BIOGRAPHY : MOHAMMAD HOESNI THAMRIN (1894 - 1941) ~ This is way more than just a street name!

Maybe, there’s no other street in Jakarta more famous or more important than M.H. Thamrin Street. Everybody knows about this street. People from inside or outside Jakarta know about this street. It’s a main protocol street, it’s a center of business, government, social life, even a demonstration paradise ... All you can find in this street

Car Free Day @ M.H. Thamrin Street

M.H. Thamrin Street is pretty short for a protocol street in a capital city. It’s only 2,5 kilometers long with 6 lines in each way, so total 12 lines (including 2 special lines – for TransJakarta Transportation). It stretches from Bank Indonesia Fountain Roundabout (Bundaran Air Mancur Bank Indonesia) goes south and ends in Dukuh Atas Area just before Sudirman Train Station. But, what in this short street are holding the main part of Jakarta and even Indonesia political, economical and social life activities. You can name several interesting and important spot and activities in this street, like:

♥  Government Offices : The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, The Ministry of Religion Affairs, National Board of Technology Planning and Application, The Board of National Election Supervisory,

♥  National and Foreign Bank Offices : Indonesia Central Bank (Bank Indonesia), Rama Bank, Bangkok Bank, Syariah Mandiri Bank, Deutsche Bank

♥  High quality Hotels : Sari Pan Pacific, Grand Hyatt, The Pullman, Indonesia Kempinsky (the first 5 star hotel in Jakarta formerly named Hotel Indonesia), and Mandarin Oriental Hotel

♥  Shopping paradise and Entertainment center : Sarinah Department Store (the first ever Department Store in Jakarta), Jakarta Theater Building, EX Plaza, Plaza Indonesia, and Grand Indonesia Shopping Town

♥  Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (Hotel Indonesia Fountain Roundabout), the Jakarta main landmark (beside National Monument), a place where we can freely shout our voices in the new reformation era

♥  Embassy of the foreign countries, like : Japan Embassy, South Korean Embassy, France Embassy, British Embassy, German Embassy,

♥  3 in 1 Car Program (at certain time cars that pass this street must contain at least 3 person in it), Jakarta Car Free Day or Car Free Night, Jakarta Cultural Parade, Jakarta Marathon, etc

Now, enough with this sightseeing information (I can’t stand to tell the history and facts of all that I write .. sorry .. hehehehe). Now, I wanna ask you a very important question .. you know the street name, you know its location, maybe you pass this street several time in a day, but .. do you really know about a man who made a remarkable struggle which from him this street got its name??

Do you really know who Mr. Mohammad Husni Thamrin is? It’s okay if you don’t really know him .. (actually it’s not okay .. I think you should know him better .. More than just a street name)

For those who don’t know Mr. Mohammad Husni Thamrin, here’s the story about one of our greatest National Hero ...

M.H. Thamrin Statue - Located in the North start point of  M.H. Thamrin Street

M. H. Thamrin Early Days

I want to start with asking you about where was he came from? In a little survey that I’ve made, only view person answered me correctly. Many people say that he was Javanese, or come from Minangkabau, while others say that he was from Borneo.

Well, Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin, was a Betawi or Jakarta originated. He was born in Weltevreden, Batavia (now Sawah Besar, Jakarta), on 16 February 1894. His father Thamrin bin Thabri was a Wedana (district head) from the Batavia Dutch East Indies administrative under Governor General Johan Cornelis van der Wijck, it was a very rare position for an inlanders (Indonesian native) in the Dutch East Indies government system.

Because of his father position, little Thamrin was lucky enough to had education in his early days. First he entered Bosch Institute (a kind of private Dutch Elementary School). After graduated from this school, he then proceeded to Koning Willem III Gymnasium High School, which was made him very easy to get an administrative job after.  He then worked in several governmental jobs before finally work as a Book Keeper in Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij (KPM – a Dutch Shipping Venture). And this was his last job as an employee, because after that he only devoted his energy and mind to the social and politic issues.

Back in his teenager time, he already had a big concern about the wealth of his people and the development of his beloved city, Batavia. There was Daart van der Zee, a socialist Dutch, member of Batavia Gemeenteraad (Batavia City Council) who had lofty ideals to make life of people of Batavia better and prosperous. Mr. Van der Zee then became young Thamrin close friend. In 1905, the government formed Batavia Gemeenteraad (Batavia City Council). With this council, later Thamrin would play the important role in his struggle for Indonesian independence.

