HOEGENG Iman Santoso was staying in the modest home of his aunt, Fathimah Moethalib, when news of a convoy of Japanese troops passing through caused a stir among their neighbors in Jalan Kernolong, Senen subdistrict, Jakarta, in early March 1942. Out of curiosity, the 21-year-old man hurried outside and walked to Jalan Kramat, around 300 meters from Kernolong.

A crowd had gathered on the side of the wide street, in front of them a procession of