A Story of The Five Days and Five Nights War in Palembang

By Andifa Rizki Asshidiqqie

X.9 MIA (04)
January 10, 2015
Palembang is known as a strategic city in South Sumatera. As an old city, which
can be traced back to 17 June 683, this city has a lot of history, especially the people
struggle story arc. The existence of Palembang which is divided by the Musi River adds
some exotism in its sleeve. As a city dominated with water, this city is known as
Venice from Far East or Venetie van het Verre Oasten. South Sumateras abundance
of natural resources is a proud yet a threat in itself, especially that comes from the
foreigners.
After World War II, the Allies brought NICA into South Sumatera with the
purpose of getting the Dutch back into control of Indonesia (The Dutchs territorial
commanders for the siege of South Sumatera were Colonel Mollinger and Lt. Col.
Carmichael). The Indonesia-Netherlands conflict was rising into its zenith, with the
people not willing to surrender the newly freed regions easily. There were many big
decisive battles, such as the Bandung Lautan Api (Bandung, the Sea of Flame), the
Ambarawa Battle (which in turn raised Soedirmans rank yet killed Colonel Isdiman in
the process), the Medan Area War which lasted for at least two years, the Puputan
Margarana which in turn created a new hero (I Gusti Ngurah Rai), and the Surabaya
Battle series which would later be known as the Heroes Day. In Palembang, there was
also a resistance war fought the Five Days and Five Nights War on January 1, 1947
until January 5, 1947.
This war was the first war in Palembang, and presumably in Indonesia, to be
fought on three dimensions land, sea, and air. The Dutch would go all out on this war
because of three aspects: military, political, and economic aspects. Militarily, the Dutch
knew that the men of TRI (Tentara Republik Indonesia), the other military units and the
weaponry were focused in Palembang. If they won the battle, then South Sumatera
would be grinded to dust the Dutch would get into the hinterland easily. Politically,
the Dutch would like to show the world that they had really gained control of Sumatera
and Java. Economically, they would gain an upper hand in the conquest of Plaju and

Sungaigerong oil field the place where the Refinery Unit III of PT. Pertamina does the
business right on the writing date if they won the siege of Palembang.
The people played a large role in the war. Their sense of nation, their willingness
to die for the country, and their pride of Palembang and Indonesia drove them wild yet
calm in order to win the war!
After the Dutch replaced the British in Palembang on October 24, 1946, Colonel
Mollinger was appointed as the Dutch territorial commander for South Sumatra
(Palembang, Lampung, Bangka, and Jambi). Submission of the British occupation to the
Netherlands took place on November 7, 1946. After replacing the UK, the Netherlands
demanded demarcation line further and further. To prevent incidents, Indonesia and the
Netherlands performed the negotiations in November 1946. The most important of these
negotiations, among others, was the Dutch troops would not expand or intemperate
areas that were really given by the UK and would maintain the status quo. The
Indonesians and the Dutchmen had agreed that the Dutchmen would be stationed in
Talang Semut only. Meanwhile in Palembang, the Indonesians began development of
military force by the TRI troops, while the Dutch actively prepared and strengthened the
position of their troops in Palembang.
In December 1946, the Netherlands has drawn up its forces in the city of
Palembang and the surrounding areas. Dutch warships began to inspect shipping traffic
between Palembang Lampung Jambi Singapore, which was aimed to conduct
economic and military blockade. The blockade was intended in order to have the
interrelationships between Jambi, Lampung, Palembang and Singapore be disconnected
so that the natural resources, living necessities, and weapons could not be imported and
smuggled out of Singapore. Dr A.K. Gani then did many actions to breach through the
blockade in order to strengthen the Indonesians so that he was dubbed "The biggest
smuggler of the South East."
Commander of Sumatra, Major General Suharjo Harjowardoyo, issued commands
through a funnel of Radio Republik Indonesia in Palembang at the end of December
1946, addressed to the Indonesian troops in Netherland-occupied regions in Medan,
Padang, and especially those in Palembang to always be alert and watchful, waiting for
instructions from the central government.

