The Struggle of Papuan Youths in Helping Indonesia Gain Its Independence

Papua - The struggle of the people in Papua goes hand in hand with the struggle of the people in other places for the independence of Indonesia. After the Proclamation, Papuan youths gathered in various organizations and were involved in the Revolutionary war. Soegoro is Digoelis who was a former teacher at the Taman Siswa College formed by Ki Hadjar Dewantara. He is also an activist with the Indonesian Party (Partindo). He has students in Papua after he was exiled in Boven Digoel. 

After being freed from Digoel, and then living in Jayapura, Soegoro became a mentor to a number of young Papuans such as Marthen Indey, Markus Kaisiepo, Lukas Rumkorem, Lisias Simbiak, Frans Kaisiepo, Nikolas Youwe, Silas Papare, Baldus.Mofu, O. Manupapami. Semuel Demianus Kawab, and Herman Wayoi.

Soegoro Atmoprasodjo was the first to introduce the national anthem Indonesia Raya to Papuan youths in Papua. Marthen Indey once said that every midnight, Soegoro secretly monitors the broadcasts of RI Yogya and the transmitters of the Indonesian Independence Committee in Australia. Soeroso held classes in the night to strengthen his students' knowledge and beliefs about Indonesian independence and nationalism.

These young Papuans then fought desperately for Indonesia, especially after the proclamation was proclamated from Jakarta. Marthen Indey, Sugoro, Silas Papare, and Luksa Rumkorem were arrested and imprisoned. After their release, in January 1947, Indey traveled to Ambon to fight the Dutch there. But he was arrested again in March 1947, and imprisoned for nearly five years.

From the western part of Papua, there was the name Machmud Singgirei Rumagesan. He was born in Kokas, December 27, 1885. At the age of 21, Machmud had become the viceroy of Fakfak. Two years later he was fully sovereign as King.

After the proclamation of August 17, 1945, Machmud Rumagesan called for jihad fisabilillah against Dutch colonialism. In Sorong, he attacked the Dutch with 40 Heiho weapons. However, he was caught and put on trial on May 2, 1949. King Machmud Rumagesdan was sentenced to death by shooting.

Fortunately, on December 5, 1949, Machmud Rumagesan's death sentence was changed to life imprisonment. He was detained in many places, from Saparua, Sorong-Doom, Manokwari, Jayapura (Holland) to being exiled to Makassar. Machmud Rumagesan was finally released from prison after the Round Table Conference (KMB) after the Government of the Republic of the United States of Indonesia (RIS) issued his release decision on May 2, 1950 Number 44/A.

In 1953, Machmud Singgirei Rumagesan called for Irian to return to Indonesia. At that time, Papua was still called Irian and the Dutch colonials still controlled the area de facto. Machmud Rumagesan later became a member of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) of the Republic of Indonesia for the period 1959-1965. He has indeed been a high-ranking official of the Republic of Indonesia since the early days of the country's establishment.