APRA Coup d'état
Encyclopedia
The APRA Coup d'état was a coup d'état
by Raymond Westerling
's Legion of Ratu Adil
to capture Bandung
and Jakarta
, and to overthrow Sukarno
’s unitary
Republic of Indonesia. Westerling sought to preserve the federal
Republic of the United States of Indonesia
, which retained the support of the Netherlands
and various minority elements. Despite the presence of the elite Siliwangi Division
, Westerling’s APRA succeeded in capturing Bandung in the early hours of January 23, 1950. However, they were driven away by reinforcements under Major General Engels.
Simultaneously, Westerling’s forces infiltrated Jakarta as part of a coup d’état to overthrow the RUSI Cabinet. They also planned to arrest and assassinate several prominent Republican figures including the Defense Minister Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX and Secretary-General Ali Budiardjo. However, they were intercepted and forced to flee by Indonesian military forces. Meanwhile, Westerling was forced to flee to Singapore and APRA had ceased to function by February 1950. These events led to the downfall of Sultan Hamid II
and accelerated the integration of the RUSI into the Republic by August 17, 1950.
consisting of both Republican and Federalist members was formed on December 17, 1949. This Cabinet was headed by Prime Minister Mohammad Hatta
and included 11 Republicans and five Federalists including the pro-Dutch Sultan Hamid II
. Ultimately, this federal government was short-lived due to conflicting differences between the Republicans and the Federalists as well as growing popular support for a unitary state
.
Growing tensions between the Republicans and Federalists prompted Hamid II to conspire with former Hamid II would subsequently conspire with the former KNIL Captain Raymond Westerling
to organize an anti-Republican coup d’état which would ensure a federal Republic of the United States of Indonesia
. By January 1950, Westerling had built up a 2,000-strong militia force known as Angkatan Perang Ratu Adil (APRA, Legion of Ratu Adil
) . It comprised various anti-Republican elements including demobilized Darul Islam and many former guerrillas including Republicans. The Legion was further augmented by elements of the KNIL, Royal Netherlands Army
and several sympathetic Dutch nationals including two police inspectors.
Westerling’s coup d’état involved three phases: the simultaneous capture of Bandung and Djakarta. The third phase involved the capture of Buitenzorg (modern-day Blora) where some minor government departments were based. On January 22, Westerling’s troops would infiltrate the city onboard trucks and disguised as members of the Tentara Nasional Indonesia. At 10 pm, they would seize ammunition stocks from the old KNIL arms depot in Bandung and then dispatch them to a rendezvous point 15 miles away for delivery to Djakarta by 11 pm. At 5 am on January 23, APRA forces based in nearby Tjimahi would capture strategic locations like military bases, police stations, and government buildings and communications facilities throughout Bandung and Jakarta.
had been forewarned of Westerling’s plans and dispatched a motorized unit to intercept the Legion. Despite their numerical and technical inferiority, APRA’s superior training allowed them to turn the tables on their opponents. Marching through Bandung, APRA captured key locations including the TNI’S headquarters and the Siliwangi barracks. Within an hour, APRA had secured the city center and eliminated all resistance.
The majority of the TNI forces were taken by surprise and there were reports of soldiers discarding their uniforms and fleeing. The TNI officers deserted their troops with one colonel seeking refuge in the Dutch barracks. By 11 am, the Legion’s success had forced the Republican commander Colonel
Sadikine to negotiate the terms of surrender with Westerling. According to a Dutch eyewitness named Schmidt, Westerling’s troops were welcomed as liberators by the civilian population who gave them food and money.
at 11pm as planned. Westerling's Legion was unable to launch its scheduled attack at 5 am on January 23. There had been plans to seize the presidential palace, army barracks and to arrest Republican politicians including Sukarno, Hatta, Hamengkubuwono IX and Ali Budiardjo.
