Arie Frederik Lasut
Encyclopedia
Arie Frederik Lasut is regarded as a national hero in Indonesia
, because of his involvement in the struggle for independence and his efforts to advance Indonesia’s mining and geological infrastructure during the nation’s beginnings. Arie Lasut was born in Kapataran, a village in the regency of Minahasa
in the province of North Sulawesi
. He was the eldest son of eight children born to Darius Lasut and Ingkan Supit. His brother, Willy Lasut, went on to become governor of North Sulawesi.
for the next level of teacher education. After only a year in Bandung, Lasut decided not to become a teacher and instead moved to Jakarta
to attend a school equivalent to high school . After graduating from AMS in 1937, Arie started medical school . This school is now the Department of Medicine at the University of Indonesia
. His lack of sufficient funds forced him to drop out after just one year of studying. In 1938, Lasut started working at the Department of Economic Affairs .
A year later, Lasut attended Bandung Technical School , which is present day Bandung Institute of Technology
. His studies were discontinued again due to monetary reasons. He then applied for and was given a scholarship to become a geological assistant at the Mining Service . The start of World War II
was imminent with Japanese forces pushing toward Indonesia. While at the technical school in Bandung, Lasut was trained as a Corps Rerserve Officer by the Dutch to aid in the defense against the attacking Japanese forces
. He eventually fought against the Japanese at Ciater in West Java
. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
, Lasut worked at the Geological Service in Bandung as an assistant in the field of geology. Along with R. Sunu Sumosusastro, Lasut was among a few Indonesians who were given such positions in the service by the Japanese.
to the Allies
. The president of the newly formed Republic of Indonesia ordered that all governmental services be taken over from the Japanese. Lasut and a few other Indonesians were able to take control of the Geological Service peacefully in September 1945 and renamed it the Mining and Geological Service . As the Dutch returned to Indonesia to regain its control of Indonesia, the offices of the Mining and Geological Service had to be moved several times. From its original headquarters in Bandung, the offices moved Tasikmalaya
, Magelang
, and Yogyakarta. In addition to managing the mining and geological activities of the new nation during this unstable period, the service also established schools for training new geologists. This was all done under the leadership of Lasut as head of the service.
In addition to his work at the Mining and Geological Service, Lasut was active in an organization consisting of Indonesians from Sulawesi
(where he was from) aimed at defending the independence of Indonesia . Lasut was also a member of the Central Indonesian National Committee , an early manifestation of the legislative branch of the Indonesian government http://www.dpr.go.id/tentang/sejarah.php.
The Dutch had continually sought after Lasut, because of his knowledge of mining and geology in Indonesia. Lasut however acted as a spy passing on information and maps to the Indonesian government. On the morning of May 7, 1949, Lasut was taken from his home by the Dutch to Pakem, 7 kilometers north of Yogyakarta (then the capitol of Indonesia) and was shot to death. Several months later his body was exhumed and buried at the Kintelan Christian cemetery in Yogyakarta beside his wife who had died in December 1947. The ceremony was attended by the acting president of Indonesia at that time, Assaat.
To honor his firm stance to preserve the republic, Arie Frederik Lasut was posthumously named a national hero by the government of Indonesia on May 20, 1969. In Menado a street was named after him: Jl. Arie Lasut - Kel. Lensun - Dalope.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, because of his involvement in the struggle for independence and his efforts to advance Indonesia’s mining and geological infrastructure during the nation’s beginnings. Arie Lasut was born in Kapataran, a village in the regency of Minahasa
Minahasa
The Minahasa are an ethnic group located in the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia, formerly known as North Celebes...
in the province of North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia. It is on the island of Sulawesi, and borders the province of Gorontalo to the west . The islands of Sangihe and Talaud form the northern part of the province, which border Davao del Sur in the Philippines.The capital and largest city in North Sulawesi is...
. He was the eldest son of eight children born to Darius Lasut and Ingkan Supit. His brother, Willy Lasut, went on to become governor of North Sulawesi.
