RI Scholar Launches Book on Kartosoewirjo’s Unpublished Execution Titled Hari Terakhir Kartosoewirjo (Kartosoewirjo's Last Day)

Sekarmadji Maridjan Kartosoewirjo execution on Ubi island

University of Indonesia scholar and the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) politician Fadli Zon launched a book Wednesday containing unpublished pictures of the execution of Sekarmadji Maridjan Kartosoewirjo, leader of the Darul Islam (DI) movement and the Indonesian Islamic State (NII) leader, 50 years after his execution in September 1962.

The book, titled Hari Terakhir Kartosoewirjo (Kartosoewirjo's Last Day), is the first to reveal visual evidence of the last day of the West Java-based cleric, sentenced to death for subversion and executed on Ubi island, Thousand Islands, just north of Jakarta, rebutting speculation that he was executed and buried in Onrust island, three kilometers away from Ubi island.

 Press conference of the book launch "Hari Terakhir Kartosoewirjo"

“The history was written by the victors. But we need to know who Kartosoewirjo really was and this book will complete the puzzle," Fadli said during the book launch in Taman Ismail Marzuki, Cikini, Jakarta.

"Many people went to Onrust island because they thought he was buried there. Even his family didn’t know exactly where their father and grandfather was buried,” he added.

As many as 81 pictures tell sequential moments of Kartosoewirjo’s execution day, from his last supper with his wife and children until he was buried.

The captions also help readers to further understand the pictures as they clearly explain every moment, such as what Kartosoewirjo and his family ate during their last lunch--even the brand of Kartosoewirjo’s watch, what Kartosoewirjo was doing during his last hours, and the execution process.

“From the pictures we learned that the execution process was appropriate according to the Islamic teachings that he was treated humanely during that time,” he said.

Fadli said that he had bought the 81 pictures from a collector he declined to identify at an auction in a hotel in Jakarta two years ago. The same pictures were kept in the National Archives under the category of unpublished documents.

“However, the ones kept by the National Archives were without captions, while the ones I got had captions,” he said.

Kartosoewirjo’s youngest son, Sardjono, lauded the release of unpublished documents of his father’s execution, saying that such publication could help Indonesians understand their own history.

“Many of us never knew what the real story was. Now it is crystal clear, including where my father was executed and buried,” Sardjono said after the book launch, adding that he and his family had only learned about facts from the book.

“Me and my family will soon go to Ubi island to send him a prayer,” he added.

Fadli pointed out that Kartosoewirjo was one of the most important actors in Indonesian history, taking part in the Sumpah Pemuda (Youth Pledge) in 1928, representing Jong Java (Javanese youth) Surabaya chapter.

In an interview with foreign journalist Cindy Adams President Soekarno referred to Kartosoewirjo as his best friend, with whom he shared dreams.

Kartosoewirjo with family

Kartosoewirjo enjoying the last coffee with his wife 

Kartosoewirjo last eating with his family

Kartosoewirjo on boat to Ubi Island

Kartosoewirjo on boat to Ubi Island

Kartosoewirjo and soldiers goes to the place of execution

Kartosoewirjo tied pole of firing accompanied by soldiers

 Kartosoewirjo execution

Kartosoewirjo on position

Final chek after execution

Kartosoewirjo after execution

Bathed before buried

Bathed before buried

Prayer ceremony before buried

Kartosoewirjo brought to the burial place

Buried

Kartosoewirjo established the Indonesian Islamic State (NII) in August 1949 as a result of his disappointment over Renville Agreement signed by representatives of the Republic and the Dutch on Jan. 19, 1948, in which the Dutch only recognized Central Java, Yogyakarta and Sumatra as parts of the Republic of Indonesia. The agreement forced the Indonesian government to withdraw Indonesian soldiers from West and East Java.

While Kartosoewirjo was executed by the military in 1962, his ideas remain alive, and have inspired many Muslims across Indonesia to fight for an Islamic caliphate.

NII’s founding ideology has spawned a range of terrorist networks, including Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), and a number of hard-line underground organizations.

The father of chief patron of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Hilmi Aminuddin, was one of the NII’s leaders in its early days.

Alleged terrorist mastermind Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, who co-founded the JI with his senior, Abdullah Sungkar, was profoundly inspired by the NII movement.

The Jakarta Post