The political inspiration for young Thamrin had also came from several Indonesian independence movement figures such as Mr. Koperberg, Mr. Ernest Douwes Dekker, later known as Mr. Danudirja Setiabudi (grandson of Mr. Eduard Douwes Dekker or Multatuli – famous for his book “Max Havelaar”), Mr. dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo and Suwardi Suryaningrat (or known as Ki Hajar Dewantara).

M.H. Thamrin Political Carrier

His friendship with Mr. Daart van der Zee caused a political interest for him to focus on social issues in Batavia. He realized how bad the condition of Betawi people social life back then. The city wasn’t guarantee for the health of the people. Many of Kampungs (villages) were dirty and muddy. And because of his interest of these matters, finally in 27 October 1919, in the age of 25 (the minimum age for a counselor) he was assigned and attended his first Batavia City Council Assembly as a member of the council.

Notes : sometimes I wonder, what were we doing in the age of 25? Mostly in that age we pursuit our demand of life and don’t give a damn care about social life around us!

By the time M.H. Thamrin was assigned to be a counselor in Batavia City Council, he was 25, and still working as a Book Keeper in KPM. This progress didn’t please his boss in KPM and the boss was trying to prevent him from active in the City Council. He offered Thamrin a promotion and better rank in the job with the increase of salary if he wants to move to Banjarmasin, South Borneo. But, Thamrin had made a fix decision. He only wanted to give all of his effort to the fate of Batavia people. So, officially in 17 September 1924, Thamrin resigned from KPM.

If in these days we often see the Governor of Jakarta, Mr. Joko Widodo (Jokowi) does the inspection to the corners of Jakarta area (or Blusukan in Javanese languange), M.H. Thamrin has done that 93 years ago! As a City Counselor, he visited the corners of Batavia to witness the condition of Batavia people with his own eyes. He then made a political speech in front of the City Council Assembly, demanded the government to fix and develop “kampungs” in Batavia. His speech then responded by the government, who launched the project called “Kanal Ciliwung”. The government built wider water canal to control the flood in villages of Batavia.

Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin

M.H. Thamrin political carrier kept on going. Here’s some record if his carrier back then:

♥  In 1923, he appointed to be the Chairman of “Kaum Betawi”, a social organization that had a big concern to promote trade, education and public health.

♥  In 1927, there was a vacancy in Volksraad (Nation Council or like our House of Representatives now). Thamrin was offered the position and he said yes. What he think was, with Volksraad he would expand his struggle nationally, more than just Batavia, but for Indonesia.

♥  In 1929, he hold the position of Loco Burgemeester (Deputy Major), a position that very important for native Indonesian at that time. While his service in Volksraad was improving from time to time. One of his biggest contribution in Volksraad was to do investigation about Peonale Sanctie, it was a kind of punishment imposed to plantation workers by the Dutch government. One particular case was what happened with North Sumatera Tobacco Plantation workers. They were treated like animals, struck and whipped. Volksraad then sent Thamrin and his colleague Kusumo Utoyo to North Sumatera n order to investigate this issue. And the report about this then read by Thamrin in Volksraad Assembly in 27 January 1930. The respond for this issue then came from domestic and also international community including Europe and America. And as a result Peonale Sanctie was determinate.

♥  In 1930, M.H. Thamrin was appointed as Chairman of  “Fraksi National” inside Volksraad.

♥  In 1932, M.H. Thamrin was appointed as a Chairman of PPPKI (Permufakatan Perhimpunan Politik Kebangsaan Indonesia) in its congress in Surabaya, East Java. In the same year, He became member of VIA (Vereniging van Indonesia Akademici – Perhimpunan Kaum Akademisi Indonesia), and in one of this organization congress, he bravely suggested to government of Japan not to buy Sugar from Indonesia because of the vicious treatment of Dutch government to the sugarcane plantation workers in Indonesia. And for this he strongly warned by the Dutch Government and consider as a dangerous person in politics.

♥  In 1935, M.H. Thamrin appointed as a Head of Political Department of Partai Indonesia Raya (Parindra) which he had the opportunity to serve together with his idol dr. Sutomo (the founder of Budi Utomo organization).

