Besar Mertokusumo
Encyclopedia
Mr. Besar Mertokusumo was an Indonesian advocate, said by Daniel S. Lev to be the first.
, Central Java
, Dutch East Indies
on 8 July 1894 to a prosecutor and his wife; he was the first of two children.
He attended elementary school at a Europeesche Lagere School in Pekalongan
, graduating in 1909. He then attended the Rechtschool in Batavia
, which he graduated in 1915; there, he lived with numerous other Indonesian students under the supervision of a Dutchwoman, studying criminal law. After several years as the Official Seconded at the Landraad (state court) in Pekalongan, he received a grant to go to Leiden, Netherlands, to study at Leiden University
together with eleven others. He graduated in 1922.
After being refused equal legal status with the Dutch, Mertokusumo decided to become an advocate. He later established a law firm in Tegal, not far from his family in Brebes; at the time, there were few Dutch lawyers there. Despite a lack of support from his family, after a few years he was able to open a second branch in Semarang
, attracting young lawyers to his firm with wages up to 600 gulden a month.
During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
, Mertokusumo served as the mayor of Tegal in April 1942; he was the first Native Indonesian mayor. In 1944 he became the regent of Tegal Regency
. Towards the end of the Japanese occupation, he joined the Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence and became the Assistant Resident of Pekalongan.
After independence, Mertokusumo served as secretary general of the Department of Justice.
Mertokusumo died at age 86. He is buried in Giritama Cemetery, Bogor
.
noting that he often represented poor Indonesian defendants in the Landraad, where they would be forced to sit on the floor. Lev writes that Mertokusumo "broke the ice" for Indonesian advocates.
On 17 August 1992, Mertokusumo received the Bintang Mahaputra posthumously for his legal work.
Biography
Mertokusumo was born in BrebesBrebes Regency
Brebes is a regency in the northwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Brebes.-List Of Sub-District:# Banjarharjo# Bantarkawung# Brebes# Bulakamba# Bumiayu# Jatibarang# Kersana# Ketanggungan# Larangan# Losari...
, Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
, Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
on 8 July 1894 to a prosecutor and his wife; he was the first of two children.
He attended elementary school at a Europeesche Lagere School in Pekalongan
Pekalongan
Pekalongan is a city and seat of Pekalongan Regency on the northern coast of Central Java, Indonesia. The city is Central Java's most important port, and is known for its batik.-History:The history of Pekalongan dated back to the early 12th century...
, graduating in 1909. He then attended the Rechtschool in Batavia
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...
, which he graduated in 1915; there, he lived with numerous other Indonesian students under the supervision of a Dutchwoman, studying criminal law. After several years as the Official Seconded at the Landraad (state court) in Pekalongan, he received a grant to go to Leiden, Netherlands, to study at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
together with eleven others. He graduated in 1922.
After being refused equal legal status with the Dutch, Mertokusumo decided to become an advocate. He later established a law firm in Tegal, not far from his family in Brebes; at the time, there were few Dutch lawyers there. Despite a lack of support from his family, after a few years he was able to open a second branch in Semarang
Semarang
- Economy :The western part of the city is home to many industrial parks and factories. The port of Semarang is located on the north coast and it is the main shipping port for the province of Central Java. Many small manufacturers are located in Semarang, producing goods such as textiles,...
, attracting young lawyers to his firm with wages up to 600 gulden a month.
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...
, Mertokusumo served as the mayor of Tegal in April 1942; he was the first Native Indonesian mayor. In 1944 he became the regent of Tegal Regency
Tegal Regency
Tegal is a regency in the northwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Slawi....
. Towards the end of the Japanese occupation, he joined the Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence and became the Assistant Resident of Pekalongan.
After independence, Mertokusumo served as secretary general of the Department of Justice.
Mertokusumo died at age 86. He is buried in Giritama Cemetery, Bogor
Bogor
Bogor is a city on the island of Java in the West Java province of Indonesia. The city is located in the center of the Bogor Regency , 60 kilometers south of the Indonesian capital Jakarta...
.
Legacy
American scholar of Indonesia Daniel S. Lev has called Mertokusumo Indonesia's first advocate,noting that he often represented poor Indonesian defendants in the Landraad, where they would be forced to sit on the floor. Lev writes that Mertokusumo "broke the ice" for Indonesian advocates.
On 17 August 1992, Mertokusumo received the Bintang Mahaputra posthumously for his legal work.