muda congress in Surabaya, Sukarni managed to persuade congress participants to approve his idea allowing youths that hadn't attended school to join Indonesia Muda.

Sukarni helped Anwari and elder sister of Sukarno, Wardoyo, to establish the Partindo Blitar chapter and for the first time met Wikana, Asmara Hadi, and SK Trimurti.

In 1936, Sukarni translated Tan Malaka's brochures and pamphlets from Dutch to Indonesian and distributed them.

Sukarni managed to escape the arrest of Indonesia Muda members in the head office in Jakarta on 19 June 1936.

Sukarni who was pursued by the government then decided to go to Borneo.

Sukarni said goodbye to his mother in Blitar and entrusted the Indonesia Muda leadership to Ruslan Abdulgani.

Sukarni lived in disguise under the name Maidi Borneo area from 1937 to 1940.

Sukarni traveled to Banjarmasin, then moved to Murung Pudak working as coolie at Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij.

Sukarni then moved to Sangasanga and worked as servant at one of BPM official's houses.

Sukarni subsequently moved to Balikpapan and served as a data recorder in the BPM topography department.

Sukarni eventually was arrested by the colonial government there before the Japanese attacked the Dutch East Indies - sometime in 1940 according to Husein Yusuf, while in disguise as the employee of the department of BPM.

Sukarni was brought to Samarinda before being jailed in Java, which was chosen over Boven Digul because Japanese army had attacked the Dutch Indies.

In Jakarta, Sukarni worked for several news agencies such as Antara, which was later replaced by Domei Tsushin and Sendenbu.

Sukarni persuaded chairman of Perhimpunan Pelajar-Pelajar Indonesia Chairul Saleh and chairman of Baperpi Supeno to establish an educational institution for Indonesian young men.

Sukarni had been visited by Tan Malaka using the alias Husin, which Sukarni did not know.

Sukarni became a father in 1943 after Nursjiar gave birth Luhantara, their first son.

Sukarni took part in the Kongres Pemuda meeting held between 16 and 18 May 1945 in Villa Isola, Bandung.

In that year, Sukarni was the chairman of the Committee van Actie Menteng 31.

Sukarni talked to Sukarno supporting the other young men's argument to declare independence when they began the abduction at dawn on the 16th.

Sukarni stated that he already prepared the revolt in several places in Jakarta.

Sukarni, accompanied by Sayuti Melik and Maeda's subordinate Nishijima, then informed the people that were ready to cancel the revolt.

Sukarni advised the others to choose only Sukarno and Hatta to sign the declaration instead of all people who were there that time.

In 1947, Sukarni was imprisoned in Ponorogo prison, Madiun, along with Tan Malaka, Moh.

In November 1948, Sukarni was elected as chairman of Murba Party in the first congress mainly suggested by Tan Malaka.

Mainly Sukarni-led Murba opposed the government policies especially Linggarjati, Renville, and KMB, except the decree reimposing 1945 Constitution.

Sukarni managed to escape from Yogyakarta down the Code River after the second military aggression was started.

Outside Yogyakarta, Sukarni helped Lieutenant Colonel Suharto carrying out guerrilla attacks.

In 1953, Sukarni's last child, Emalia Iragiliati was born in Yogyakarta.

Sukarni was appointed by Sukarno as ambassador to the People's Republic of China mid 1960.

Sukarni was detained in the detention center inAttorney General's office.

Sukarni became the chairman of Murba after the party had been prohibited during Sukarni's detention.

Sukarni reasoned that if Sukarno was imprisoned, the republic would end because it had no dignity mentioning a detainee every year in the independence celebration.

Sukarni was then involved in Delegasi '45 along with other Angkatan '45 to persuade Sukarno to disband the PKI to avoid civil war.

In 1967, Sukarni became a member of the Supreme Advisory Council.

Several times in 1971, Sukarni was admitted to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

On 5 May 1971, Sukarni requested Darif to write his general election campaign speech when they met in the evening that day.

Sukarni considered the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence to be dominated by older Indonesians and the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence by Japanese military-backed old activists.

Sukarni was influenced by Tan Malaka during the Dutch and Japanese era through Tan Malaka's writings.

Iragiliati citing Sukarni, said that Indonesian murba is different than western version.

Sukarni was posthumously awarded the Bintang Maha Putera IV medal.