Unable to find any ammunition, Westerling was forced to abort his attack by 6 am and to disperse his troops and members of his provisional government into hiding. With the coup atttempt in tatters, Westerling ordered his forces at Bandung to evacuate the city and retreat. By 5 pm, Republican forces under Sadikine had re-established control over Bandung.
. Despite attempts by the Indonesian government to extradite him, he lived in exile in the Netherlands
until his death in 1987.
By April 5, several key conspirators including Sultan Hamid II
had been arrested by the Republican authorities. On April 19, Hamid II confessed to his involvement in the botched Jakarta coup and to planning an abortive second attack on Parliament scheduled for February 15. Due to the presence of RUSI troops, the attack was aborted. The role of the Pasundan government in the coup led to its dissolution by February 10, further undermining the federal structure. By late March 1950, Hamid’s West Kalimantan was one of the four remaining federal states in the United States of Indonesia.
Hamid’s role in the coup led to increased agitation in West Kalimantan for its integration into the Republic of Indonesia. Following a fact-finding mission by the Government Commission, the RUSI House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly by a margin of 50 to one votes to merge West Kalimantan into the Republic of Indonesia. Following clashes with demobilized KNIL troops under Abdul Assiz in Makassar
and the attempted secession of an Ambonese
Republic of South Moluccas, the federal United States of Indonesia was dissolved on 17 August 1950, turning Indonesia into a unitary state dominated by the central government in Jakarta.
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
by Raymond Westerling
Raymond Westerling
Raymond Pierre Paul Westerling , nicknamed the Turk, was a Dutch military officer. He waged a bloody occupation campaign in Sulawesi during the Indonesian National Revolution after the Second World War, and staged a coup d'état in Bandung and Jakarta in January 1950.-South Sulawesi:Westerling...
's Legion of Ratu Adil
Legion of Ratu Adil
The Legion of Ratu Adil, also known as Angkatan Perang Ratu Adil or the Prince Justice Legion was a pro-Dutch militia and private army established during the Indonesian National Revolution. It was founded by the former KNIL captain Raymond Westerling following his demobilization on January 15 1949...
to capture Bandung
Bandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
and Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, and to overthrow Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
’s unitary
Unitary state
A unitary state is a state governed as one single unit in which the central government is supreme and any administrative divisions exercise only powers that their central government chooses to delegate...
Republic of Indonesia. Westerling sought to preserve the federal
Federal
Federal or foederal may refer to:In politics:*Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies or a federal organised monarchy*Federal district, a subdivision in a federal state that is under the direct control of a federal government...
Republic of the United States of Indonesia
Republic of the United States of Indonesia
The Republic of the United States of Indonesia , also abbreviated as RUSI, was a federal state to which the Netherlands formally transferred sovereignty of the Dutch East Indies on 27 December 1949 following the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference...
, which retained the support of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and various minority elements. Despite the presence of the elite Siliwangi Division
Siliwangi Division
The Siliwangi Division or KODAM VI/Siliwangi is the name of a formation of the Indonesian Army. The Division was formed during the Indonesian National Revolution by what was then known as the People's Security Army...
, Westerling’s APRA succeeded in capturing Bandung in the early hours of January 23, 1950. However, they were driven away by reinforcements under Major General Engels.
Simultaneously, Westerling’s forces infiltrated Jakarta as part of a coup d’état to overthrow the RUSI Cabinet. They also planned to arrest and assassinate several prominent Republican figures including the Defense Minister Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX and Secretary-General Ali Budiardjo. However, they were intercepted and forced to flee by Indonesian military forces. Meanwhile, Westerling was forced to flee to Singapore and APRA had ceased to function by February 1950. These events led to the downfall of Sultan Hamid II
Sultan Hamid II
Sultan Hamid II, born Syarif Abdul Hamid Alkadrie was the last Sultan of Pontianak and the only President of the State of West Kalimantan from 1946 to its disestablishment in 1950. He was the eldest son of Sultan Syarif Muhammad Alkadrie...
and accelerated the integration of the RUSI into the Republic by August 17, 1950.
