Untung Syamsuri
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel
Untung bin Syamsuri (Sruni, Kemuben, Central Java
, 3 July 1926 – September 1967) was one of the leaders of the 1965 coup attempt in Indonesia
known as the 30 September Movement
.
A career soldier, Untung was the first officer parachuted into Western New Guinea
in 1962 at the start of President Sukarno's
efforts to expel the Dutch forces who still controlled it. As a result of his actions, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and awarded a medal. In West Papua, and later in the Diponegoro Division in Central Java
, Untung served with future president Suharto, who attended Untung's wedding in 1964.
In early 1965, Untung was transferred to the Tjakrabirawa, the Presidential Guard, and commanded one of its three battalions. He was put in charge of arrangements for the Armed Forces Day Parade to be held on 5 October. Being the 20th anniversary of the army, Sukarno had ordered a special event. For the day, a full infantry combat brigade was moved from East and Central Java and into Jakarta including three battalions of infantry, one of tanks, one of armoured cars, a mortar battalion, an anti-aircraft battalion and an engineers' unit.On the morning of 1 October 1965, troops had surrounded Merdeka Square in central Jakarta
in support of the 30 September movement, but Untung was at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base
along with other leaders of the movement, including D. N. Aidit
, leader of the Communist Party of Indonesia
. However, he was named as leader of the 30 September movement in radio broadcasts made by the group from the Indonesian State Radio
building on Merdeka Square.
When the coup attempt failed, Untung and the other leaders left Halim. Untung was captured near Tegal
, Central Java in October. He was tried by the Special Military Court (Mahmillub). He denied he was a member of the Communist Party and insisted that he had acted on his own initiative. He was sentenced to death and executed in September 1967.
General Yani, who was killed by the troops of the 30 September Movement, had been Untung's commanding officer when they served in a raider unit. Brigadier General (then Colonel) Sarwo Edhie Wibowo
, commander of the RPKAD
para-commando regiment, which played a key role in quashing the coup attempt had been responsible for Untung's paratrooper training. Brigadier General, Kemal Idris
, whose troops crushed the coup attempt in northern Sumatra was a guest at Untung's wedding.
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Untung bin Syamsuri (Sruni, Kemuben, 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...
, 3 July 1926 – September 1967) was one of the leaders of the 1965 coup attempt in Indonesia
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...
known as the 30 September Movement
30 September Movement
The Thirtieth of September Movement ) was a self-proclaimed organization of Indonesian National Armed Forces members who, in the early hours of 1 October 1965, assassinated six Indonesian Army generals in an abortive coup d'état. Later that morning, the organization declared that it was in control...
.
A career soldier, Untung was the first officer parachuted into Western New Guinea
Western New Guinea
West Papua informally refers to the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and other smaller islands to its west. The region is officially administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea.The population of approximately 3 million...
in 1962 at the start of President Sukarno's
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
efforts to expel the Dutch forces who still controlled it. As a result of his actions, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and awarded a medal. In West Papua, and later in the Diponegoro Division in 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...
, Untung served with future president Suharto, who attended Untung's wedding in 1964.
In early 1965, Untung was transferred to the Tjakrabirawa, the Presidential Guard, and commanded one of its three battalions. He was put in charge of arrangements for the Armed Forces Day Parade to be held on 5 October. Being the 20th anniversary of the army, Sukarno had ordered a special event. For the day, a full infantry combat brigade was moved from East and Central Java and into Jakarta including three battalions of infantry, one of tanks, one of armoured cars, a mortar battalion, an anti-aircraft battalion and an engineers' unit.On the morning of 1 October 1965, troops had surrounded Merdeka Square in central 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...
in support of the 30 September movement, but Untung was at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base
Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport
-Accidents and Incidents:*On 24 June 1982, British Airways Flight 009, a Boeing 747-200 flew through a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, causing the failure of all four engines. The crew diverted the aircraft to Jakarta and it landed safely.-References:* -External...
along with other leaders of the movement, including D. N. Aidit
Dipa Nusantara Aidit
Dipa Nusantara Aidit was a senior leader of the Communist Party of Indonesia . Born Ahmad Aidit on Bangka Island, he was nicknamed "Amat". Aidit was educated in the Dutch colonial system...
, leader of the Communist Party of Indonesia
Communist Party of Indonesia
The Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
. However, he was named as leader of the 30 September movement in radio broadcasts made by the group from the Indonesian State Radio
Radio Republik Indonesia
Radio Republik Indonesia is the state radio network of Indonesia. The organization is a public broadcasting service. It is a national radio station that broadcasts all over Indonesia and abroad to serve all Indonesian citizens throughout the nation and overseas. RRI also provides information about...
building on Merdeka Square.
When the coup attempt failed, Untung and the other leaders left Halim. Untung was captured near Tegal
Tegal
Tegal is the largest city in the Tegal Regency, Indonesia. It is situated on the north coast of Central Java, about from Semarang, capital of Central Java....
, Central Java in October. He was tried by the Special Military Court (Mahmillub). He denied he was a member of the Communist Party and insisted that he had acted on his own initiative. He was sentenced to death and executed in September 1967.
General Yani, who was killed by the troops of the 30 September Movement, had been Untung's commanding officer when they served in a raider unit. Brigadier General (then Colonel) Sarwo Edhie Wibowo
Sarwo Edhie Wibowo
Sarwo Edhie Wibowo was one of Indonesia's most famous Generals.-Early life:Sarwo Edhie was born in Purworejo, Central Java to a family of civil servants working for the Dutch Colonial Government. As a child, he learned silat as a form of self-defense...
, commander of the RPKAD
Kopassus
Kopassus is an Indonesian Army special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering.Kopassus was founded on April 16, 1952...
para-commando regiment, which played a key role in quashing the coup attempt had been responsible for Untung's paratrooper training. Brigadier General, Kemal Idris
Kemal Idris
Ahmad Kemal Idris , was a prominent Indonesian Army general during the 1950s and 1960s. He was an Indonesian guerrilla leader during the Indonesian National Revolution, who in 1949 was involved in continued resistance to the Dutch forces after they occupied Yogyakarta.Poncke Princen, the Dutch...
, whose troops crushed the coup attempt in northern Sumatra was a guest at Untung's wedding.