♥  In 1938, after the death of dr. Sutomo, Thamrin was appointed as Vice Chairman of Parindra.

♥  In 1939, GAPI (Gabungan Politik Indonesia) was formed and soon Parindra joint in this new political movement. The slogan “Indonesia Berparlemen” was suddenly promote and sounded in every chance they had. In this year, as a Volksraad Counselor, M.H. Thamrin make a motion (and probably the most dangerous motion he ever did) for Dutch Government to use word “Indonesia, Indonesia and Indonesier” instead of “Netherland Indie, Netherland Indies and Inlander”. He insisted and proposed to use those words in every Law and every Dutch Indies Government Regulation. But, with the reason that Government didn’t have time to discuss this mater since Dutch was involved in World War II, the Dutch Indies Government then rejected his proposal. Thamrin was very disappointed with the rejection.

♥  In 1940, in a congress of Parindra in Cirebon, West Java, Thamrin made a strong speech about the liberty of Indonesia, the right to have our own parliament. “People of Indonesia cannot wait for the approval from Netherland regarding our demand to have our own parliament. We must fight to achieve our goals with our own power and strenght.” He said in that congress. And for the effect of that, all Parindra activities had banned by the government. And Thamrin considered as a very dangerous man for the Dutch Government in Indonesia.

♥  In 1941, after a search operation in the house of the leader of Pemandangan Newspaper Mr. M. Tabrani, the Dutch Government found some letter written by M.H. Thamrin which stated the invective for the Dutch Government. This is the point where the Dutch Government considers M.H. Thamrin as an enemy of the state. In 6 January 1941, Thamrin captured and subjected to house arrest by the Dutch Government

The Loss of Our Nation

Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin was arrested in his house start from 06 January 1941 in sick condition. He was forbidden to meet his friends, except for his personal doctor, dr. Kayadu, his wife, his foster son and his loyal maid Mr. Entong.

11 January 1941, at 03.00 in the morning, one of our best national hero, the pride of Betawi people, Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin was passed away in the age of 47. His body laid in Karet Bivak Cemetery covered with Parindra flag Green, Red and White. People of Jakarta were shocked and grieving for this loss. And also the people of Indonesia. We lost one of our best country men. And only 4 years from his death, our nation had declared the independence. It was so sad that M.H. Thamrin didn’t had a chance to see red and white flag fluttering in the air of Jakarta. But, his struggle, his dedication and all of his effort will not be forgotten. And every time we pass M.H. Thamrin Street, should we remember him, take a moment to send a prayer for him, may he rest in peace.

In this house M.H. Thamrin passed away in 11 January 1941.
Located in Jalan Kenari II No. 15 - Central Jakarta, now the house has become
M.H. Thamrin Museum

So, now you know that our biggest protocol street in Jakarta is named after this great man! It’s more than just a street name, it’s the history of our struggle and devotion to the liberty.

Farewell, Mr. Thamrin ... You are a good man!!

Notes :
The Government of Republic of Indonesia conferred the title of National Hero for Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin with the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia No. 175 / 1960 dated July 28th, 1960

TO INNER BADUY AND BACK (Part 1) ~ The Fellowship of PALAPA

This is my story .. A story of an ordinary man who has extraordinary world in his hand ..

PALAPA (PencintA aLAm PAramitha) has become my 2nd family since August this year. Well, in fact the reason I join this organization was basically to have some sports activities. You see, I hardly can't find a day in a week to exercise my skinny body .. and that's not good at all .. I'm 40, and I think it's time to strengthen my endurance. So, I chose this school extra curricular instantly, so every Friday I have a chance to sweated my body, testing my smoking lungs and move my old time bones ... wkwkwkwkwk .... 
I was a member of Natural Lovers Club back in the high school and college time, I've been climb in many mountain, swim in the many deep sea, trekking the jungle .. but, that was long time a go .. I have a lot of to catch-up with these guys and girls now .. wkwkwkwkwk 

Many of the Palapa Warriors are my students in class. Students like Ms. Deaziska, Ms. Devina, Mr. Meyer, Mr. Andri, Ms. Saridewi, Ms. Prastiwi, Ms. Qudsiyyah and Mr. Mulianto, have been studying with me since 1st grade one year ago, and the other like Ms. Recklin, Ms. Nugraheni, Ms. Anggraeni, Ms. Annastashia, Mr. Rahmandi, Mr. Virano, Mr. Latuheru and Mr. Rachmansyah, were fresh 1st grade students who have been studying with me about 4 months now .. So, it was not a difficult situation for me to blend nicely in the organization. And, it's important to know that my position in Palapa is strictly as a regular member, a common participant, not as a teacher .. that is why I pay my weekly dues, I pick trash, clean-up our secretariat room together with other members .. just ordinary member I am.