Background
Prior to the transfer of sovereignty on December 27 1949, a RUSI CabinetRepublic of the United States of Indonesia Cabinet
The Republic of the United States of Indonesia Cabinet was established as a result of the formation of the United States of Indonesia following the transfer of sovereignty from the Dutch colonial power...
consisting of both Republican and Federalist members was formed on December 17, 1949. This Cabinet was headed by Prime Minister Mohammad Hatta
Mohammad Hatta
was born in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Dutch East Indies . He was Indonesia's first vice president, later also serving as the country's Prime Minister. Known as "The Proclamator", he and a number of Indonesians, including the first president of Indonesia, Sukarno, fought for the independence of...
and included 11 Republicans and five Federalists including the pro-Dutch Sultan Hamid II
Sultan Hamid II
Sultan Hamid II, born Syarif Abdul Hamid Alkadrie was the last Sultan of Pontianak and the only President of the State of West Kalimantan from 1946 to its disestablishment in 1950. He was the eldest son of Sultan Syarif Muhammad Alkadrie...
. Ultimately, this federal government was short-lived due to conflicting differences between the Republicans and the Federalists as well as growing popular support for a unitary state
Unitary state
A unitary state is a state governed as one single unit in which the central government is supreme and any administrative divisions exercise only powers that their central government chooses to delegate...
.
Growing tensions between the Republicans and Federalists prompted Hamid II to conspire with former Hamid II would subsequently conspire with the former KNIL Captain Raymond Westerling
Raymond Westerling
Raymond Pierre Paul Westerling , nicknamed the Turk, was a Dutch military officer. He waged a bloody occupation campaign in Sulawesi during the Indonesian National Revolution after the Second World War, and staged a coup d'état in Bandung and Jakarta in January 1950.-South Sulawesi:Westerling...
to organize an anti-Republican coup d’état which would ensure a federal Republic of the United States of Indonesia
Republic of the United States of Indonesia
The Republic of the United States of Indonesia , also abbreviated as RUSI, was a federal state to which the Netherlands formally transferred sovereignty of the Dutch East Indies on 27 December 1949 following the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference...
. By January 1950, Westerling had built up a 2,000-strong militia force known as Angkatan Perang Ratu Adil (APRA, Legion of Ratu Adil
Legion of Ratu Adil
The Legion of Ratu Adil, also known as Angkatan Perang Ratu Adil or the Prince Justice Legion was a pro-Dutch militia and private army established during the Indonesian National Revolution. It was founded by the former KNIL captain Raymond Westerling following his demobilization on January 15 1949...
) . It comprised various anti-Republican elements including demobilized Darul Islam and many former guerrillas including Republicans. The Legion was further augmented by elements of the KNIL, Royal Netherlands Army
Royal Netherlands Army
The Royal Netherlands Army is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands.-Short history:The Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, but its origins date back to 1572, when the so-called Staatse Leger was raised...
and several sympathetic Dutch nationals including two police inspectors.
Westerling’s coup d’état involved three phases: the simultaneous capture of Bandung and Djakarta. The third phase involved the capture of Buitenzorg (modern-day Blora) where some minor government departments were based. On January 22, Westerling’s troops would infiltrate the city onboard trucks and disguised as members of the Tentara Nasional Indonesia. At 10 pm, they would seize ammunition stocks from the old KNIL arms depot in Bandung and then dispatch them to a rendezvous point 15 miles away for delivery to Djakarta by 11 pm. At 5 am on January 23, APRA forces based in nearby Tjimahi would capture strategic locations like military bases, police stations, and government buildings and communications facilities throughout Bandung and Jakarta.
