Research on PETA history underway<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Work is currently underway to write a book on
\nthe history of Pembela Tanah Air (PETA), the militia set up
\nduring the Japanese occupation in 1942, beginning with interviews
\nof some of the remaining survivors and compilation of official
\ndocuments and records.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Gen. (ret.) Poniman, former defense and security
\nminister who heads the book's drafting committee, presented a set
\nof documents connected with the activities of PETA's battalion in
\nnearby Cimahi to PETA Foundation which in turn handed it over to
\nthe National Archives.<\/p>\n
The researchers still have a long way to go because the Cimahi
\nBattalion is only the third out of 67 battalions to present
\ndocuments and historical accounts of the militia.<\/p>\n
The other two to have presented documents are the Blitar
\nBattalion in East Java and Cilacap Battalion in Central Java.<\/p>\n
Pembela Tanah Air, which means Defenders of the Fatherland,
\nwas one of several militias that were incorporated after the
\nproclamation of independence in August 1945, to become the Badan
\nKeamanan Rakyat (People's Security Agency). The agency later
\nbecame the republic's military, now known as the Indonesian Armed
\nForces (ABRI), which was established on Oct. 5, 1945.<\/p>\n
The militias, most notably PETA, provided the young republic
\nwith a pool of army-trained and disciplined youths who were
\ncrucial during the resistance against the Dutch attempt to
\nreimpose colonial rule after the World War II.<\/p>\n
The executive chairman of PETA Foundation, Pamoe Rahardja,
\nsaid on Tuesday that the historical research on PETA hopefully
\nwill correct the suggestions that PETA was established by the
\nJapanese military during the occupation.<\/p>\n
\"That's not true,\" Pamoe said. \"PETA was born out of the
\npeople who wanted to fight for freedom and independence. It's a
\nbig mistake to suggest that PETA was formed by the Japanese.\"<\/p>\n
Poniman underlined that there was a huge mutiny within PETA
\nagainst the Japanese rulers on a scale never previously seen in
\nthis territory. (pet)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/research-on-peta-history-underway-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}