Jahja Daniel Dharma
Encyclopedia
Jahja Daniel Dharma, BMP
(11 March 1911 – 28 August 1988), also known as John Lie, a National Hero of Indonesia, was one of the first high ranking navy commanders during the Indonesian National Revolution
. He was a Chinese Indonesian
.
, Sulawesi
(then known as Celebes), on March 9, 1911 to Lie Kae Tae and Oei Tjeng Nie Nio. He started his navy career as a ship-navigator on a Dutch merchant vessel, He joined the Kesatuan Rakyat Indonesia Sulawesi (KRIS), a local militia group in Celebes during the Indonesian War of Independence
The marine division of this group became later a part of the Indonesian Navy
. Initially, he was stationed in the naval harbour of Cilacap, Java
. Within a few months, he managed to clear this harbour from mines, placed by the Imperial Japanese Navy
against an eventual Allied naval invasion. For his services, he was promoted to Navy Mayor
, Utoyo Ramelan. During these revolutionary years the Dutch government imposed a naval blockade around Singapore to stop illegal activities by Indonesians. Commander John Lie's duties were to penetrate this blockade and smuggle rubber and other products in exchange for weapons. The weapons were than handed over to the Indonesian revolutionary troops in Sumatra
and among others also to the Regent of Riau, an Indonesian ruler during the Dutch colonial time.
Their efforts were not always easy. The boats used for the smuggling were small coastal transport boats (sampan
) and not designed for the high seas. Their group had to avoid the better equipped Dutch patrol boats and also the ocean waves.
John Lie used for his operations a speedboat, named the Outlaw. Once while he was smuggling 18 drums of palm oil
, he was captured by British customs. In the Singapore court however he was found not guilty and released as he had not violate any British laws.
During another incident, while transporting semi-automatic weapons from Johor to Sumatra, he was stopped by a Dutch patrol boat. John Lie informed them that his ship was stranded and couldn't move. Two gunners, probably from the Moluccas, were already aiming their weapons at the Outlaw, but the patrol boat commander didn't issue the shoot command. They just left the Outlaw in the middle of the sea without helping or investigating.
After this incident and after handing over the weapons to the Regent Usman Effendi and battalion commander Abusamah, the crew received an official letter from the revolutionary government of Indonesiastating that Outlaw was now part of the Indonesian naval fleet and was designated the official navy-name PPB 58 LB. A week later, John Lie return to Port Swettenham in Malaya to establish a naval base. This base was used to supply the struggling revolutionary government troops with fuel, gasoline, food, weapons, and other needs to maintain the independence of Indonesia
.
In early 1950, while in Bangkok
, he was called for duty to Surabaya
by the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Subiyakto and assigned the command of a navy ship, the Rajawali. In the following period he commanded his crew in the fight against the Republic of the South Moluccas (RMS) Maluku and Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia
(PRRI) rebellions. He retired from the Navy on December 1966 with the rank of Rear Admiral.
He died after a stroke on August 27, 1988 and was buried in the national heroes cemetery, Kalibata Jakarta
. For his services and contributions to the country, he was posthumously awarded with the Bintang Mahaputera Utama
by President Suharto on November 10, 1995.
On November 10, 2009 (Indonesia Heroes' Day), for his services to the country before and after independence, Jahja Daniel Dharma was named an Indonesia National Hero by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
on behalf of the nation.
Orders, decorations, and medals of Indonesia
Awards and decorations of the Republic of Indonesia are both military and civilian awards for service and personal contributions to the Republic of Indonesia. According to the Indonesian Constitution, Chapter III Article 15: "The President grants designations, awards, and other distinctions that...
(11 March 1911 – 28 August 1988), also known as John Lie, a National Hero of Indonesia, was one of the first high ranking navy commanders during the Indonesian National Revolution
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
. He was a Chinese Indonesian
Chinese Indonesian
Chinese Indonesians, also called the Indonesian Chinese, are an overseas Chinese group whose ancestors emigrated from China to Indonesia, formerly a colony of the Netherlands known as the Dutch East Indies...
.
Early life and career
He was born in ManadoManado
Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar...
, Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
(then known as Celebes), on March 9, 1911 to Lie Kae Tae and Oei Tjeng Nie Nio. He started his navy career as a ship-navigator on a Dutch merchant vessel, He joined the Kesatuan Rakyat Indonesia Sulawesi (KRIS), a local militia group in Celebes during the Indonesian War of Independence
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
The marine division of this group became later a part of the Indonesian Navy
Indonesian Navy
The role of the Indonesian Navy is to patrol of Indonesia's immense coastline, to ensure safeguard the territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone , to protect Indonesia's maritime strategic interests, to protect the islands surrounded Indonesia and to defend against seaborne threats. The TNI...
. Initially, he was stationed in the naval harbour of Cilacap, Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
. Within a few months, he managed to clear this harbour from mines, placed by the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
against an eventual Allied naval invasion. For his services, he was promoted to Navy Mayor
Life as a smuggler
In 1947, he was assigned the duty of escorting boats smuggling products to Singapore to be sold for financing the Indonesian independence war. One of his first duties was to escort a convoy of small boats that was carrying 800 tons of rubber to the Chief Representative of the Republic of Indonesia in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Utoyo Ramelan. During these revolutionary years the Dutch government imposed a naval blockade around Singapore to stop illegal activities by Indonesians. Commander John Lie's duties were to penetrate this blockade and smuggle rubber and other products in exchange for weapons. The weapons were than handed over to the Indonesian revolutionary troops in Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
and among others also to the Regent of Riau, an Indonesian ruler during the Dutch colonial time.
Their efforts were not always easy. The boats used for the smuggling were small coastal transport boats (sampan
Sampan
A sampan is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat from long. Some sampans include a small shelter on board, and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sampans are generally used for transportation in coastal areas or rivers, and are often used as traditional fishing boats...
) and not designed for the high seas. Their group had to avoid the better equipped Dutch patrol boats and also the ocean waves.
John Lie used for his operations a speedboat, named the Outlaw. Once while he was smuggling 18 drums of palm oil
Palm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
, he was captured by British customs. In the Singapore court however he was found not guilty and released as he had not violate any British laws.
During another incident, while transporting semi-automatic weapons from Johor to Sumatra, he was stopped by a Dutch patrol boat. John Lie informed them that his ship was stranded and couldn't move. Two gunners, probably from the Moluccas, were already aiming their weapons at the Outlaw, but the patrol boat commander didn't issue the shoot command. They just left the Outlaw in the middle of the sea without helping or investigating.
After this incident and after handing over the weapons to the Regent Usman Effendi and battalion commander Abusamah, the crew received an official letter from the revolutionary government of Indonesiastating that Outlaw was now part of the Indonesian naval fleet and was designated the official navy-name PPB 58 LB. A week later, John Lie return to Port Swettenham in Malaya to establish a naval base. This base was used to supply the struggling revolutionary government troops with fuel, gasoline, food, weapons, and other needs to maintain the independence of 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...
.
Later life
In early 1950, while in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, he was called for duty to Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
by the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Subiyakto and assigned the command of a navy ship, the Rajawali. In the following period he commanded his crew in the fight against the Republic of the South Moluccas (RMS) Maluku and Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia
Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia
The Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia was a rebel movement led by army officers of the Indonesian Army.-The Rebellion of the Colonels:...
(PRRI) rebellions. He retired from the Navy on December 1966 with the rank of Rear Admiral.
He died after a stroke on August 27, 1988 and was buried in the national heroes cemetery, Kalibata 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...
. For his services and contributions to the country, he was posthumously awarded with the Bintang Mahaputera Utama
Orders, decorations, and medals of Indonesia
Awards and decorations of the Republic of Indonesia are both military and civilian awards for service and personal contributions to the Republic of Indonesia. According to the Indonesian Constitution, Chapter III Article 15: "The President grants designations, awards, and other distinctions that...
by President Suharto on November 10, 1995.
On November 10, 2009 (Indonesia Heroes' Day), for his services to the country before and after independence, Jahja Daniel Dharma was named an Indonesia National Hero by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004....
on behalf of the nation.