Petit
Muharto Kartodirdjo, one of the Indonesian Airforce (TNI AU) old
figures died last March at the age of 81. This is an episode of
his story that he told Angkasa in 1997 about his
involvement in the Permesta movement. Because he disagreed with
the Air Force leadership during those days, and felt that he did
not have any future in the Air Force, he decided to join
Permesta. "I have no other reason," said Petit.
| Indonesian
Air Force Mustangs/Foto: Dispen AU |
In mid 50's the Central Government hadto deal with various
kinds of problems such as between the political parties, the
system itself, the break up of Soekarno-Hatta duo, and also the
growing strength of the communist party. This endless conflict
inside the government caused growing discontent in the
provinces, which finally triggered a rebellion against the
central government.
The disorders inside the central government, especially the
escalation of the communist's action led to widespread
instability, including the proclamation of PRRI/Permesta at the
end of the 50's, was foreseen since 1946 according to the claim
of the late AF Major (ret) Petit Muharto Kartodirdjo who
together with his partner AF Captain (ret) Hadi Sapandi led the
AUREV (Revolutionary Air Force of the Permesta ).
"Since 1946 I became a member of Divisi Djatikusumo in
Rembang," he recalled."So before I became an AURI
(Airforce) officer, I was in the Army." However, with no
reason, he was sent by the Army to Yogyakarta to undergo a
training in military political education, and Petit admitted
that he did not understand what happened. Some contradictory
facts made him wonder. "I saw AURI members in Japanese
pilot's uniforms," said the holder of a Dakota
rating and claimed could actually fly an AT-16 Harvard.
"But the strangest thing was they (in the military
political education training) were all skinny and all wore
eyeglasses," he continued, "and for days they were all
singing the Internationale (a communist song)," said Petit.
"I knew them all."
Because he could not bear the situation around him, Petit
decided to leave Yogyakarta. Not only that, he also decided to
leave the Djatikusumo Division and his next step was asking his
commander's permission to join the AURI. "I expect to fight
but instead I am appointed head of military education political
training," he pleaded. Finally General Djatikusumo gave in
and handed a note to Air Force Chief Suryadarma to join the
AURI.
"What is your rank in the Army?" Suryadarma asked.
Petit answered firmly, "Lieutenant Colonel." According
to Suryadarma, he could not give this high rank to Petit.
"But I didn't mind, the important thing was that I can join
the AURI." Beside his desire to be able to fight in the
frontline, Petit also had a desire to become an air force pilot.
Finally Petit was given the Captain rank by Suryadarma until he
become Major when he was sent to Manila as Air Force Attaché.
While the turmoil inside the central government seemed never
ending, relation between the central government and the province
was getting worse and there were no signs that it will get
better.
The exile
As he became Air Force Attaché in Manila in 1955 until his
departure on May 5th 1955, Petit realized his
position as an opposition. Because he was transferred to Manila,
he had no chance to act directly to show that he was against
Jakarta, especially against the Air Force Leadership at that
time. On the other hand, Petit thought that this decision was
meant as a trick to keep him away from the conflict that was
getting worse. "I was kicked out but landed in bed,"
Petit said jokingly. However, it was better for him to accept
the assignment considering that he was just an attached officer
and had no clear job until he was promoted to Air Force Attaché
in Manila.
Whereas without his acknowledgement, his process to become an
air force attaché was the idea of Prime Minister Ali
Sastroamidjojo. "Later on I heard that he (Ali) insisted
that Suryadarma send me out of the country so I won't become a
victim of a political conflict," explained Petit.
"Make him an attache," Ali demanded to Suryadarma,
"so Petit will not get involved any further in this
conflict." At that time Ali thought that Petit will not be
helping Wiweko Soepono and H. Soejono (two AURI officers who
were consistent in fighting for AURI air power during that
periods) in their efforts. "Instead Ali thought that I was
on Bung Karno's and Suryadarma's side," he said in wonder.
"I don't think Ali knows much about me."
Once he got to Manila as air force attaché, Petit kept
thinking about the young officers in AURI and how to rescue them
from the conflict and the uncertainty inside the forces. While
in Manila, his 'exile process' continued, like once during the
presenting of Bintang Jasa Gerilya to those who fought. "I
didn't get any even though I wasn't asking for it. " he
assured. So as his assignment as air force attaché in Manila,
which he considered not too important. It was just to
'discharge' him.
Meanwhile at the same time and far from his post, Sumatra and
Sulawesi reacted out in the open with their Indonesian Republic
Revolutionary Government (PRRI) and Universal Struggle
(Permesta) movements.
