Veterans Struggling beyond Limitations

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Former freedom fighters attend the theatrical performance History of the Surabaya Red and White Flag Tearing at the Majapahit Hotel, Surabaya, Thursday (19/9/2019).

Their energy is being eroded by their age. Some of them are facing economic limitations. However, veterans keep striving to go beyond their restrictions to set examples for the younger generation.

Over the last three years, Colonel (ret.) Sutjipto has been communicating the values of the 1945 fighting spirit. Reaching the age of 80 within a few months, he is actively imparting his zest for nationalism and struggle on history teachers and students, as well as the juvenile correctional institution in Tangerang, Banten.

I feel happy I can still be of benefit to other people after retirement.

Sutjipto is a veteran involved in the Dwikora operation in 1964-1965. In the military operation amid the conflict over the birth of the Malaysian Federation, he was assigned as commandant of a supplies platoon. Now at least he conveys the values of 1945 struggle on a monthly basis. He recounts history, the spirit of sacrifice behind any struggle and his experience as a fighter in defense of independence.

His advanced age poses no impediment to Sutjipto. His family also supports his activity. His wife even often accompanies him while going on Greater Jakarta trips, occasionally as far as Bandung, West Java. He earns honorariums from teaching but he is not seeking rewards. Teaching the younger generation makes him feel empowered as he can share the values of nationalism with young people.

“I feel happy I can still be of benefit to other people after retirement,” he said last week.

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Kompas

A veteran walks by photos of members of the Republic of Indonesia\'s Veterans Legion (LVRI) on the 60th anniversary of the West Java LVRI at the West Java Freedom Fighting Monument in Bandung, West Java, on Tuesday.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, though, his activities as a resource person for the ’45 spirit and values program (JSN ’45) have been canceled. Sutjipto still needs to train in online teaching by means of information technology. At the same time, he spends this interval by improving the material and teaching method for JSN ’45.

Slamet Subuh, 69, chairman of the Central Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Veterans Institute (LVRI), apart from being a JSN ’45 teacher, also takes care of his peers who live in Central Jakarta. So far they have all been in good health.

The aid was meaningful because not all veterans live in prosperity.

This veteran of Trikora (West Irian or Papua liberation operation) said he was quite satisfied to be capable of helping his fellow veterans in Central Jakarta. On Idul Fitri day, he gathered gift baskets and donations to be distributed to other peers.

“For the recent Idul Fitri holiday we received parcels and cash worth Rp200,000. Because of the prevailing epidemic, the aid was collected in the executive’s house for further delivery by online motorcycle taxi to the other veterans,” said Slamet.

The aid was meaningful because not all veterans live in prosperity. Part of this corps still has to overcome economic limitations by working.

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DOK PRIBADI

Slamet Subuh (69), veteran who is also the chairman of the Indonesian Veterans Legion branch in Central Jakarta.

No complaints

Tarno, 75, a veteran joining the Trikora operation in West Irian in 1961, was assigned to the Sorong border for eight months. He also took part in the Dwikora operation in 1964 and was sent to Nunukan, North Kalimantan.

Thereafter, he wandered as a worker from one city to another. In 1970 he returned to Jakarta to become a security officer. As he was no longer employed, he sold balloons in Bojong Indah Market, Cengkareng. “When they were selling well, I could gross Rp100,000 daily. But that’s business, with uncertain income,” he said.

In the past four months his capital was exhausted. Now he relies on the veteran honorarium and allowance worth Rp2.7 million per month. Of the amount, Rp1.3 million goes to house rent, leaving the remainder for consumption. Once in a while, he does casual work for extra income.

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Ibrahim Ali, 95, lies feebly on a mattress in his home in Kampung Baro village, Banda Aceh city, Aceh province. He is an Indonesian independence veteran fighter. He lives alone in his 36-square-meter house, which was provided in aid by a donor institute during earthquake and tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction period. His children live beside Ibrahim’s house.

He lives on the monthly veteran allowance of around Rp 2.9 million. But he never complains about his modest existence. He just tells his story and spirit of struggle. He relates how as a teenager he joined a troop of fighters in Banda Aceh. His love for the country has never waned either. His door painted red and white, the national colors, represents his love for Indonesia.

KOMPAS/DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI

Deputy General Chairman of the Indonesian Veterans Legion Center (LVRI) Central Board Mayjen (Pur) Bantu Hardjijo, Friday (30/5/2020).

LVRI Deputy General Chairman Maj. Gen. (ret.) Bantu Hardjijo said the values of struggle without ever giving up to limitations had remained relevant to be inherited by the younger generation. “Now in the Covid-19 pandemic period, what values of the veterans can be imitated? One of them is the attitude without self-interest and without ever surrendering. Formerly, we were technically inferior to colonizers with sophisticated equipment, yet Indonesia could gain independence,” he pointed out.

A military and defense observer from the University of Indonesia, Connie Rahakundini Bakrie, said amid age and physical limitations, veterans’ social work and sharing of their spirit of nationalism should be appreciated.

In Connie’s view, various values of struggle can be derived from the veterans. Young people of diverse ethnic, religious and professional backgrounds are driven to defend the country. These values should thus be handed down to the younger generation. Moreover, division in society as a result of diverse identities and political outlooks has lately intensified in Indonesia.