Martyrdom Committed by Margarana Freedom Fighters

Indonesia has developed forward since 1945 proclamation of the Independence of the Republic by President Sukarno to lead the country as Head of State of the new republic in South East Asia, concurrently as President of the country. By the end of WW II known also as Pacific War provoked by the Japanese military by attacking the U.S. military base in Pearl Harbor (Hawaii). Mohammad Hatta ranked second as Vice-president in a duo-leadership popular as Dwitunggal among Indonesian people because of the people’s great sympathy to both leaders. Sukarno functioned as President of the State while playing the role of a governing president, authorizing him a status to act as Prime Minister directing cabinet ministers.
Nevertheless, the Indonesian state was exposed to challenge exerted by the Dutch NICA (Netherlands India’s Civil Administration) disguising shrewd tactics aimed in effect at restoration of its colony of what they called Netherlands India in South Pacific. The Dutch colonialist regime in Indonesia surrendered (1942) to the Japanese invading in a military campaign aimed not merely at Indonesia but all Asian nations in a union of “brotherhood” with the Japanese as their senior. By the end of the war, the Dutch colonial power came back to this country hand in hand with British and the US Armies coming to Indonesia representing the Allied Forces to take over security in countries left by the defeated Japanese army. The Dutch power’s came-back after the end WW II in August 1945 raising a banner of NICA (Netherlands Indies’ Civil Administration) to disguise a tricky intention of restoring its colonial power in Indonesia.
From the national history following the Indonesian state proclamation, we noted that in November 1945, there was an opposition trend leading the BPKNIP Executive Body of Indonesian Central National Committee tabling a proposal initiated by Sutan Syahrir’s faction. The proposal was disguising a real intention of Syahrir and his faction to take over government authority leaving Sukarno as merely a symbolic president of the state, and this was done with success by Syahrir, a brilliant member of the PSI Socialist Party of Indonesia, bringing about principle change of the state structure of the governmental system of presidential cabinet into a parliamentarian system, .exposing cabinet to possible frequent alteration according to the will of the parliament. On the other hand the State President owned only a symbolic position without authority of performing power of executing the governmental job as Prime Minister for a five year-term.
Such changes in the state administration took place in two military clashes initiated by the Dutch army in 1947 and 1948 provoked by the NICA army to the latter’s advantage, while the news concerning the Proclamation of the Republic of Indonesia reached Bali only in September 1945 because of the military blockade carried out by the Dutch to isolate the Republic in the area around Yogyakarta suffering a loss of control on the remaining regions of the country. In the meantime puppet governments were installed by the NICA in various regions of Indonesia to show that the Republic of Indonesia had only limited power control in Yogyakarta Region and further to smoothen the realization of the Dutch plan of re-colonizing Indonesia by the end of the WW II. Communications and relations between the newly installed Republic of Indonesia and the other parts of the country, including Bali, where the news of the Proclamation of Indonesian Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945 had only reached republican top exponents Major Metera and Ida Bagus Putra Manuaba in Singaraja, the capital of Lesser Sunda (Sunda Ketjil) Province.
Three freedom fighters, respectively Sudjiran, Prasetyo, and Made Djaya arrived in Bali from Java to relate in detail the independence of the country as proclaimed by Sukarno-Hatta on 17 August 1945. They joined their colleagues in preparing Bali, especially its youth, including students of Junior High School still popular among people as Chu Gakkoo (in Japanese). The youth were aged in their twenties. Their seniors organized the TKR People’s Security Army, the forerunner of the present TNI National Army of Indonesia and trained the youth in military skills and discipline to prepare the them for joining Indonesia’s struggle for freedom. Included were Nyoman S. Pendit, Made Wedastera Suyasa, and Made Setat Darmanaba said to be capable of embarking the ups and downs into the War of Indonesian Freedom against the NICA soldiers and its culprits.
The Indonesian people’s struggle for the country’s independence reached its peak on November 20, 1946 in a total heroic martyr fight known as Margarana in Marga sub-district, Tabanan Regency. In this location, sited about 24 km north-west of Denpasar , Margarana Monument was officiated on 20 November 1952 in a grand ceremony to commemorate those who wholeheartedly preferred martyrdom in a total fight against colonialist NICA military power armed to the teeth . The heroic deed accomplished by the Margarana Freedom Fighters would be hailed forever by the Indonesian nation as their martyr heroes. (BTN/Surawan)

Teachers

Balinese recognize four kinds of teachers; guru rupaka, guru pengajian, guru wisesa and guru swadyaya. The first is Guru rupaka, which refers to our parents born to take care of us, from the womb until grown up. The second is guru pengajian, which refers to our education at school who guide and educates the pupils, starting at playgroup level until graduation. The third is guru wisesa, which refers to the government who gives guidelines for community progress. In this context starting from the leader in sub village level until national level. The forth is guru swadyaya, which is refers to God the Almighty.
These four teachings within Balinese life, form an important basis. Without them life will have no meaning. Honoring the teachings is an obligation for Balinese Hindus. This duty is stated in the Hindu’s Holy Book, Sarasamuccaya, sloka 239 and explains,” Each person has an obligation to pay respect to his parents, because truly it is hard for a mother, therefore each person should pay a deep respect to his or her mother. The truth is said that a father is greater than the sky, so respect your father honestly. Furthermore, he (father) is the one who guides and teaches us many lessons, so he deserves to receive prime respect. Tay to always make him happy and proud of you.”
Then sloka 238 describes, “Don’t ever swear at a teacher even though he may have done the wrong thing by you. You will have a short life if you swear at your teacher, so try to make them happy by applying all of their lessons devoutly. The smallest level of government such as banjar (sub village) or desa adat (traditional village) has a regulation named awig-awig, an obligation to villagers to obey what is written in the awig-awig. If a person breaks it, a sanction will be down warded. The same thing also happens in the highest-level of administration. Guru swdyaya, God through the Holy person, descends a doctrine of goodness and badness. If each of person obeys His command and avoids His prohibition, a harmonic life will be created, but if we do the opposite, total chaos will be unavoidable.”
One cannot imagine what will happen if there were no teachers in this life. A teacher is like someone’s spear, because under a teacher’s guidance, we can achieve valuable knowledge. People should not forget the teacher’s merits, not just the school teacher, but also the four teachings above that should always be obeyed and trusted. (BTN/Made Suambara)

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