March 1, 1949 history corrected<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): A book was launched here yesterday to rectify
\nthe history of the March 1, 1949 general attack in Yogyakarta,
\nwiping out the 32-year-old belief that then Lt. Col. Soeharto was
\nthe initiator of the attack known as Serangan Oemoem 1 Maret.<\/p>\n
According to the book titled Pelurusan Sejarah Serangan Oemoem
\n1 Maret, 1949 (The Correction to the History of the March 1, 1949
\nGeneral Attack) it was Hamengkubuwono IX, the then Sultan of
\nYogyakarta, who initiated the general raid.<\/p>\n
According to all history books currently used at schools,
\nformer Indonesian president Soeharto, initiated and led the
\nattack. Indonesian independence had been proclaimed at that time,
\nbut Dutch colonial did not recognize the independence and still
\nruled Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
The launching of the book, co-authored by lawyer, A. Budi
\nHartono, Tataq Chidmad and Sri Endang Sumiyati -- both are
\nlecturers at the Janabadra University -- took place in a ceremony
\nin a space close to the Correction of the History of the March 1,
\n1949 General Attack Monument in the palace complex.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people including, freedom fighter veterans and
\nHouse of Representative's (DPR) member GBPH Joyokusumo attended
\nthe ceremony.<\/p>\n
The co-authors told The Jakarta Post that the book was merely
\naimed at telling the truth and had nothing to do with any plot to
\neliminate (former president) Soeharto's role from history.<\/p>\n
\"Many people have asked us if the book is intended to
\nhumiliate Soeharto. Let me tell you, what we want to do is just
\nrectify history. We just want to honor Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX
\nas an Indonesian statesman,\" said Budi.<\/p>\n
\"Soeharto was also a part of the history of the March 1
\ngeneral attack. He was the operator and no one can deny it. We
\nhad found some new evidence, including the record of a BBC
\ninterview with Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX in 1986, before we
\nconcluded that the initiator of the attack was Hamengkubuwono IX,
\nnot Soeharto,\" he added.<\/p>\n
After Soeharto's downfall in 1998 many people, including
\nSoeharto's former close aide, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Marsudi, said
\nthat the history must be rectified.<\/p>\n
Marsudi testified that he accompanied Soeharto to meet
\nHamengkubuwono IX one day in February 1949 and that the sultan
\ntook the initiative to call Soeharto to plot the March 1, 1949
\nattack.<\/p>\n
It was Marsudi who initiated the construction of the
\nCorrection of the History of the March 1, 1949 General Attack
\nMonument. The monument was built last year. (23)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/march-1-1949-history-corrected-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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