Aidit & the 1945 Revolution
The Men Behind the Declaration
Aidit took an active part in the struggle for independence, one among a group of young men who kidnapped Sukarno and Hatta to force them to proclaim Indonesian independence without delay.
Tempo
October 2, 2007
IT was 11:30pm. A group of young men hurried out of the house on Jalan Pegangsaan Timur 56, in Central Jakarta. First, Chaerul Saleh and Wikana, then D.N. Aidit, Djohar Noer, Pardjono, Aboebakar, Soedewo, Armansjah, Soebadio Sastrosatomo, Soeroto, and Joesoef Koento. The date was Wednesday, August 15, 1945.
The young men were anti-fascist activists from the Menteng 31 boarding house. They had just pressured Sukarno to proclaim Indonesia’s inde
...