Enviro News Asia, Bandung – The Yogyakarta Military Academy Alumni Association (IKAM Yogya) carried out a historical retracing by visiting the Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi Museum in Bandung, Sunday (August 10, 2025).
They observed many things, including the legendary and restored Ford Lynx reconnaissance armored vehicle.
This vehicle was once used in crushing the Darul Islam/Indonesian Islamic Army (DI/TII) rebellion led by Kartosuwiryo in eastern West Java.
The Chairperson of IKAM Yogya, Laksmi Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo, stated that this historical journey and gathering with Siliwangi aimed to enhance awareness and appreciation of the freedom fighters.
“We highly value the struggles of our heroes and hope to continue their fight,” said Laksmi Sayidiman in an official statement.
At the Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi Museum, a special room has been dedicated to commemorating the struggles of cadets and young officers of the Yogyakarta Military Academy alongside the Siliwangi Division.
In this room, photographs are displayed showcasing the struggles of the Siliwangi troops together with the young officers of the Yogyakarta Military Academy in various battlefields—such as the First War of Independence (1946), suppression of the PKI-Madiun rebellion (1948), the Siliwangi Long March (1948), the operation to crush the APRA (Ratu Adil Armed Forces) rebellion in 1950, and the operations against the Kahar Muzakar insurgents.
Also featured are the suppression of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS) uprising, operations against DI/TII Kartosuwiryo’s forces, the Trikora operation for the liberation of West Irian, the Dwikora operations, and assignments as part of the UN Peacekeeping Garuda Contingent.
During the event, discussions were also held regarding the condition of historical monuments dedicated to the struggles of Yogyakarta Military Academy alumni that require renovation and preservation.
IKAM-Yogya advisor Indroyono Soesilo, son of General (Ret.) Soesilo Soedarman (a first-generation alumnus of the Yogyakarta Military Academy), expressed concern that history could be lost if not preserved.
“For example, the Pracimantoro Battle Monument in Pracimantoro Village, Wonogiri, Central Java, is now in need of renovation. Even the narrative inscriptions on the monument are no longer legible,” said Indroyono.
“Yet it was here, on October 4, 1948, that a fierce battle took place between Yogyakarta Military Academy cadets and Communist Red Troops. This battle claimed the lives of Cadet Officer Hardo Sumeru and Cadet Officer Anto Soegijarto, and left Cadet Officer Harsojo severely wounded.”
The Pracimantoro Monument in Wonogiri, Central Java, stands as a silent witness to the struggles of Yogyakarta Military Academy cadets during the 1948 Madiun PKI rebellion.
In this battle, the Siliwangi troops and three companies of Yogyakarta cadets fought side by side to retake Madiun.
The bravery of these young cadets was honored with the award of the Military Operations Medal-I (GOM-1), an extraordinary recognition for those who still held the rank of cadet.
During the meeting, IKAM Yogya outlined several programs to ensure that the heroes’ legacy remains eternal. These programs include:
Revitalization of the Pracimantoro Monument: It is planned that the names of cadets involved in the military operation will be engraved on marble so they endure through time.
The Soewoko Cadet Monument in Lamongan, East Java: The names of Yogyakarta Military Academy cadets who fought in East Java will be memorialized here. Cadet Soewoko, a second-generation MA-Yogya cadet, along with three guerrillas, fell in a heroic battle against Dutch troops on March 4, 1949.
During the Second War of Independence (1948–1949), ten cadets and young officers from MA Yogya died in East Java.
Commemoration of 26 First-Generation MA-Yogya Young Officers in the Memorabilia Room of the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI) Museum in Koto Tinggi, West Sumatra.
This plan has been approved by the Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon. During the Second War of Independence, 26 young officers from MA-Yogya fought across Sumatra, from Jambi to Aceh, forming guerrilla pockets across the island.
Appreciation for the Mandala Wangsit Museum
On this occasion, IKAM-Yogya also expressed gratitude to the Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi Museum for providing a space to immortalize their parents’ history.
