Indonesia has 'Japanese heroes'

Indonesia has 'Japanese heroes'

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In Indonesian history, Japan is known as the "Asian elder
brother" which colonized the country after the Dutch. Like its
predecessor it was known for its iron-fist rule of the local
population, and elders still describe vividly the hardships and
cruelty under Japan's brief rule from their childhood memories.

Japanese soldiers also forced the native youth to join
paramilitary training, claiming the mobilization was needed to
resist a possible return of the Dutch.

The youths were grouped into PETA, an acronym for Pembela
Tanah Air (defenders of the motherland), which became the embryo
of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

As Indonesia won independence on Aug. 17, 1945, a number of
young Japanese soldiers decided to stay and join the country's
newly born armed forces. Just like other local soldiers, they
also served in various military units nationwide.

Some of them married Indonesian women, converted to Islam or
other faiths and applied for Indonesian citizenship.

Their dedication led to the decision of the Indonesian
government to bury them at Kalibata national heroes cemetery in
South Jakarta. Some of them have also been awarded medals.

There are 26 Japanese soldiers in Kalibata.

According to the head of Kalibata security, Sutarmidjan,
representatives of the Japanese Embassy routinely visit the
cemetery, where they hold a modest ceremony to pay their respects
to the heroes. The graves are separated according to religion --
Muslim, Christian and Buddhist.

In 2003, three Japanese warships carrying hundreds of former
Japanese fighters visited Indonesia. The retired servicemen under
the command of Adm. Masahiko Sugimoto made a visit to Kalibata.

Among those buried here are First. Lt. Toshio Koizuki
Baharuddin who served at Siliwangi Military Command in West Java.
He was born in 1919 and died in 1985. Another is First Pvt.
Muhammad Hiroshi Shimizu who served at Iskandar Muda Military
Command in Aceh. Shimizu was born in 1916 and died in 1987.

In the Buddhist section, a grave is marked Capt. Moch. Toha
Nishimora, who died in 1975. His Indonesian name reminds people
of an Indonesian hero from West Java.

According to Sutarmidjan, the family of First Lt. Goro Yamano
alias Madjid routinely visits the cemetery to pray. Yamano was
born in 1925 and died in 1999. "Perhaps Yamano's family live here
in Jakarta, so they can easily come here," Sutarmidjan said.

Also buried in the same section is Sgt. Major Eto Shichio
alias Jacob, who was born in 1919 and died in 2003. A former
Japanese soldier who served in the Diponegoro Division in East
Java, Ishi Yoshinami, widely known as Satria, also rests there.
Yoshinami was born in 1922 and died in 1999.

In the Christian sector are the remains of First Lt. Suzuki
Goshiro who was born in 1920 and died in 1980; and Capt. M.
Mitsunaga alias Abdul Rachim from the Tirtayasa brigade. He died
in 1974.