The movement started as a Banteng Division reunion on 21, to
November 24, 1956 in Balai Prajurit Padang was attended by 600
of its former members, businessman and civilian politicians. The
Banteng Division itself was a TNI division that played an
important role during independence war in Central Sumatra and
was responsible for defending West Sumatra and Riau territory.
Its commander was a senior officer, Col. Ismael Lengah. After
this reunion, they set up Dewan Banteng and then Dewan Gajah and
Dewan Garuda.
According to its founder, the reunions of division in
provinces were urged by the unfairness of the central
government, and the Sulawesi people lost their patient because
the province felt that they have not been heard. As a result of
this, on March 2, 1957 before dawn, Lt.Col H.N. Ventje Sumual
announced state of war and siege (which constitutionally can
only be proclaimed by the Head of State Ed.) that
marked the Permesta proclamation in Makasar and to emphasize
their claim, they started to perform military operations.
The situation in Makasar and Manado went out of control.
Permesta's AUREV performed sudden attacks on Hasanuddin, Balik
Papan, Kendari, and Pattimura several times. Slogans and
pamphlets of statement "sorry Bung Karno, we do not want
Communism", were dropped over Manado, Tomohon, Gorontalo,
and Palu territory.
Facing this situation, the central government did not remain
idle. Counter-attacks were undertaken vigorously. The Permesta
radio station in Manado was bombed by a B-25 Mitchell on
21 and February 22, 1958. The same thing happened in Padang,
which was attacked once again and occupied by government forces
on 17 April. A month later, on May 4, Bukittinggi as the PRRI
capital, fell in to the hands of APRI, the Armed Forces of the
Indonesian Republic. Since then, the center of the uprising was
officially moved to Manado.
Violating the summons
The developments in Indonesia made Petit feverish. Without
waiting for an explanation he gave a strong reaction and
protested the Air Force Chief in Jakarta. "Why bomb Padang,
isn't there another way?"
Only in a few days, Jakarta replied his telegram via the
Indonesian Embassy, summoning Petit to come to Jakarta.
"Come to Jakarta?" He wondered. "I could read
between the lines that it means that I turn my self in."
Said Petit. Although he truly wanted to return to Jakarta, not
to comply to the summon but to start to think to help the
PRRI/Permesta struggle. "Because I had already jumped in to
the water."
Unable to resist his vocation, one afternoon he made a
request to Indonesian ambassador in Manila, Nazir Pamuncak, to
allow him to return to Jakarta. The ambassador gave his permit
to Petit and at the end of March, Petit took off to Jakarta.
"I went to Singapore instead," Petit said grinning.
Surprisingly glad, "Hadi (Sapandi) turn out to be already
there." And Petit and Hadi were always together in
Singapore.
Landing in Singapore, Petit was surprised by the fact that
there were so many PRRI partisans in Singapore. There Petit also
met for the first time Sumitro Djojohadikusumo the politician
who was sympathetic to the PRRI/Permesta cause, and who now
becomes an expert in economics - , Pohan, Lendy Tumbelaka, and
others. "I met Sumual in Manila after I returned from the
meeting in Singapore," explained Petit. This rendezvous was
a decisive moment for Petit's next involvement in Permesta.
Leading the AUREV
Of all the PRRI/Permesta figures and partisans that Petit met in
Singapore, none of them had any airforce background, or at least
a pilot. Whereas until that moment, AUREV, which a month later
in April 1958 was officially formed in North Sulawesi, already
had some aircraft supported by the United States through the CIA
(Central Intelligence Agency). Some of the aircraft were P-51 Mustangs,
B-26 Invaders, and PBY Catalinas that to Petit's
knowledge, they were flown straight from Clark Field in the
South Philipines. According to Petit the agreement regarding
these American warplanes in AUREV forces was signed by himself.
"I was sent to Clark Field," he explained. "After
signing the aid agreement consisting of three B-26 Invaders and
two P-51 Mustangs, I returned to Manado. Because in the AUREV
was also Hadi Sapandi, "Another Mustang was added
especially for Hadi," he said. All of these fighters were
painted in black.
Soon after the arrival of AF Major Petit Muharto and AF
Captain Hadi Sapandi among the group, Petit loudly and
instinctively asked, "Who is your flight leader?"
Sumitro heard this and spontaneously made an offer to Petit to
become the airforce chief of PRRI/Permesta. Without hesitation,
Petit accepted this offer. And then Petit asked Hadi to become
his deputy.