Education
Lasut attended elementary school in Tondano. Having been ranked first in his class, Lasut was given the opportunity to continue his studies at a teacher’s education school in Ambon. He finished his studies at HIK Ambon in 1933 and was one of the top students who were selected to attend HIK BandungBandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
for the next level of teacher education. After only a year in Bandung, Lasut decided not to become a teacher and instead moved to Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
to attend a school equivalent to high school . After graduating from AMS in 1937, Arie started medical school . This school is now the Department of Medicine at the University of Indonesia
University of Indonesia
The Universitas Indonesia, is a state, comprehensive world class university located in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest tertiary-level educational institution in Indonesia...
. His lack of sufficient funds forced him to drop out after just one year of studying. In 1938, Lasut started working at the Department of Economic Affairs .
A year later, Lasut attended Bandung Technical School , which is present day Bandung Institute of Technology
Bandung Institute of Technology
The Bandung Institute of Technology or Institute of Technology, Bandung is a state, coeducational research university located in Bandung, Indonesia. Established in 1920, ITB is the oldest technology-oriented university in Indonesia....
. His studies were discontinued again due to monetary reasons. He then applied for and was given a scholarship to become a geological assistant at the Mining Service . The start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was imminent with Japanese forces pushing toward Indonesia. While at the technical school in Bandung, Lasut was trained as a Corps Rerserve Officer by the Dutch to aid in the defense against the attacking Japanese forces
Organization of Japanese forces in Southeast Asia
Organization of Japanese forces in Southeast Asia during World War II-Southern Army Command :*Hisaichi Terauchi, Commander of Southern Army*Seiichi Aoki, Assistant Chief of Staff Southern Army...
. He eventually fought against the Japanese at Ciater in West Java
West Java
West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
, Lasut worked at the Geological Service in Bandung as an assistant in the field of geology. Along with R. Sunu Sumosusastro, Lasut was among a few Indonesians who were given such positions in the service by the Japanese.
Struggle for Independence
Indonesia declared its independence on August 17, 1945 after the surrender of JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
. The president of the newly formed Republic of Indonesia ordered that all governmental services be taken over from the Japanese. Lasut and a few other Indonesians were able to take control of the Geological Service peacefully in September 1945 and renamed it the Mining and Geological Service . As the Dutch returned to Indonesia to regain its control of Indonesia, the offices of the Mining and Geological Service had to be moved several times. From its original headquarters in Bandung, the offices moved Tasikmalaya
Tasikmalaya
Tasikmalaya is a city in southeastern West Java, Indonesia, between Bandung and Purwokerto on the southerly of the two major road routes across Java...
, Magelang
Magelang
Magelang is one of the largest cities of the 1,130 km² Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. It is also the largest town in the Kedu Plain between Mount Merbabu and Mount Sumbing in Central Java, Indonesia...
, and Yogyakarta. In addition to managing the mining and geological activities of the new nation during this unstable period, the service also established schools for training new geologists. This was all done under the leadership of Lasut as head of the service.
In addition to his work at the Mining and Geological Service, Lasut was active in an organization consisting of Indonesians from Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
(where he was from) aimed at defending the independence of Indonesia . Lasut was also a member of the Central Indonesian National Committee , an early manifestation of the legislative branch of the Indonesian government http://www.dpr.go.id/tentang/sejarah.php.
The Dutch had continually sought after Lasut, because of his knowledge of mining and geology in Indonesia. Lasut however acted as a spy passing on information and maps to the Indonesian government. On the morning of May 7, 1949, Lasut was taken from his home by the Dutch to Pakem, 7 kilometers north of Yogyakarta (then the capitol of Indonesia) and was shot to death. Several months later his body was exhumed and buried at the Kintelan Christian cemetery in Yogyakarta beside his wife who had died in December 1947. The ceremony was attended by the acting president of Indonesia at that time, Assaat.
To honor his firm stance to preserve the republic, Arie Frederik Lasut was posthumously named a national hero by the government of Indonesia on May 20, 1969. In Menado a street was named after him: Jl. Arie Lasut - Kel. Lensun - Dalope.