On December 28, 1946, a member of the paramilitary troops shot dead Nungcik
Napindo because he went past the Dutch troops in the fort. In the evening, the
Netherlands violated the predetermined line of demarkation. There were two jeeps
driven by Dutch troops from Talang Semut through Jalan Merdeka, Tengkuruk Street
(now Jalan Sudirman), to Charitas Hospital, releasing indiscriminate shots. The attack
was to be answered from the Indonesian army. A battle broke out, lasted about 13
hours. Meanwhile, Palembangs situation was on ceasefire situation. This incident has
shown us that the outbreak of the war would be greater, because the Dutch tried to
improve its defenses and violated the non-aggression pact in November 1946. After the
shots, there were another ceasefire.
However, the ceasefire couldnt stand for long. The Dutch violated the NAP once
again on December 29, 1946 by shooting First Lieutenant A. Rivai (the Second
Division Commander) who was inspecting the Revolutionary Armys defense posts and
its men with his Harley Davidson motorcycle. When he passed through Charitas, he was
attacked with an automatic gun, but he survived even though the shot hit right in his
stomach.
This provocation made Indonesians mad, and soon enough, on December 31,
1946, an inevitable incident began. Sporadically. A convoy unit was launched from
Talang Semut to Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, marched swiftly, and fired bullets
sporadically. Another inevitable combat rose up at the surroundings of Jalan Merdeka,
including The Great Mosque (Masjid Agung). Finally, the Revolutionary Army of TRI
succeeded in sacking Charitas Hospital, making the Dutch isolated from reinforcements.
The Dutch then agreed to a ceasefire, once again, with the Division II Supreme
Commander (Colonel Hasan Hasim) and the Governor of South Sumatera (dr. M. Isa)
who represented Indonesia.
The Dutch aimed this as an opportunity to regroup, replenish, and add more
military power for them. However, before the Dutch even prepared for its aerial combat,
the Dutch broke the ceasefire again and again with some mortar shots fired to the
Gedung Perjuangan, the Sungai Jeruju region, the Tangga Buntung area, and many
more. The incidents happened in the end of the year 1946 made the situation of
Palembang hotter and hotter. The incidents happened apparently were a part of the
Dutchs strategy to create a spark for a bigger war.

In the new year of 1947, the Dutch violated the demarkation line once again. In
05.30 in the morning, a jeep which contained Dutch soldiers got out of Benteng with
high speed. Apparently they were drunk while celebrating the New Year. The jeep went
out to Jalan Tengkuruk after turned from Jalan Kepandean (now Jalan TP Rustam
Effendi), then onwards to Sayangan, then to Jalan Segaran, 15 Ilir, where the
Revolutionary forces mostly situated in. For example, the base of Nungcik, the house of
Dr. A.K. Gani, TRIs base in Methodist School, 17 Agustus Divisons base, the 15 th
Regiments base, and the Military Police base.
In the same time, the military unit commanders (remember, there were many
nongovernmental military units at the time) and Dr. M. Isa (the Governor) convened and
resulted in the Forward March Order issued by Captain Alamsyah (Division II
Commander) with the initiative of Colonel Husin Achmad (the Supreme Commander of
17 Agustus Military Unit).

The war finally began!!!

There were three main fronts of the battlefield: the Seberang Ilir Timur Front, the
Seberang Ilir Barat Front, and Seberang Ulu Front.
Okay, lets begin with the first front: Seberang Ilir Timur. This front encompassed
the regions of Tengkuruk Charitas hospital Lorong Pagar Alam Jalan Talang
Betutu 16 Ilir Kepandean Sungai Jeruju Boom Baru Kenten. The main location
of this front was essentially the Charitas hospital because it was situated on the hilltop
which made the location strategic for attacking the enemy. The siege of SI Timur was
led by Major Dani Effendi. The defense bases were, most importantly, stationed in front
of the Great Mosque, the three-way junction of Candi Lawang, Lingkis Market (now
Cinde Market), Lorong Candi Angsoko, and Jalan Ophir (now Lapangan Hatta).
In the first day, under the command of Dani Effendi, the Revolutionary forces
attacked Charitas Hospital and the surroundings of Talang Betutu Airport. Those attacks
were done with a company and the Battalion of Capt. Animan Akhyat which were
situated near Jalan Talang Betutu. The attacks were aimed to disrupt the reinforcements
for the Dutch which came from Talang Betutu and to disconnect the connection between
the two Dutch defense bases: Charitas and Benteng (Benteng Kuto Besak). In the
evening, the Dutch amassed some tanks and pansers to break through the Revolutionary
barricade along Jalan Tengkuruk. They successfully captured the post office and the

telecommunication office after a tough fight with the Revolutionary (most importantly,
the TRI). With the success of capturing the telecommunication office (for the Dutch),
the telephone communication had been cut out totally. After that, the Dutch kept
marching to the Resident Office and the Major Office. The TRI forces there retreated to
Jalan Kepandean and Jalan Kebon Duku. In contrast, the TRI forces near Charitas
Hospital has sacked the Dutchs power there.
In the second day, the forces were mainly aimed to the Dutch base in Charitas.
However, the Dutch had passed through Talang Betutu after a harsh fight with First
Lieutenant Wahid Uddin and Captain Animan Akhyat. The Dutch had strengthen the
forces in the areas they had captured, especially near the Great Mosque and near the
Musi River. Meanwhile, Dutch corvettes had controlled the Musi River and bombarded
Palembang sporadically. In a spontanity, the civilians and the youths in the downtown
and uptown fought as far as they go. Seeing the advancement of the Indonesians, the
Dutch then intensified their inspection, and their attack as well, especially to the trains
which carried food and supplies that came from Baturaja, Lubuk Linggau, and Lahat.
The people in this front suffered much because the food and supplies havent arrived
there.
Because the Command Base of Division II was no longer safe, it was relocated
from Sungai Jeruju to Kenten (Jalan Duku). This was because of the success of longrange bombing by the Dutch army, and the bombing was successful because of spies.
Apparently, the Indonesians revealed the secret of the spies: they were Chinesedescended spies. Captain Alamsyah R.P. quickly recognized that this was a sensitive
topic, and he quickly ordered Second Lieutenant Asmuni Nas to confiscate all
telephones and communication medias that were used by the Chinese descendants along
the 16 Ilir market.
The third day, January 3, 1947. Colonel Mollinger ordered all dimensions of war
(sea, land, air) to attack all forces of TRI/Laskar. This shows us the three-dimensional
war in Palembang.
Based on those orders, tank units began to move from Benteng to Charitas, broke
through Jalan Tengkuruk, and released fires around the Great Mosque and BPRI base.
Indonesians had tried to impede the movement to Charitas with landmines, but it failed.
It didnt even blow anything! Because of that, the Lingkis Market (Cinde Market) could

