Maraden Panggabean
Encyclopedia
Maraden Saur Halomoan Panggabean (Tarutung
, North Sumatra
, 29 June 1922 - Jakarta
, 28 May 2000) or more commonly known as Maraden Panggabean was a prominent Indonesian General during the early years of General Suharto's New Order regime.
ethnic group.
After completing his education, Panggabean took on work as a teacher, an occupation held in high regard in the Batak community, and even became the Principal of a school in Tarutung. In 1942, with the arrival and subsequent occupation of Indonesia by the Japanese Imperial Army, Panggabean left the field of education. He first trained to become a civil servant under the Japanese Occupational Government although he would soon be interested in taking on a military career.
(PETA) an auxiliary force consisting of Indonesians which were designed to assist the Japanese should the Allies
come to invade Indonesia. Like many of his military contemporaries, Panggabean joined PETA. In Panggabean's case however, he seemed to have only manage to go through military schooling and basic training before the Japanese surrendered and nationalist leaders Sukarno
and Hatta
proclaimed Indonesia's Independence.
Like all other youths all around Indonesia, Panggabean was caught up in the rush to take weapons from the Japanese in preparation of the formation of a National Army. On 5 October 1945, the People's Security Army (TKR), the precursor to ABRI and later on, TNI was formed. Panggabean took up the position of military trainer at Sibolga
before serving as Chief of Staff for the 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment, 10th Division in Sumatra until 1949.
Following the Indonesian National Revolution
of 1945–1950, Panggabean spent the next 10 years as a Regimental Chief of Staff at Tapanuli and as a Sectoral Commander in the Military Territory (TT) of North Sumatra. In 1957, Panggabean also took the opportunity for further military education at the Infantry Officers Advanced Course in the United States
. In 1959, Panggabean became Battalion Commander before being transferred to TT II/Sriwijaya as Resort Commander.
Panggabean then received his first assignment out of Sumatra as a military court judge in Makassar
, Sulawesi
. As the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
intensified, Panggabean was appointed Commander of the 2nd War Theater, with authority over the troops in Borneo
. Here, he developed a friendship with Suharto as the then Kostrad
Commander had troops stationed in Borneo.
After he cracked down on the 30 September Movement
, Suharto became the Commander of the Army. Suharto seemed to have remembered Panggabean and appointed him as a staff member with the position of 2nd Deputy.
and Suharto receiving executive power, Panggabean became part of the controversy in 1998. According to Sukardjo Wilardjito, a Presidential Bodyguard stationed at Bogor
, Panggabean was present with Amirmachmud
, M Jusuf, and Basuki Rahmat
, the three Generals that many accounts agree to have been present when Supersemar was signed. According to Sukardjo, Panggabean, alongside Basuki held Sukarno at gunpoint while the President signed a pre-prepared Supersemar.
Panggabean reached the pinnacle of his military career in 1973 when he became the ABRI Commander in addition to becoming Minister of Defense and Security. As ABRI Commander, Panggabean had differences with Minister of Foreign Affairs Adam Malik
in the way in which Indonesia should approach its foreign policy in South East Asia. Malik wanted ASEAN to only be about economic cooperation whilst Panggabean wanted ASEAN to also be about security cooperation. In addition, Panggabean also wanted to sent troops to assist the South Vietnamese in the Vietnam War
. On this matter, Suharto sided with Malik.
In April 1978, Panggabean was discharged as ABRI Commander and Minister of Defense and Security.
, the political party which Suharto had chosen as part of his re-election bid. In 1973, Panggabean became a member of the Golkar Executive Board before becoming Chairman of the Executive Board in 1974. He served in this position until 1978 when Suharto replaced him in the position. Nevertheless, Panggabean was retained as Vice Chairman of the Executive Board and served as the Day-to-Day Chairman until 1988.
He was of Batak
ethnicity and was a Protestant.
Tarutung
Tarutung is a town in North Sumatra province of Indonesia and it is the seat of North Tapanuli Regency.Tarutung in Batak language means durian, because there was a lot of durian trees there....