The idea of trekking in the villages of Baduy Tribe in Banten, West Java, was actually came from a short discussion with my students in class, and we've planned to go there in December this year. But, then I thought, why not just drop the idea to the warriors of Palapa and see how it's going? So, I talked to Mr. Herlin, the preceptor teacher whose running this organization so well. As a member of Palapa, I thought this was a great idea to have activities in the wild to testing and training our capabilities, team-work, brotherhood and physic. 
Mr. Herlin agreed and start to prepare the program for Palapa member. So, we trained and trained and trained as our preparation for this event. Until the D-Day has come ...

This is the story of my journey ....

DAY 1 : Friday, 27 September 2013

(School - Buaran Train Station - Tanah Abang Train Station - Duri Train Station - Rangkasbitung - Ciboleger Outer Baduy)

So, we start Friday, 27 September 2013 from school. I was an advance team who must prepare all the departure process in Tanah Abang Station. So, I picked my fellow Palapa warriors Ms. Saridewi & Mr. Rahmandi to assisted me for the preparation. We left school about 15.30 WIB using a city transport to get to Buaran Station. Ms. Saridewi was a bit ill that time, but she kept going and show the strong spirit in this activities. 

From Buaran Station, we took a commuter line train to get to Tanah Abang Station, means that we had to change train in Manggarai Station and get to the other commuter line train toward Tanah Abang.

After arrived at Tanah Abang  Station, three of us had a light meal first (considering the condition of Ms. Saridewi), a plate of Lontong Sayur taste delicious for our hungry stomach.  
Minutes later, we assembled a meeting point in the lobby of the train station. Our dinner box planned to be delivered about 18.00 WIB. So, we waited. 

One by one the member of Palapa showed up. Ms. Nugraheni, Ms. Anggraeni, Ms. Recklin, Ms. Annasthasia, Mr. Latuheru and Mr. Mulyanto, so total there were 9 of us who assembled in Tanah Abang Station, while the others departed from school with Mr. Herlin. 
While we were preparing for the departure, I just found out that our train to Rangkasbitung wouldn't depart from Tanah Abang  Station but from Duri Station!! Ouuch shuuut!!! It means that we had to move to Duri Station right away! I quickly called Mr. Herlin and told him to bring the group directly to Duri Station instead of Tanah Abang Station. 
After our dinner box arrived, we soon got to the commuter line and headed to Duri Station. Once we hit the Duri's deck, we rest and waited for others to come. Second group then came about 19.15 WIB. 

Here's the complete list of the group :

Palapa Warriors ~ Baduy Trekking Adventure

1.        Mr. Herlin

2.        Ms. Almira Devina

3.        Ms. Dita (Mr. Herlin’s friend)

4.        Mr. Aldo Rachmansyah

5.        Mr. Surya

6.        Ms. Annasthasia

7.        Ms. Diba

8.        Mr. Dwi

9.        Ms. Revi

10.    Mr. Kevin Mulianto

11.    Mr. Anthony

12.    Ms. Nabilah Ayu Saridewi

13.    Ms. Laras Deaziska

Duri Station - Waiting for departure

14.    Ms. Maria Ave

15.    Mr. Albertus Rengga

16.    Ms. H. Qudisyyah

17.    Mr. Rendo Rahmandi

18.    Ms. Recklin

19.    Mr. Dipo Latuheru

20.    Ms. Ruth Gita Anggraeni 

21.    Ms. Angela Nugraheni

22.    Ms. Sandra Prastiwi

23.    Mr. Michael Virano

24.    Mr. Laurentius Meyer

25.    Me

Exactly at 20.24 WIB, our train came and we embarked. The adventure begun.
It was a local economy train, only Rp.2.000,- / person, so we expected the worst. Last time I use this train, I remember it was a very packed train with people, animals, asongan seller, hardly couldn't have a seat!

