War veterans still fighting 60 years on
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya
Chairman of the Surabaya chapter of the Indonesian Veterans Legion (LVRI), Hartoyik, 75, places a black-and-white photograph of two Indonesian soldiers carrying machine guns in the fight to defend Surabaya against the Allied Forces, atop his desk.
Each year on Independence Day, Hartoyik places the photograph of himself and his troop commander from the Candramawa Battalion (former Hisbullah Force), Sergeant Asror, on his desk to remind his guests of the spirit of patriotism during the fight for independence.
Despite being worn out, the photo, taken by an amateur photographer in 1948 during a defense position in Mojokerto, has historical value as it was shot when Surabaya was overtaken by the Allied Forces and Indonesian fighters were on the verge of losing the battle of Nov. 10, 1945. They were then moving their base to Mojokerto and Sidoarjo.
"It is as if this photograph provides me with the strength to keep on struggling even though our nation already gained independence 60 years ago," said Hartoyik, whose last rank was colonel when he retired from the Brawijaya Military Command many years ago.
He told of his struggle to put his eleven children through school, all graduating from higher learning institutes. For a former war veteran, sending his children to school was no easy task due to the high cost of education in Surabaya.
"I often borrowed money from my neighbors to pay for my children's schooling because the salary of a soldier is very small," he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
The family even had to eat rice mixed with maize so they could afford to keep the children in school.
It was fortunate that Hartoyik could still afford to send them to university. Two of his children have a successful career in the police force, with both holding the rank of senior adjutant police commissioner.
Hartoyik's life is a far cry from the lives of high-ranking government officials. He lives in a modest house in Wonosari, Surabaya. His only income is his veteran pension from the government of Rp 1 million (US$105) monthly.
Hartoyik is more fortunate than his colleagues. Sidik Poernomo, 82, a leader at Surabaya chapter of the Indonesian Disabled Veterans Corps, and a former member of the Defenders of the Fatherland (PETA), was disabled after being hit by mortar in a battle against the Allied Forces in Mount Batok area, Pujon Batu, Malang in 1947.
Sidik has to use a prosthesis after his right arm was amputated and he was blinded in his left eye when he was hit by shrapnel during the battle to defend Malang from the Allied Forces.
Sidik gets a monthly allowance of Rp 1,250,000 as a war veteran, and a compensation of Rp 60,000 for his disability from the government.
Sidik never complains about the allowances he gets, although he feels it is paltry compared to what he has had to endure.
Although they cannot work part time after retiring from the military, disabled war veterans are given great respect by Surabaya residents.
Even though his house in the Wonokromo area is often flooded when it rains and several of his roof tiles have crumbled due to age, he is fortunate to have been able to send his nine children to school. One of them is now a successful staffer at the Surabaya Stock Exchange (BES).
Another freedom fighter who is also active at the Disabled Veterans Corps, Amari, who was blinded due to mortar shrapnel during a struggle against the Allied Forces in Waru, Sidoarjo, in 1947, said that not all veterans received a pension of more than Rp 1 million.
The pension is given according to the last rank held. Some 90 percent of the 6,000 war veterans in Surabaya are living below the poverty line. Most of them receive less than Surabaya's minimum wage, or less than Rp 500,000 per month.
"Despite that, all of their children have been able to complete their schooling," said Amari.