Almost Became a Victim of the Westerling Massacre
Majene, Sulbarkita.com -- MANY figures are involved in the struggle to expel in the land of Mandar, West Sulawesi. But not all stories are contained in history books, their stories fade and disappear as the people who know about them are also gone.
Like the story of Sahuda, a resident of Lakkading, Sendana District, Majene Regency. Sahuda's heroism is recognized by the State through the granting of Veteran status to his wife, Hamasiah, who has passed away since May 3, 2011. So, no matter how small Sahuda's contribution to the Indonesian struggle, it must still be recognized as part of the efforts of the nation's children to defend their homeland from the cruelty of the troops.
Sitti Hadijah, 86 years old, Sahuda's first child, and Sahari, 78 years old, Sahuda's fifth child are the ones left, in the midst of the struggles of one of the sons from Mandar. Unfortunately they do not remember about the time, only fragments of the story are still stored in his memory. However, the story between these brothers has a history of the struggle of the people in Mandar against the enemy.
According to Hadijah, young Sahuda is a person who likes to organize. He became a member of a movement organization called the Young Islamic Secret Class (KRIS MUDA) Mandar, an organization led by Andi Depu Maraqdia Balanipa, which has been united with National Heroes since 2018. :138) by Muhammad Amir mentions KRIS MUDA was founded on October 19, 1945.
Baca juga:
Sahuda, Pejuang asal Sendana Majene yang Terlupakan (Part II)
Teka Teki di Balik Monumen Perjuangan di Majene
Menengok Kondisi Tugu Andi Depu di Hari Kartini
Sahuda also joined another movement organization called the Association of Indonesian People's Rebels (GAPRI) 5.3.1 which was formed in November 1945 in Baruga Majene. It was noted that there were many resistance actions carried out by KRIS MUDA and GAPRI 5.3.1 troops, starting from Polewali to Majene. These actions are in the form of sabotage, ambushes and ambushes carried out by the fighters as well as armed contact or combat.
In the book "The Struggle of Hammad Saleh: Against Japan and the Netherlands in Mandar 1942-1947" (2014:134-135) by Muhammad Amir, the resistance included the flag incident on the BO ship. The Dutch docked at Majene Harbor and the flag incident at Prapatan Saleppa, the KNIL patrol car ambush at the Puppole Bridge, Campalagian (January 1946). Next came gunfights involving the Laskar led by Hammad Saleh and other leaders with NICA apparatus in Segeri (Baruga) and Pangale (Majene), and Pamboang (April 1946), an attack on the KNIL Tangsi in Majene City (April 1946). Subsequent gunfights took place by Abaga and Tarring Baruga and Simullu (May 1946), the ambush of KNIL patrols in Pamboang and Asing-Asing (June 1946), the detention of republican spies in Rusung (July 1946), gunfights in Silopo and Segeri (August 1946). ), and the murder of Controliur in Tonyaman in August 1946.
"My Pua' (father) is a fisherman and a Koran teacher every day, but he was furious to see the oppression that was happening so he was called to join the organization (KRIS MUDA and GAPRI 5.3.1)," said Hadijah when met at his residence in Lakkading, Sendana District, Majene in August 2022.
Sahuda's involvement in fighting the invaders was not only recognized by her children, but also Saruddil, 68 years old, Imam of the Lembang Hamlet Mosque, Limbua Village, Sendana District. Saruddil admitted that he had heard his late father, Copong, talk about Sahuda's actions against the invaders. "The story that I have heard from my father is that Sahuda is a retainer (leader) of the fighters in the Sendana District," said Saruddil when met at his residence on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
Victims of 40 thousand souls in Totolisi
In their old age, Hadijah and Sahari still remember a number of events involving their father, Sahuda. One of them was when a number of residents from Totolisi Village came to Sahuda's residence to receive a GAPRI 5.3.1 membership card, because they wanted to join the fight against the invaders. At that time, Hadijah began to grow up. Meanwhile, Sahari is still just about to enter the People's School (Volkschool).
"I've seen the card, it's gray in color, it's about the size of a cell phone," said Sahari who was met at his residence in Lembang Hamlet, Limbua Village, Sendana District, Majene.
But unfortunately, Hadijah continued, the residents of Totolisi were intercepted by the natives, Dutch accomplices on their way home. When examined, the accomplices of the invaders also found the card that Sahuda had given them. “Naua inai Punggawamu? (who is your leader),” said Hadijah, imitating the story about the arrest of the Totolisi people. They were forced to reveal the identity of the card giver, Sahuda. The tight conditions made the Totolisi fighter reveal Sahuda's identity.
“Not long after the incident, the Totolisi were handed over to Westerling and brought to the beach. There they were ordered to line up and shot dead,” Hadijah said in a low voice. His eyes then looked up at the ceiling of his house made of coconut wood.
The incident which became known as the bloody Tragedy of the Victims of 40,000 People occurred in 1947. Dutch troops led by a Raymond Pierre Paul Westerling massacred residents in almost all areas of Sulawesi, including Majene. Now the fighters from Totolisi are lying in the Cemetery of Heroes for the Victims of 40 Thousand Souls on Jalan Poros Majene-Mamuju in Totolisi Village.
Sahuda also barely escaped the tragedy. He was arrested by Dutch henchmen who were also none other than traditional leaders in the region for information received from the torture of fighters from Totolisi. He was then herded to the side of the road so that he could be transported by Westerling's troops. But Sahuda has a precise tactic to threaten the captors. “But remember, I fought with Aco Lesang. I would say that to Westerling!” said Hadijah imitating his father when he was arrested.
The captors were then shocked because the person called Sahuda was a relative of the catcher and also the son of a Pab talk, a respected traditional figure in Majene. They were worried that if Westerling found out about this, his family would also be slaughtered. Loyalty as an accomplice of the Dutch can also be questioned. "My Pua' was finally not handed over to Westerling because these traditional leaders are afraid that their relatives will also be killed," said Sahari (continued…….)
TIM REDAKSI SULBARKITA.COM
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