Bandung
At dawn, APRA forces entered Bandung. However, the elite Siliwangi DivisionSiliwangi Division
The Siliwangi Division or KODAM VI/Siliwangi is the name of a formation of the Indonesian Army. The Division was formed during the Indonesian National Revolution by what was then known as the People's Security Army...
had been forewarned of Westerling’s plans and dispatched a motorized unit to intercept the Legion. Despite their numerical and technical inferiority, APRA’s superior training allowed them to turn the tables on their opponents. Marching through Bandung, APRA captured key locations including the TNI’S headquarters and the Siliwangi barracks. Within an hour, APRA had secured the city center and eliminated all resistance.
The majority of the TNI forces were taken by surprise and there were reports of soldiers discarding their uniforms and fleeing. The TNI officers deserted their troops with one colonel seeking refuge in the Dutch barracks. By 11 am, the Legion’s success had forced the Republican commander Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Sadikine to negotiate the terms of surrender with Westerling. According to a Dutch eyewitness named Schmidt, Westerling’s troops were welcomed as liberators by the civilian population who gave them food and money.
Jakarta
However, the second phase of the coup d'état collapsed since the majority of the KNIL's commanders cooperated with the Indonesian government and refused to support Westerling’s scheme. A Dutch officer discovered the unloading of ammunition from the Bandung arms depot into trucks and quickly informed Major General Engels who had the convoy intercepted and disarmed. Due to this development, the ammunitions convoy did not arrive in the Republican capital JakartaJakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
at 11pm as planned. Westerling's Legion was unable to launch its scheduled attack at 5 am on January 23. There had been plans to seize the presidential palace, army barracks and to arrest Republican politicians including Sukarno, Hatta, Hamengkubuwono IX and Ali Budiardjo.
Unable to find any ammunition, Westerling was forced to abort his attack by 6 am and to disperse his troops and members of his provisional government into hiding. With the coup atttempt in tatters, Westerling ordered his forces at Bandung to evacuate the city and retreat. By 5 pm, Republican forces under Sadikine had re-established control over Bandung.
Aftermath
The attempted coup d'état terrified the Republican government while increasing public agitation for the dissolution of the federal system. The Republican government attempted to negotiate with Westerling by offering to pay him US$100,000 in exchange for renouncing his revolutionary activities. However, Westerling rejected the offer and escaped to SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Despite attempts by the Indonesian government to extradite him, he lived in exile in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
until his death in 1987.
By April 5, several key conspirators including Sultan Hamid II
Sultan Hamid II
Sultan Hamid II, born Syarif Abdul Hamid Alkadrie was the last Sultan of Pontianak and the only President of the State of West Kalimantan from 1946 to its disestablishment in 1950. He was the eldest son of Sultan Syarif Muhammad Alkadrie...
had been arrested by the Republican authorities. On April 19, Hamid II confessed to his involvement in the botched Jakarta coup and to planning an abortive second attack on Parliament scheduled for February 15. Due to the presence of RUSI troops, the attack was aborted. The role of the Pasundan government in the coup led to its dissolution by February 10, further undermining the federal structure. By late March 1950, Hamid’s West Kalimantan was one of the four remaining federal states in the United States of Indonesia.
Hamid’s role in the coup led to increased agitation in West Kalimantan for its integration into the Republic of Indonesia. Following a fact-finding mission by the Government Commission, the RUSI House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly by a margin of 50 to one votes to merge West Kalimantan into the Republic of Indonesia. Following clashes with demobilized KNIL troops under Abdul Assiz in Makassar
Makassar
Makassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
and the attempted secession of an Ambonese
Ambonese
The Ambonese, also known as South Moluccans, are an Indonesian ethnic group of mixed Malay-Papuan origin. They are mostly Christians or Muslims. Ambonese are from Ambon Island in Maluku, an island group east of Sulawesi and north of Timor in Indonesia. The predominant language of the island is...
Republic of South Moluccas, the federal United States of Indonesia was dissolved on 17 August 1950, turning Indonesia into a unitary state dominated by the central government in Jakarta.