Trikora Operation and external influence

6 district with Salakan as a capital now capital of Tinangkung district, based on Surat Keputusan Kepala Daerah Tingkat I Sulawesi Tengah governor’s decree, dated 4 Pebruari number: 01Pem1961. 20 A man who controlled Montomisan is called as Kapitan. The term applies to the present, although Montomisan is a village of Bulagi district. Between 1908 and 2009, Montomisan was under seven rulers, namely Tolodo 1908-1930, Bae Tolodo 1930-1963, Manan Tolodo 1963- 1990, Suleman Molunggui 1990-1997, Nurjad Tolodo 1997-2005, Abia Molunggui 2005-2009, and Ismadi Tumbu 2010-2015. Montomisan people was not eliminated by the coming of military uniformed persons, but they were surprised with the arrival of naval forces. Nasir Sadio remembered a such condition in the middle of 1962. There were some fregatted on the sea and experienced a flunctuative. Many people were surprised with their sudden arrival. For eight months in Peling Gulf, there were two submerines around the waters. One of them was in the central, at the other was near the coast. The interesting one is Montomisan people’s memory about their relation with Indonesian soldiers, that majority were Javanese. The relation made Montomisan people had a memory on Indonesian language. At that time, a little people of this village spoke Indonesian well. Indonesian language was more populair as Melayu language. Indonesian soldiers infiltrated into some plantations near the village to get some fruits. They asked some persons who saw them, but not every one in Montomisan spoke Indonesian well. Indonesian language was a hindrance for people who did not speak it well. Even some people tried to avoid or to take another way for not seeing with Indonesian soldier. In a such condition, it was advisable that outsider tried to learn local language it meant the visitor to this village. It was needed to maintain a good personal relation. Conversely, village’s people like Montomisan would always be inferior in the relation for a long time. 21 This phenomenon motivated people who lived around Peling Gulf, especially Montomisan, to learn Indonesian language in their daily living. 20 Sadili, Op.cit., hlm. 39. 21 Brocher, Jaques Lacan, Identitas dan Perubahan Sosial Yogyakarta: Galang Press, 2009, page. 34. Abubakar Tolodo said that “finally, with painstakingly, I spoke Indonesian, although in the early phase. I learnt from the soldiers who visiting me.” 22 However, there was a warning, namely less youth generation speaks local Banggai language. It motivates some fear among people in Peling Gulf, but no solution is found for it. A such condition is a product of fearness to loss a cultural identity. An explanation on the topic shows two: 1 Montomisan has taken a part in a great event of Indonesian history: Trikora Operation, that lifted Peling Gulf asa DK 1. Therefore, Montomisan people could have a relation with outsiders. The relation had a positive effect, namely they began to know another person as a part of Indonesia nation and to learn to be a plurality Indonesian. 2 Speaking Indonesian languate was a problem for people of Peling Gulf in period of 1960s. By historical testimony, it was proved that Indonesian language had a strategic role in their daily living. It can not be denied that Indonesian language was not Montomisan’s lingua franca in 1960s.

V. Cancelation of Prophet Maulid Ceremony

Since Round Table Conference in 1949, there was a unsolutable topic, namely West Irian. The result of negotiation agreed that in a year after the transfer of sovereignity, the Dutch and RIS would discuss about it. 23 Trikora Operation was announced formally on December 16 th , 1961 and Indonesia got American’s support for it, because the U.S. President John F. Kennedy did not want to see Union Soviet’s expanding influence on Indonesia. Kennedy pressured the Dutch to hand West Irian over to Indonesia. 24 22 interview with Abubakar Tolodo in village of Montomisan, district of Bulagi regency of Banggai tanggal 21 Juni 2011. The interview was made before Tolodo’s dead. 23 Dwipayana and Ramadhan. Op.cit. page. 48. 24 Anwar. Sejarah Kecil Petite Histoire Indonesia Jilid 3. Jakarta: Komunitas Bambu, 2009, p. 51-52; Baca juga Ricklefs. Sejarah Indonesia Modern. Jakarta: Penerbit Serambi, 2008, p. 557-565. After in tension condition for eight months, on August 16 th , 1962, New York Agreement was signed between the Dutch and the Indonesian representatives on the hand over of West Irian. They agreed that on December 1 st , 1962, Indonesian national flag was flown on the land of West Irian, and the Dutch called back all her civil and military officials before May 1 st , 1963. On the date, Indonesian governmental structure was established formally after the transfer of responsibility from UNTEA United Nations Temporary Executive Authority. 25 In 1969, Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat Pepera, plebescite was launched in Papua. However, Indonesian winning over Papua was a beginning of uncertainty under Controlled Democracy Demokrasi Terpimpin. 26 Indonesian ‘s victory in her struggle for West Irian in 1963 was commemorated as a special day in Peling Gulf. The moment was celebrated with fireworks and salvos. A Montomisan, S. Tolodo, informed that At the time, I was in Montop. In that afternoon, aroung three o’clock, some Montomisan and me but I forget who my friends were were returning to Montomisan. I returned because it would be a Prophet’s Maulud Day some days later in 1963. Before leaving Montop, I was warned by my family that it would be salvos and fireworks in that afternoon in Ambelang Gulf. At that time, Soeharto was there as a command of operation. With my friends in a location between Bolubung and Mandok villages, I was surprised by some salvos from sea, only five salvos. We run away, but not so far as suddenly the salvo was opened again. It was not from rifle but also from canon. We soon looked for a safe place. Bullets fell like rain. The smoke of it blew up to cover all area, so we could not see more than 20 meters at distance. In a such condition, we run away from the coast, broke through palm plantations. Majority of Bolubung people informed that we were dead, but in fact we saved. Because it was too late for Montomisan, we sheltered in Bakalinga. A day after, we left for Montomisan. 27 Nasir Sadio told the same story, that : At the afternoon, around three o’clock, village’s people was surprised with some salvo from frigate KRI Iskandar Muda. It seemed that the salvo was a code of preparation. Rocket was blown up there pointing to the sky. The sound was not so loud. Some soldiers on the grond soon left for the fregate. 28 25 Dwipayana and Ramadhan. Op.cit . p. 49. 26 Ricklefs, Op.cit., p. 565. 27 Interview with S. Tolodo in Montomisan, 24 Pebruari 2012. 28 Interview with Mohammad Saiful J. Mangopo, Firman’s, and Nasir Sadio ini Montomisan, 24 Pebruari 2012.