National Hero Dies as a Political Prisoner, Sutan Sjahrir

 

By : Valeshia Trevana

Ruang Jurnalis, Medan. Sutan Sjahrir was born on March 5, 1909 in West Sumatra, precisely in the city of Padang Panjang. Since childhood, Sjahrir was known as a figure who was very active in organizations. It was his organizational experience that brought Sutan Sjahrir into politics. It was Sutan Sjahrir who became the pioneer of Jong Indonesia or the Indonesian Nationalist Youth Association on February 20, 1927.

During the Dutch colonial era in 1926, Sutan Sjahrir completed his junior high school education at Meer Utigebreid Lander Onderwijs. Then he continued his education at the Senior High School (SMA) at AMS Bandung. At AMS, Sjahrir joined the Indonesian Student Theater Association as a director, screenwriter, and actor.

After a career as a main organizer of Indonesian nationalists in the 1940s and 1930s, Sutan Sjahrir continued his career as Indonesia's first prime minister in 1945. Thus, Sutan Sjahrir was known as a leader as well as prime minister of Indonesia's revolutionary independence.

However, not many people know the fact that Sutan Sjahrir died as a political prisoner. This incident began with exile which led to the detention of Sutan Sjahrir. Starting from Soekarna, Hatta, Sjahrir, and several other figures attended Anak Agung Gede Agung's invitation on August 18, 1961. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Head of the Intelligence Center, Soebandiro, considered the meeting as an arena for a subversive conspiracy.

Sjahrir was arrested at his home on 16 August 1962. Not only Sjahrir, his colleagues were also arrested, except for Hatta, Sjahrir's political partner. Sjahrir and his colleagues who had become political prisoners were taken to a house on Jalan Daha, Kebayoran, South Jakarta. After three months, they were transferred to Madiun, East Java. However, Sutan Sjahrir was also exiled to Boven Digul. Boven Digul is a place of exile in remote areas of Papua.

Sutan Sjahrir died on April 9, 1966 with the status of a prisoner. It was reported that Sutan Sjahrir had a stroke at the Budi Utomo Military Prison in Jakarta. One night Sjahrir was found lying in the bathroom, but treatment was not immediately carried out. He was brought to the hospital in the morning.

Finally, Sjahrir was taken to the Zurich Hospital in Switzerland. In early April 1966, Sutan Sjahrir had another stroke, then he was in a coma for seven days and died.