I

n the early years after Indonesian independence, the country's lack of professional personnel in its defense forces stuck out like a sore thumb to the embarrassment of those in authority at the time.

Despite this shortage, there was an abundance of freedom fighters whose numbers were high in the capital of the new republic, Yogyakarta.

The first steps toward independence were made when the former Dutch colony reached an agreement with the Netherlands to establish a federal state under the name of the United States of Indonesia, with Moh. Hatta as prime minister.

Famous in this aspect were Round Table Conference (RTC) meetings in the years following the end of the Japanese occupation. One of the results of the RTCs was an offer from the Netherlands to train young men to become professional army and navy officers, in Holland.

The offer was greatly welcomed by the Indonesian side and this was how the first marine officers unwittingly spawned the Indonesian Navy, known locally as ALRI. Army officers were to be trained in Breda, in the southern part of the Netherlands. After graduation the young officers were to be integrated into the republic's armed forces and the navy.

Very recently, a Dutch translation of a book, compiled by several Den Helder graduates who followed the 3-year marine officer course, has been launched in cooperation with the institute's associates.

The original edition of the book is titled Maju Terus (keep going) which was translated into Dutch as Dan Toch Maar. While the original print made no mention of the story writers, in the translated version the names of retired marine officers Eddy Tumengkol and R. Sunardi Hamid are revealed as two of its most important contributors. Close on their heels followed officers Kunto Wibisono, Kahpi Suriadiredja, Agoes Soebroto, A. Tjipto Wignyoprajitno, Urip Santoso, Sukono, M.Haryono, Moh. Su'ud, Prijonggo, and R. M. Aboe Bakar, whose stories add more spice and insight into the life of a professional marine officer in the making.

The book, counting 249 pages, took well over a year to be translated by the Indonesian officers, now well into their 70s. A series of historic pictures enliven the contents of the book. Well versed in Dutch language, the writers have made the Indonesian marine officers' stories into a lively entertaining tale.

No tone of bitterness could be detected in portraying immense disappointment when it became clear that their names would never be earmarked for top posts in the Navy. Those would have to go to the "real" freedom fighters who took up arms against the colonial aggressors in 1945.

The years in Den Helder enhanced their habit of speaking Dutch amongst themselves. Full control of this difficult language only added more envy among the 1945 freedom fighters whose schooling rated poorly next to the education of their professional brothers.

It was well known that admission to the Royal Institute for The Marine in Den Helder did not come easy. In days of old only young men with blue blood in their veins were admitted to the school.

The Indonesians had to be well acquainted with the language to be able to follow the lessons. That meant that the Indonesian cadets had to have at least a high school education.

In the colonial days, this sort of schooling was not available for every child both because of financial barriers and the lowly social positions of the average Indonesian. It was no surprise, therefore, that all the Indonesian cadets were really very proud of their achievements at the school.

Besides detailed explanations about life and training at the institute, all the stories rang a light, humorous tone as the writers saw problems mostly from the funny side despite strict measures and often harsh physical exercises. We also glean from the stories that discrimination did not exist at the institute.

They sat together in classes with Dutch cadets. They ate the same food at the same table. Political discussions never arose and the cadets concentrated mainly on the lessons.

After graduation they returned to Indonesia and waited for placement in the ALRI.

Meanwhile, the federal state of the United States of Indonesia underwent a change and became the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia, with president Sukarno and vice president Hatta at the helm. The political move spelled an unfortunate change for the young marine officers who were trained in Den Helder.

All of them felt they were unjustly placed in the careers doled out to them. The 1945 freedom fighters were given higher priority for top positions which fully demanded professional skills and knowledge not found among members of the Old Guard.

It is sad to learn that many of the Old Guard did not have the right educational levels necessary to follow officer training. And yet, they were chosen and occupied powerful positions that should have been held by professional officers in the army and the navy.

For the newly graduated marine officers it was a bitter pill with a never ending after taste. So deep was their disappointment that it led at one time to a request for mass reassignment.

Their request was not granted, and they came away with few strong words from a superior whose name meant a whole lot in the navy then, Admiral John Lie.

One of the stories revealing R. Soebiakto's dubious replacement clearly proved that members of the Old Guard were regarded as special freedom fighters. Those who joined the independence struggle as early as 1945 were called the Old Guard.

Choice placings in the navy and army were preferably reserved for them despite the fact that most of them had no inkling what to do if a task need to be done. It is no wonder that the newly graduated marine officers were not only disappointed in their superiors, they were also deeply offended. Their enthusiasm to serve the fatherland after graduation received a visible dent. Vice Admiral R. Soebiakto joined the ALRI in 1948. Before that he was in the service of the Dutch marine, which he joined at the start of World War II. He was the only professional officer with war experience in the navy. Because of his outstanding credentials he became the victim of a plot by a group of officers who were called the "1959 Movement". The movement was mainly established to remove him from his post as head of the Marine Staff.

The story related further how these officers quietly met President Sukarno to request the Marine Staff Commander's replacement. All this was done without his knowledge. In the end the president gave in to the group of Capt. Jos Soedarso. One cannot help but feel a sense of wonderment and shock about such a total absence of decency. On what grounds did they submit this awful request to remove R. Soebiakto whose only sin was that he did not pitch in when the freedom struggle started in 1945.

Again, one cannot fathom why the first president yielded to this group's request. It was further said that one of the reasons was that envious officers found Soebiakto too western minded. On the other hand, what splendor is there in an eastern mind?