Operation 17 Agustus Explained

Conflict:Operation 17 Agustus
Partof:Permesta–PRRI rebellion
Date:17 April – 24 May 1958
Place:Padang, West Sumatera.
Result:Indonesian victory
  • 500 PRRI soldiers surrendered. With this, PRRI was successfully crushed.
Combatant1: Indonesia
Combatant2: PRRI
Commander1: Sukarno
Lt Gen. A.H Nasution
Col. Ahmad Yani
Commander2: Syafruddin Prawiranegara
Assaat Dt. Mudo
Col. Maludin Simbolon
Lt.Col. Ahmad Husein
Strength1:
  • 6,500 Indonesian Army, Navy, Air Force personnel
Strength2:Unknown
Casualties1:Unknown
Casualties2:+- 500 Soldiers surrendered

Operation 17 august 1945 (Indonesian: Operasi 17 Agustus) was a military operation led by Colonel Ahmad Yani which aimed to crush the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI) movement in West Sumatra, specifically in Padang. This military operation is a joint operation involving the Indonesian Navy, Army and Air Force.[1] "August 17" refers to the password used by Colonel Ahmad Yani.

The deployment of military force to crush PRRI's power was the largest ever recorded in Indonesian military history[2] [3] For three years, there was a civil war between the central army and PRRI troops which resulted in many PRRI casualties. The number of victims resulting from the short PRRI conflict was far greater than the victims of the war with the Dutch during the independence revolution.[4] Apart from that, many were not involved in PRRI but were victims of violence such as torture, robbery, and rape.[5]

Background

See main article: Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia. PRRI is a movement carried out by regional governments towards the central government. This movement, which is considered a rebellion, was triggered by the local government's dissatisfaction in several cities in Sumatra regarding the central government's fund allocation policy as well as various disparities in development, especially in areas outside Java.[6] This sense of dissatisfaction was also supported by several military commanders.

Because of this, the central government considers that this movement must be resolved immediately by force of arms. President Sukarno gave Ahmad Yani a mandate to carry out military operations to destroy the PRRI in West Sumatra.[7] Ahmad Yani was also given the mandate to lead TNI troops in Padang.

Chronology

April 17, 1958 was the day determined for the initial landing in Padang. At 05.00 – 06.00 WIB, shooting at the landing point was carried out by the Indonesian Navy. Then 25 minutes later, Indonesian Air Force troops using the "Red Flight" aircraft carried out shooting, followed by the "Blue Flight" aircraft. This shooting attack was aimed at Tabing airport.

Not long after, Indonesian marine troops landed via Padang Beach. In the afternoon, all joint forces successfully landed in Padang. This occupation operation lasted for one and a half months. As a result, the cities of Padang, Solok, Payakumbuh and Bukittinggi were successfully controlled by the TNI.

Results

On May 24, 1958, 500 PRRI soldiers surrendered. With this, PRRI was successfully crushed.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: /2017/04/cerita-operation-17-augustus-mendarat-di-kota-idnonesia-lumpuhkan-prri/,%20http://maritimnews.com/2017/04/cerita-operation-17-augustus-mendarat-di -kota-padang-paralyze-prri/ The story of the August 17th operation landing in Padang City, Paralyzing PRRI. en-US. 2020-12-02.
  2. Book: [[Saafroedin Bahar]]. ETNIK, ELITE DAN INTEGRASI NASIONAL: MINANGKABAU 1945-1984 REPUBLIK INDONESIA 1985-2015. Gre Publishing. id.
  3. Book: Syamdani. 2009. PRRI, pemberontakan atau bukan?. Media Pressindo. 978-979-788-032-3. id.
  4. Book: [[Abrar Yusra]]. 2011. PA100 Azwar Anas: an example from the Minang realm. Publish Buku Kompas. 978-979-709-585-7. id.
  5. Book: Nuryanti. Reni. Akob. Bachtiar. 2019-10-01. Perempuan Dalam Historiografi Indonesia (Eksistensi Dan Dominasi). Deepublish. 978-623-02-0688-7. id.
  6. Web site: danangpratama. 2020-10-12. Operasi Penumpasan Gerakan Separatis: PRRI/Permesta. Kompaspedia. id. 2020-12-02.
  7. Web site: 2017-06-16. Kemenangan "Tentara Sukarno" di Hari Lebaran. Historia - Majalah Sejarah Populer Pertama di Indonesia. id-ID. 2020-11-25.