, North Sumatra
North Sumatra
North Sumatra is a province of Indonesia on the Sumatra island. Its capital is Medan. It is the most populous Indonesian province outside of Java. It is slightly larger than Sri Lanka in area.- Geography and population :...
, 29 June 1922 - 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...
, 28 May 2000) or more commonly known as Maraden Panggabean was a prominent Indonesian General during the early years of General Suharto's New Order regime.
Early life
Panggabean was born in Tarutung, North Sumatra, on 29 June 1922. He is from BatakBatak (Indonesia)
Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The term is used to include the Toba, Karo, Pakpak, Simalungun, Angkola and Mandailing, each of which are distinct but related groups with distinct, albeit related, languages and...
ethnic group.
After completing his education, Panggabean took on work as a teacher, an occupation held in high regard in the Batak community, and even became the Principal of a school in Tarutung. In 1942, with the arrival and subsequent occupation of Indonesia by the Japanese Imperial Army, Panggabean left the field of education. He first trained to become a civil servant under the Japanese Occupational Government although he would soon be interested in taking on a military career.
Military career
In 1943, the Japanese Occupational Government formed the Defenders of the Fatherland ArmyPETA (Indonesia)
PETA or was an Indonesian volunteer army established on 3 October 1943 in Indonesia by the occupying Japanese. The Japanese intended PETA to assist their forces oppose a possible invasion by the Allies...
(PETA) an auxiliary force consisting of Indonesians which were designed to assist the Japanese should the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
come to invade Indonesia. Like many of his military contemporaries, Panggabean joined PETA. In Panggabean's case however, he seemed to have only manage to go through military schooling and basic training before the Japanese surrendered and nationalist leaders 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...
and Hatta
Hatta
Hatta may refer to:* Hatta, Gaza, an Arab village in Palestine depopulated in 1948* Hatta, Madhya Pradesh, a village in Damoh District, Madhya Pradesh, India* the Hatta number, a dimensionless parameter in chemical reaction engineering...
proclaimed Indonesia's Independence.
Like all other youths all around Indonesia, Panggabean was caught up in the rush to take weapons from the Japanese in preparation of the formation of a National Army. On 5 October 1945, the People's Security Army (TKR), the precursor to ABRI and later on, TNI was formed. Panggabean took up the position of military trainer at Sibolga
Sibolga
Sibolga is a city and a port on the west coast of North Sumatra province, in Indonesia. It is located on the western side of North Sumatra, facing the Indian Ocean and is a transit harbour to Nias island. It was hard hit during the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake.- History :Poncan Ketek Island in...
before serving as Chief of Staff for the 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment, 10th Division in Sumatra until 1949.
Following the Indonesian National Revolution
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
of 1945–1950, Panggabean spent the next 10 years as a Regimental Chief of Staff at Tapanuli and as a Sectoral Commander in the Military Territory (TT) of North Sumatra. In 1957, Panggabean also took the opportunity for further military education at the Infantry Officers Advanced Course in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1959, Panggabean became Battalion Commander before being transferred to TT II/Sriwijaya as Resort Commander.
Panggabean then received his first assignment out of Sumatra as a military court judge 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...
, Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
. As the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation during 1962–1966 was Indonesia’s political and armed opposition to the creation of Malaysia. It is also known by its Indonesian/Malay name Konfrontasi...
intensified, Panggabean was appointed Commander of the 2nd War Theater, with authority over the troops in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. Here, he developed a friendship with Suharto as the then Kostrad
Kostrad
Kostrad is the Indonesian Army's Strategic Reserve Command. Kostrad is a Corps level command which has up to 35,000 troops...
Commander had troops stationed in Borneo.
After he cracked down on the 30 September Movement
30 September Movement
The Thirtieth of September Movement ) was a self-proclaimed organization of Indonesian National Armed Forces members who, in the early hours of 1 October 1965, assassinated six Indonesian Army generals in an abortive coup d'état. Later that morning, the organization declared that it was in control...
, Suharto became the Commander of the Army. Suharto seemed to have remembered Panggabean and appointed him as a staff member with the position of 2nd Deputy.