But this time it turned to a big surprise! The train was empty, full air-conditioned and clean .. A very big benefit for a Rp.2.000,- transportation rate!! And so .. we enjoyed our trip in the night heading to Rangkas Bitung. 

Duri - Rangkasbitung Local Economy Train - the unexpected value 

We passed this route to get to Rangkasbitung :
Duri - Tanah Abang - Palmerah - Kebayoran Lama - Pondok Ranji - Jurang Mangu - Sudimara - Rawa Buntu - Serpong - Cisauk - Cicayur - Parungpanjang - Cilejit - Daru - Tenjo - Tiga Raksa - Cikoya - Maja - Citeras - Rangkasbitung 

Dinner box served not long after we depart. And the rest of it was free time in the train. We enjoyed several street musician who sell their voices on the train (we even requested some songs ... lol). 

Around 2 hours next, we arrived at Rangkasbitung Train Station. This train station was built in 1901, while the train track was built in the era of 1889 - 1899.

Rangkas Bitung Train Station

Rangkasbitung is a district and also a capital city of Lebak Residence, in Banten Province. Located around 96 kilometers South West of Jakarta. 
History of Rangkasbitung can be traced back to the Dutch Colonial era. It was a quiet important satellite city to support Batavia as the center of the Dutch East Indies government. This city administratively formed in 29 September 1828 which is stated in the East Indies Staatsblad 288 year 1828 as a District under the Residence of Lebak. Back then, this city famous for the coal and oil mining. Like many other cities in Indonesia, the Rangkasbitung city site-plan also made based on the Kingdom site-plan (in this case The Sultanate of Banten), where Royal Square, Royal Mosque and Royal Pavilion were the center of the city. 

There is an interesting history that make Rangkasbitung famous in the international world. It was the "Max Havelaar" book written by a man name Multatuli that made this city known by people of the world. Who is Multatuli? Multatuli is an alias name, a journalistic name. The real name is Eduard Douwes Dekker, a Dutch born asistant residence of Lebak who lived and worked in Rangkasbitung in 1856. Although he was a representative of Dutch Government in Lebak Residence, he was very upset for the condition of people of Lebak who exploited by the Dutch. "Kerja Paksa" or "Rodi Work" was a common view in the Dutch era. And that didn't please Mr. Dekker at all. He then stood for people of Lebak and sent his protest letter to the Governor General of Dutch in Batavia, Mr. A. J. Duymaer van Twist. The official in Batavia didn't like him and didn't like the way he defend the "bumiputera" (native Indonesian), and so, they sent a hard warning letter to him.

Eduard Dowes Dekker / Multatuli

Mr. Dekker was very upset and finally put his resignation of being the assistant residence of Lebak. Soon after that he moved back to Holland and next to Brussel, Belgium and started to write a book which internationally famous "MAX HAVELAAR". The book told about the atrocity and the injustice of the Dutch administrative in East Indies especially in Lebak, Banten. To cover his identity he then used Multatuli as his literature name. The name Multatuli came from a Latin word, and have meaning "I have suffered enough". With the published of this book, finally the world knew about the truth in East Indies. 
Now, we can find a street named after him in city of Rangkasbitung as the appreciation of his struggle against the injustice of Dutch colonial in Lebak, Banten

Oh yeah, before I forgot, do you know that Eduard Douwes Dekker was also a grandfather of Ernest Douwes Dekker, our national independence hero who also known as Danudirja Setiabudi? ... Now you know .. (uuuh I love history!!)

Okay .. let's get back to the adventure trip ....

So, we arrived at the Rangkasbitung Train Station about 23.00 WIB. Upon arrival, my fellow buddy from Baduy, Kang Sukma had already wait for us with two Elfs Mini Van that ready to take us to the next trip to Ciboleger. Kang Sukma is my old time friend, an outer Baduy Tribe who usually helps me to arrange the trekking trip into the inner Baduy Tribe Villages. He lives in Ciboleger. And as our plan, we will spent the first night of our journey in his home. 

We then split into 2 groups, each embarked to one Elf, and continue our journey. It takes about 2 hours drive to get to Ciboleger, the official gate to Baduy Tribe Villages. So, when we arrived in Ciboleger, the clock had stroke an hour after midnight. 

.... To Be Continued ....