Sukarni

Sukarni Kartodiwirjo (14 July 1916 – 7 May 1971) was an Indonesian freedom fighter and activist who demanded independence for Indonesia during the Dutch colonial era and the Japanese occupation, and was the chairman of the Murba Party until his death.

Sukarni was born on 14 July 1916 in Sumberdiran, Garum, Blitar.

The name Sukarni in Javanese means "to pay more attention".

He was the fifth child of Dimun Kartodiwirjo, son of Prince Diponegoro's right-hand man Onggomerto, and Supiah, a woman from Kediri.

Sukarni's older siblings were Hono, Sukarlim, Sukarmilah, Sukardi, while the younger siblings were Suparti, Endang Sarti, Endi Sukarto, Sukarjo, and an unnamed sibling who died as a child.

Sukarni studied at Mardisiswo in Blitar, similar school to Taman Siswa that time.

Sukarni continued to study at Hollandsch-Inlandsche School (HIS; Dutch school for natives).

When Sukarni graduated from HIS and registered for Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs (MULO; secondary school), his father died in 1929.

After graduating from MULO, Sukarni then continued his study to Kweekschool (teacher school) and Volks Universiteit (People University).

According to Emalia Iragiliati, Sukarni became a follower of Sukarno in Bandung when he was studying journalism, encouraged by Sukarno's elder sister, Wardoyo, in Blitar.

In 1930, Sukarni joined Perhimpunan Pemuda Pelajar Indonesia, which was later renamed to Indonesia Muda, and became the chairman of the Blitar section.

He also joined Persatuan Pemuda Rakyat Indonesia (Perpri) section Purworejo.

In 1933 he became the chairman of Indonesia Muda section Purworejo.

Due to his activities in Indonesia Muda, Sukarni was expelled from MULO but he was allowed to take a special examination so he still graduated.

Sukarni once created PPPI's rival, Persatuan Pemuda Kita because the former did not allow youths who had not attended school to join.

After creating this, later both groups were merged and became Indonesia Muda.

At the Indonesia Muda congress in Surabaya, Sukarni managed to persuade congress participants to approve his idea allowing youths that hadn't attended school to join Indonesia Muda.

In 1934, he was appointed as the chairman of Pengurus Besar Indonesia Muda.

Sukarni helped Anwari and elder sister of Sukarno, Wardoyo, to establish the Partindo Blitar chapter and for the first time met Wikana, Asmara Hadi, and SK Trimurti.

At the end of 1935, Sukarni was appointed as chairman of the Perpri Jakarta section.

In 1936, Sukarni translated Tan Malaka's brochures and pamphlets from Dutch to Indonesian and distributed them.

He managed to escape the arrest of Indonesia Muda members in the head office in Jakarta on 19 June 1936.

The colonial government searched for Sukarni due to his article in Indonesia Muda magazine encouraging youths to unite against colonialism.

Sukarni who was pursued by the government then decided to go to Borneo.

He said goodbye to his mother in Blitar and entrusted the Indonesia Muda leadership to Ruslan Abdulgani.

Sukarni lived in disguise under the name Maidi Borneo area from 1937 to 1940.

He traveled to Banjarmasin, then moved to Murung Pudak working as coolie at Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij (BPM).

He then moved to Sangasanga and worked as servant at one of BPM official's houses.

He subsequently moved to Balikpapan and served as a data recorder in the BPM topography department.

Sukarni eventually was arrested by the colonial government there before the Japanese attacked the Dutch East Indies - sometime in 1940 according to Husein Yusuf, while in disguise as the employee of the department of BPM.

He was brought to Samarinda before being jailed in Java, which was chosen over Boven Digul because Japanese army had attacked the Dutch Indies.

Sukarni was then brought to Jakarta via Surabaya.

Sukarni initially was jailed in Pasar Baru prison.

Sukarni was later released and lived with Antara staff.

Sukarni, as well as employees of Antara such as Adam Malik, A.M. Sipahutar, Pandu Kartawiguna, and Abdul Hakim, and other activists such as Asmara Hadi, Mulia, Wasdji Kartawiganda, and Wikana were arrested in December 1941 because the Dutch colonial government considered them dangerous.

At first they were jailed in Pasar Baru prison.

They then moved to Sukabumi, then Garut then Sukabumi again.

Before being transferred to Australia, they were then moved to Nusakambangan on 2 March 1942 and settled there.

The transport ship in which they were deported, KPM Tawali, along with other ships docked there then were destroyed by Japanese attacks on 4 and 5 March.

On 10th, all of the prisoners were set free including Sukarni, Adam Malik, and Wikana.