Supersemar Controversy
Although originally not part of the events which led to the formulation of SupersemarSupersemar
The Supersemar, the Indonesian abbreviation for Surat Perintah Sebelas Maret was a document signed by the Indonesian President Sukarno on March 11, 1966, giving the Army commander Lt. Gen. Suharto authority to take whatever measures he "deemed necessary" to restore order to the chaotic situation...
and Suharto receiving executive power, Panggabean became part of the controversy in 1998. According to Sukardjo Wilardjito, a Presidential Bodyguard stationed at Bogor
Bogor
Bogor is a city on the island of Java in the West Java province of Indonesia. The city is located in the center of the Bogor Regency , 60 kilometers south of the Indonesian capital Jakarta...
, Panggabean was present with Amirmachmud
Amirmachmud
Amirmachmud was an Indonesian Military General who was an eyewitness to the signing of the Supersemar document transferring power from President Sukarno to General Suharto.-Early life:...
, M Jusuf, and Basuki Rahmat
Basuki Rahmat
Basuki Rahmat was an Indonesian General and a witness to the signing of the Supersemar document transferring power from President Sukarno to General Suharto.-Early life:...
, the three Generals that many accounts agree to have been present when Supersemar was signed. According to Sukardjo, Panggabean, alongside Basuki held Sukarno at gunpoint while the President signed a pre-prepared Supersemar.
Military Career During New Order
In July 1966, the position of Deputy Army Commander was created and Panggabean was appointed to the position to assist Suharto with his increasing workload. In 1967, Panggabean became Army Commander himself. As Army Commander, Panggabean witnessed a reorganization in ABRI which saw the Armed Services Commanders be reduced in status to Chief of Staffs under the control of an ABRI Commander; a position to be filled by Suharto himself. In 1969, Panggabean became the Commander of Kopkamtib. Two years later, in 1971, Suharto reshuffled the Cabinet and Panggabean became Deputy ABRI Commander in addition to becoming State Minister assisting the President in matters of Defense and Security .Panggabean reached the pinnacle of his military career in 1973 when he became the ABRI Commander in addition to becoming Minister of Defense and Security. As ABRI Commander, Panggabean had differences with Minister of Foreign Affairs Adam Malik
Adam Malik
Adam Malik Batubara was Indonesia's third vice president, a senior diplomat, and one of the pioneers of Indonesian journalism.-Early life:...
in the way in which Indonesia should approach its foreign policy in South East Asia. Malik wanted ASEAN to only be about economic cooperation whilst Panggabean wanted ASEAN to also be about security cooperation. In addition, Panggabean also wanted to sent troops to assist the South Vietnamese in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. On this matter, Suharto sided with Malik.
In April 1978, Panggabean was discharged as ABRI Commander and Minister of Defense and Security.
Golkar
In addition to continuing his military career, Panggabean also began a political career by being involved in GolkarGolkar
The Party of the Functional Groups is a political party in Indonesia. It is also known as Sekber Golkar . It was the ruling party during Suharto's regime...
, the political party which Suharto had chosen as part of his re-election bid. In 1973, Panggabean became a member of the Golkar Executive Board before becoming Chairman of the Executive Board in 1974. He served in this position until 1978 when Suharto replaced him in the position. Nevertheless, Panggabean was retained as Vice Chairman of the Executive Board and served as the Day-to-Day Chairman until 1988.
Government Official
After being discharged as ABRI Commander, Panggabean was named by Suharto as Coordinating Minister of Politics and Security. He served as Minister until 1983 when he was appointed Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA). When his term as DPA Chairman ended in 1988, Panggabean retired from politics.Other Activities
In 1985, Panggabean became Advisory Chairman for the Joint Organization of Batak Tradition and Culture (LPAKB). In 1989, he became a Patron of the Bona Pasogit Foundation, an organization dealing with rehabillitation of earthquake affected areas in Panggabean's native Tarutung.Miscellaneous
Panggabean was married to Meida Seimima Tambunan with whom he had four children.He was of Batak
Batak (Indonesia)
Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The term is used to include the Toba, Karo, Pakpak, Simalungun, Angkola and Mandailing, each of which are distinct but related groups with distinct, albeit related, languages and...
ethnicity and was a Protestant.