After a few days in Singapore it was agreed to fly a Dakota
to Padang piloted by Petit and Hadi Sapandi with an order to
join PRRI immediately. Only a few moments before getting ready
to take off, came news from Padang that Tabing Airport has been
destroyed by PRRI to prevent central government aircraft landing
in Padang. The flight was canceled and the next flight was to
Manado. "So I never operated in Padang," Petit
explained.
In Singapore Petit was introduced by Sumitro to CIA agents.
"Answering their question about my plan, I explained that
we don't want the hard way, we just want to force the central
government to negotiate." Petit said. "How we're going
to do that?" they asked. "Find an airport not far from
Jakarta and place a few bombers there to threaten Jakarta. If
necessary place some troops to warn Jakarta and hopefully the
central government will consider a negotiation," Petit
explained. Petit understood that the fundamental of Permesta
movements was only to intimidate the central government not to
separate from the Republic or even carry out a coup d'etat.
"Natuna Island," Petit explained to CIA about the
location. Since the CIA did not know exactly where the location
is, they did not accept his suggestion. "But they still
consider it," said Petit.
Petit was right. Straight from Clark Field, CIA ordered a U-2
an aircraft with 70.000 feet (21.335 m) air photographic
capability and also operated in Comint (communications
intelligence) mission to observe and search the Natuna Island
position. "Two days later they handed on the pictures. But
it was too late," said Petit. "Because at that time
Morotai was already occupied by government troops and Permesta
was no longer safe for the troops movements." After this
encounter, Petit returned to Manila.
Some episodes
Petit realized that his involvement in Permesta movements would
affect his relation with his fellow AURI because he was fighting
against his 'brothers'. Like in an air combat, unexpected things
could happen. "Whereas I did not want this to happen."
A few times he tried to convince his friends that he did not
mean to go further. This was just because he disagreed with the
Air Force Chief. "I even wanted them to take Hadi's side
and mine."
"Because I know Dewanto well, I tried to contact
him." Once, he was informed that AF Captain Dewanto was in
Amahai. Petit thought about the best way to contact Dewanto. It
was not as easy as he thought because at that time he was
considered as a rebel. Finally one night Petit flew a Dakota
with extra tanks, from Minahasa to Amahai, to drop pamphlets
explaining his reason to join Permesta. "I dropped some
pamphlets," said Petit, hoping Dewanto would get his
message.
Later on, by coincidence Petit met Dewanto. "Do you get
my pamphlet?" Asked Petit to Dewanto, the brave pilot,
"Yes I got it and I understand what you mean," Dewanto
answered.
On another occasion, one afternoon a B-26 Invader piloted by
Allan Pope performed a surprise attack to destroy a PBY
Catalina, which was known to be located in Liang, by accident
Petit almost killed Sunardi (his final rank was Colonel) and
Alamsyah (Air Marshal, Deputy of Air Chief Marshal Ashadi
Tjahyadi).
Instead of using his gun as Petit suggested to attack the
non-camouflaged Catalina, Pope used his bomb and missed several
times. "I want to destroy that airplane with my bomb."
Pope insisted. "This is what I don't like in Pope, he's a
bad decision maker." Petit admitted. Finally he gave up, he
shot this amphibian aircraft until it was on fire. "But it
was no longer a surprise." Said Petit. Sunardi and
Alamsyah, the Catalina pilots who were in Liang, knew
immediately that it was Petit's work.
After cease fire, they met together and the two pilots
complained to Petit. "We have just landed and ordered a cup
of coffee when we saw the bomber with an open bomb door. I
jumped right away through the window and twisted my ankle."
Sunardi told about the incident when he almost got killed.
Responding to his friends' anger, Petit said jokingly, "So
it was you, I'm so sorry."
In May 18, 1958, during the flight operation to attack Ambon,
Allan Pope piloted a B-26 Invader with Hary Rantung as radio
operator, and a P-51 Mustang piloted by Connie the American
pilot that was closest to Permesta and only known as Connie .
Petit who was usually an observer was not included in this
operation and he was upset because he did not get any chance to
fly alone.
When they were monitoring the radio, suddenly they were
shocked: a Permesta bomber was shot down. "Who is
this?" they asked each other. Soon they found out both of
the crew were safe and one of them was an Indonesian named
Rantung. Then they knew that Pope was shot. But what about
Connie?
Both Hadi and Petit decided to wait for Connie's return to
ask what had happened. Finally from the horizon they saw
Connie's Mustang approaching. According to Petit it was not a
smooth landing and sounded like something hard scooped the
runway. Petit and Hadi ran toward the Mustang and found Connie
sitting on the grass calmly while one of his aircraft's tire was
in a ditch. "Why, why, what happened?" Petit rushed to
him.