be conquered by the enemy. However, in the evening, our forces in Regiment XVII
were able to recapture it. Our ammunition and weapons were limited and out of date yet
we could win! Until the third day, one-fifth of the city had been destroyed. This
destruction was even combined with the scorch-earth strategy in order to impede the
Dutch. For example, the wooden bridge in 24 Ilir was fired up in order not to be used by
the Dutch. The Dutch feared this one thing the most: Sungaigerong and Plaju
destruction and in the fourth day they focused the defense mostly in Plaju. Major Dani
Effendi effectively used this opportunity to conquer Charitas and to take the weaponry
stored there. Finally, on January 5, 1947, the Dutch was able to conquer some places out
of the status quo, yet they were as exhausted as ours.
Now we discuss about the Seberang Ilir Barat Front. This front encompassed 36
Ilir Tangga Buntung Bukit Besar Talang Semut Talang Kerangga Sungai Tawar
Sekanak Benteng.
The Battalion 32 Regiment XV Division II was led by Makmun Murod who was
in Sekanak in the start of the war.
In the first day, the commanders such as Capt. Makmun Murod, 1st Lt. Asnawi
Mangkualam, and Capt. Riyacudu did a lot of conversation to plan the attack on the
Dutchs bases. Meanwhile, the forces near Benteng had been overwhelmed and they
retreated to Jalan Kelurahan Madu and Jalan Kebon Duku. The forces that had already
been stationed in Bukit were forced to move to the surrounding villages near Bukit
Siguntang in order to hold the Dutch advance to 35 Ilir. TRI launched an attack on BPM
Handelszaken under command of Maj. Surbi Bustam with the help of Cpt. Makmun
Murod, 1st Lt. Asnawi Mangkualam, and Cpt. Riyacudu. Meanwhile, the Dutch had
captured many important buildings, such as the post office, the telegraph office, the
resident office, and the major office, and also Jalan Guru-guru 19 Ilir.
Overall, the initiative in the first day was all in TRIs hands. The Dutch, could be
said, scared to get out of their defense base because the relentless attacks of TRI and
Laskars (nongovernmental military units). The Dutch applied the help-each-other
strategy when a base is attacked, it would get reinforcements from another bases.
In the second day, the Dutch were able to sack Tangga Buntung and Talang
Semut. TRI, with its limits, tried as far as they could to hold off the Dutch, especially in
the use of molotovs as alternative to guns.

In the third day, as Mollinger suggested, the three-dimensional war began. The
Dutch had successfully captured Talang Semut and made some damage to Sekolah
MULO Talang Semut and the defense line of the Indonesian army. The Dutch were
finally able to win this front with TRIs forces retreated to Kebon Gede and Tangga
Buntung.
Finally, the Seberang Ulu Front that encompassed 1 Ulu Bagus Kuning Plaju
Sungai Gerong Kayu Agung.
In the first day, The Dutch Army were able to advance to the battalion base led by
Cpt. Raden Mas, but the advance was held off because of ALRI army in Boom Baru.
The Indonesian army also tried to attack a ship that transported supplies for the Dutch,
but it failed. The 1st company that was led by 1st Lt. Abdullah was tasked to Jalan Kayu
Agung; the 2nd company led by 2nd Lt. Sumaji to Bagus Kuning and Sriguna; the 3rd
company led by 2nd Lt. Z. Anwar Lizano launched a siege to Boom Yetty and 16 Ilir
Market.
In the second day, 2nd Lt. S. Sumaji had been successful in attacking the Dutch,
but the success was not for long. The Dutch retaliated with mortars and they could hold
themselves.
In the third day, the tides had changed. The three-dimensional war had
overwhelmed the Indonesians and the forces were forced to use the weapons that were
used by Japan.
Finally, the Dutch was able to overwhelm the Indonesians. However, the
Indonesians would not endure!
Okay, we have finished the story of the war. Now onto the reconciliation.
Indonesians were represented by dr. M. Isa (Governor), Maj. M. Rasyad Nawawi
(Division Garuda II Staff Chief) and Mursoda (Police representative). Later, Col.
Bambang Utoyo would join in the reconciliation.
The ceasefire agreement were as follows:
1) Military units would get out with the range of 20 km of Palembang except ALRI
and the civil leader;
2) Dutch posts should be placed as close as 14 km from Palembang;
3) The roads in the city would be under inspection of the Dutch army with the range
of 3 km beside the road.