Indonesian diplomat
Lieutenant General
Djamin Ginting
(12 January 1921 ? 23 October 1974), was an Indonesian military officer and independence fighter from
Tanah Karo
. He was appointed a
National Hero of Indonesia
by President
Joko Widodo
on 7 November 2014.
[1]
Early life
[
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]
Djamin Ginting was born in the village of
Suka
,
Tigapanah
,
Karo Regency
. After completing high school he joined
PETA
, a military unit organized by Japanese officers.
[2]
Djamin Ginting gained the rank of Commander.
[3]
Military career
[
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]
Japanese plans to use local troops to strengthen Japanese forces collapsed after
Japan surrendered to the Allies
in
World War II
. Japan abandoned their territory in Asia and withdrew back to Japan. As a commander, Djamin Ginting moved quickly to consolidate his forces, convincing his members not to return to their respective villages and pleaded for their willingness to defend and protect the
Karo people
from Dutch and British forces who wanted to reassert control over Sumatra.
[3]
During the
Indonesian Revolution
troops under his Command joined Indonesian forces under the
People's Security Agency
(BKR) and eventually People's Security Army (TKR) being part of TKR A, based in
Kabanjahe
with a command area in
East Sumatra
. In TKR A, he became Commander of Battalion II TKR Kabanjahe and later Deputy Chief of Staff of Division IV TKR East Sumatra in Medan. Fighting in the
Battle of Medan
, he was promoted to the Commander of Battalion I Regiment II of the TRI (Republic of Indonesia Armed Forces) in
Tanjungbalai
and also selected as Chairman of the Regional Struggle Bureau XXXIX East Sumatra.
[4]
Djamin Ginting was tasked with escorting vice president
Mohammad Hatta
from
Berastagi
to
Bukittinggi
. Djamin fought Dutch forces in a guerilla war in the countryside as they firmly held the cities. Djamin was forced out of
North Sumatra
under the
Renville agreement
to
Kutacane
,
Central Aceh Regency
, where he continued to raid and harass Dutch military posts and convoys until the war ended After the
Dutch?Indonesian Round Table Conference
.
[3]
After the war Djamin Ginting's troops emerged as forerunners of
Kodam I/Bukit Barisan
. Where Lt. Col. Djamin Ginting became the deputy commander of Kodam I/Bukit Barisan fighting against
Darul Islam
forces led by
Daud Beureu’eh
in
Aceh
.
[3]
He had disagreements with Colonel
Maludin Simbolon
, Commander of Kodam I/Bukit Barisan. Djamin disagreed with Colonel Simbolon's actions to demand from the central government through armed struggle. Simbolon felt that Sumatra had been neglected by the central government economically, while Ginting wanted to defend the Indonesian state.
[5]
During a rebellion under Major Boyke Nainggolanan, loyal to the
PRRI
movement at
Medan
,
North Sumatra
, Djamin Ginting launched Operation Bukit Barisan, on 7 April 1958. Forcing, troops under Mayor Boyke Nainggolan and Captain Sinta Pohan to retreat to
Tapanuli
. When Colonel Simbolon joined the PRRI, Djamin Ginting was promoted to commander of Kodam I/Bukit Barisan.
[2]
He was later brought to
Jakarta
on 28 June 1962 to prepare the
Indonesian Air Force
during
Operation Trikora
.
[3]
During the aftermath of the
30th September Movement coup
, Djamin Ginting was brought back from a post in Aceh and became inspector general of the
Indonesian Army
.
[4]
Later life and death
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]
Djamin Ginting was later assigned as ambassador of Indonesia to
Canada
in
Ottawa
, where he died on 23 October 1974 of high blood pressure
[4]
References
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]