According to Connie, after attacking Ambon, he encountered a
Mustang head-on. His opponent did not want to fly away, so did
he, because if he did he would be exposed and it meant he
endanger himself.
Since both fighters were tenacious, soon their machine guns
spoke. "I was hit but did not know where," Connie told
Petit. He found out after he landed that his opponent hit one of
his Mustang's tires. "He is a brave boy," Connie
admitted that he did not know the determined pilot.
Returning after the cease-fire, Petit met Dewanto and learned
that it was Dewanto who was 'head on' with Connie. "You
didn't get hit?" asked Petit. Dewanto answered, "I
did," he carried on, "He used up his machine gun and
so did I, I had six machine gun's," said Dewanto. But it
was still unknown who shot Pope.
The next meeting with Dewanto, Petit asked him again about
his dogfight with Connie. "Why didn't you use your
rockets?" asked Petit curiously. "Oo..I used it all
for Pope."
End of an episode
The incident between Dewanto and Allan Pope resulted in the
capture of Allan Pope by government troops for interrogation and
it revealed the CIA involvement in the PRRI/Permesta rebellion.
According to Petit it also ended the involvement of CIA in the
Permesta affair. "They went off without saying good
bye," said Petit.
Because of this, until May 23, 1958, Permesta had no longer
hope to get the support of South Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Sangir,
and Morotai. The worst thing was that Permesta was left without
an air force. The capture of Pope also bring a fundamental
change in American politics' and their aid to Permesta decreased
and stopped altogether. Plan to attack Jakarta was out of
question when Sumatran rebel troops who were expected to help,
fled to the forest because they were cornered.
According to Petit Permesta was glad to know that he and Hadi
join them and they were happy whenever a tanker was hit. On the
other hand Petit admitted that he was disappointed by the CIA,
which refused to be organized and they refused to cooperate in
outlining a strategy of operation. "They were willing to
check an aircraft on request but usually they just looked around
forming an exclusive group." And this Soldier of fortune
did not want to mingle with Permesta. They got their own
shelter, which they called Little America. Petit concluded that
the CIA did only help Permesta half-heartedly.
Permesta troops were cornered and AURI performed many air
operations in Indonesian eastern territory like Mena operation
to occupy Morotai airport. And Jakarta rejected Permesta's
intention to negotiate although it was supported by the USA,
unless the rebels surrender unconditionally.
Meanwhile Petit decided to get away, "I went to
Singapore via Taiwan to see my family." But he kept
thinking of his fellows in Manado who continue fighting against
APRI in defending their pride while he was having fun with his
family. Luck was not on Permesta's side, especially after the
fall of Kotamobagu in September, 1959.
Finally he got his chance to return to Manado when the Dutch
wanted to sent back Indonesian prisoners that mostly were
Permesta activists, from Hongkong to Minahasa. He came along
with these prisoners after asking permission of his wife, Siwi
Siswani. Without hesitation his wife gave her consent. According
to Petit, there was A.E. Kawilarang, a former Army Commander of
East Indonesia among the troops in the jungle, who also left his
family outside the country.
In January, 1960, Petit returned to Minahasa in a Dutch
smuggler ship. Among the prisoners on board he found Nufanto and
Lendy Tumbelaka. They were happy yet confused to see Petit.
"He's Javanese but fight together with people from
Manado," they said in wonder.
One of the unique incidents during the conflict was regarding
Zainal Abidin who was going to be evacuated from battle under
Petit's permission. Instead of reaching safety, he was molested
by government troops because he was accused as a rebel.
"You are with Muharto, aren't you?" snapped one of the
troops.
Petit and Kawilarang stayed in the jungle until the
cease-fire that started from April 11, 1961 was announced on
April 4, a statement of returning Somba to the fold of the
Republic was signed. And in August 17, 1961 Petit went to Kuala
Lumpur to attend the signing of the same statement.
After this signing, he got an order from Kawilarang to
arrange the return of Permesta families still outside the
country. After the conflict ended, Petit stayed in Singapore and
in 1967 he returned to Indonesia for a short time, to visit his
relatives. He returned to Indonesia for good in 1969.
It was concluded that starting with the shooting down of
Allan Pope, all air strike capability and Permesta's threats
became futile. Hadi Sapandi did not return to Minahasa. "He
ventured to some other places." Explained Petit. "The
Mustangs and bombers that were still in good condition were
taken back by the CIA, the rest were left behind." And
these aircrafts were later stripped by our people," he said
laughing.
