Permesta
Encyclopedia
Permesta was a rebel movement in Indonesia
, the name coming from Piagam Perjuangan Semesta (Universal Struggle Charter). It was declared by civil and military leaders of East Indonesia on March 2, 1957. The center of the movement was in Manado
, and the movement was led by Colonel Ventje Sumual. The Permesta rebels fought against central government troops until the last remnants surrendered and were given an amnesty in 1961.
The rebellion was caused by a combination of reasons. The most significant progenitor of the rebellion was the opportunism by local military leaders who during the Liberal Democracy Era in Indonesia (1950-1957)
, had developed a system of warlordism due to weakness and instability of central government in Jakarta
. When the central military command under Armed Forces Chief General Abdul Haris Nasution
tried to re-impose central military control and rein in the regional army chiefs' massive copra smuggling operations, the opportunistic regional military leaders in West Sumatera formed the PRRI movement and those in North Sulawesi
formed the Permesta movement to counter the central government. To worsen the situation, the American Central Intelligence Agency
interfered in the affair by giving support to the rebellious movements. The reason was because US President Dwight David Eisenhower and CIA chief Allen Dulles was concerned that the success of Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in winning fourth-place in the 1955 elections (most of these votes came from Java
) might be precursor of Indonesia becoming a communist state.
The support from the CIA to the Permesta rebels came in the form of 15 B-26 bombers which formed the rebel airforce AUREV (Angkatan Udara Revolusioner) based on Manado airfield, large amounts of weapons and equipment, unlimited source of money, plus an international cast of CIA agents and mercenaries from Philippines
, Taiwan
, and Poland
. Emboldened by the CIA aid, the rebels began a series of airstrikes against cities in Sulawesi
and Maluku
held by central government. The cities bombed by the rebel planes, piloted by CIA agents, included Balikpapan
, Makassar
, and Ambon. On 15 May 1958, rebel planes bombed the marketplace of Ambon, killing large numbers of civilians attending Ascension Sunday services.
Responding to the rebel aggression, President Sukarno
ordered the PRRI-Permesta rebellion to be crushed militarily. A series of air raids by central government airforce (AURI) on Manado
destroyed most of the rebel B-26 planes. Meanwhile, a rebel B-26 bomber was shot down on 18 May 1958 by Indonesian pilot Ignatius Dewanto over Ambon
. Its pilot, an American CIA agent named Allen Pope
, was captured and put on trial in Jakarta
where he exposed the deep involvement of CIA in the rebellion. As consequence, CIA began withdrawing its support for the rebellion.
After annihilating the rebel air force AUREV, central government troops launched an amphibious and airborne assault on the rebel capital Manado
called Operasi Merdeka. The troops quickly expelled the rebels from Manado
, after which they maintained a guerrilla resistance around the Lake Tondano area. However, the central government started a successful campaign offering amnesties to induce surrenders. The rebels, who had many familial and amicable relationships with many of the central government soldiers, began surrendering. The last Permesta rebels surrendered and swore an oath of loyalty to the central government in 1961.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, the name coming from Piagam Perjuangan Semesta (Universal Struggle Charter). It was declared by civil and military leaders of East Indonesia on March 2, 1957. The center of the movement was in Manado
Manado
Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar...
, and the movement was led by Colonel Ventje Sumual. The Permesta rebels fought against central government troops until the last remnants surrendered and were given an amnesty in 1961.
The rebellion was caused by a combination of reasons. The most significant progenitor of the rebellion was the opportunism by local military leaders who during the Liberal Democracy Era in Indonesia (1950-1957)
Liberal Democracy Era in Indonesia (1950-1957)
An era of Liberal Democracy in Indonesia began in 1950 following the securing of Indonesian independence in the Indonesian National Revolution, and ended with the imposition of martial law and President Sukarno's introduction of Guided Democracy in 1957...
, had developed a system of warlordism due to weakness and instability of central government in 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...
. When the central military command under Armed Forces Chief General Abdul Haris Nasution
Abdul Haris Nasution
In this Indonesian name, the name "Nasution" is a family name, and the person should be referred to by the family name "Nasution".Abdul Haris Nasution was an Indonesian general who was twice appointed Army Chief of Staff and who escaped an assassination attempt during the...
tried to re-impose central military control and rein in the regional army chiefs' massive copra smuggling operations, the opportunistic regional military leaders in West Sumatera formed the PRRI movement and those in North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia. It is on the island of Sulawesi, and borders the province of Gorontalo to the west . The islands of Sangihe and Talaud form the northern part of the province, which border Davao del Sur in the Philippines.The capital and largest city in North Sulawesi is...
formed the Permesta movement to counter the central government. To worsen the situation, the American Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
interfered in the affair by giving support to the rebellious movements. The reason was because US President Dwight David Eisenhower and CIA chief Allen Dulles was concerned that the success of Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in winning fourth-place in the 1955 elections (most of these votes came from Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
) might be precursor of Indonesia becoming a communist state.
The support from the CIA to the Permesta rebels came in the form of 15 B-26 bombers which formed the rebel airforce AUREV (Angkatan Udara Revolusioner) based on Manado airfield, large amounts of weapons and equipment, unlimited source of money, plus an international cast of CIA agents and mercenaries from Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Emboldened by the CIA aid, the rebels began a series of airstrikes against cities in 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...
and Maluku
Maluku Islands
The Maluku Islands are an archipelago that is part of Indonesia, and part of the larger Maritime Southeast Asia region. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone...
held by central government. The cities bombed by the rebel planes, piloted by CIA agents, included Balikpapan
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau , and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main...
, 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 Ambon. On 15 May 1958, rebel planes bombed the marketplace of Ambon, killing large numbers of civilians attending Ascension Sunday services.
Responding to the rebel aggression, President 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...
ordered the PRRI-Permesta rebellion to be crushed militarily. A series of air raids by central government airforce (AURI) on Manado
Manado
Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar...
destroyed most of the rebel B-26 planes. Meanwhile, a rebel B-26 bomber was shot down on 18 May 1958 by Indonesian pilot Ignatius Dewanto over Ambon
Ambon Island
Ambon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
. Its pilot, an American CIA agent named Allen Pope
Allen Lawrence Pope
Allen Lawrence Pope was a 29 year old ex-US Air Force first lieutenant who was shot down on May 18, 1958 while flying a B-26 during a raid on government forces at the Indonesian port of Amboina....
, was captured and put on trial in 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...
where he exposed the deep involvement of CIA in the rebellion. As consequence, CIA began withdrawing its support for the rebellion.
After annihilating the rebel air force AUREV, central government troops launched an amphibious and airborne assault on the rebel capital Manado
Manado
Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar...
called Operasi Merdeka. The troops quickly expelled the rebels from Manado
Manado
Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar...
, after which they maintained a guerrilla resistance around the Lake Tondano area. However, the central government started a successful campaign offering amnesties to induce surrenders. The rebels, who had many familial and amicable relationships with many of the central government soldiers, began surrendering. The last Permesta rebels surrendered and swore an oath of loyalty to the central government in 1961.