6
a check and recheck technic is needed to verify the information from one and another informans.
5
Some data that explored and found, after to be crosschecked, are combined based on a topic. After that, the critical step is begun to filter data.
6
Next step is interpretation, as a way to get historical fact from data. The fact is needed as a basic
material for reconstruction.
The research is classified as an oral history, because its main source is provided by some interviews. The opinion is referred to historian Adaby Darban
that “oral history has a characteristic responsible side, namely as a historical source that narrated by peole as a follower or witness to the contemporary historical
moment”.
7
III. Peling Gulf: Meeting point I for Liberation Operation of West Irian
Peling Gulf is known as a widest gulf in Banggai islands, with her socio- economically strategic position for people of four districts: Central Peling, Liang,
Bulagi and South Bulagi. Socially, its waters is an interaction area between people of eastern and western side. Since a long time, the gulf functioned as a “crossbridge”
to connect eastern and western coast. Over the gulf, hinterland people of bot side made a relation and differed their dialect, even in one language, Banggai.
Economically, the gulf has a great influence on local economic expansion. According to Wilman D.L., that
Majority people of the gulf lived dependent on its maritime source. Fishing prauws, especially traditional fishers, sailed fro and back, meanwhile bagan prauws
leant on the Patukuki coast in Central Peling district. Every morning, its sidecoast and shallow waters of this area is full with many fishers for cutting seaweed. The
dynamics is seen in some villages of western sidecoast of Peling Gulf.
8
5
Tindjabate. Memahami Sejarah Tanah Poso: Sebuah Refleksi Singkat atas Penerbitan dan Peluncuran Buku Sejarah Poso. Paper presented in “Peluncuran dan Bedah Buku ‘Sejarah Poso’
Hotel Palu Golden, Palu, 23 Maret 2005, p. 4.
6
Notosusanto. Op.cit., p. 38-39.
7
Darban. “Sejarah Lisan Memburu Sumber Sejarah dari Para Pelaku dan Penyaksi Sejarah”, Humaniora IV1997, p. 1.
8
Wilman. Orang Kaya di Teluk Peling: Sisi Lain Perkembangan Ekonomi Rakyat di Teluk Peling”, Midden Celebes Vol. I Nomor I, Januari-Maret 2012, p. 74.
66
After maritime source, plantation source is abundant. Some plants are growth by local people as baku Banggai’s yam, kela sweet potato, bokinde
corn, ndeke taro and kasubi cassava. Lowland is reserved to plant some coconut palms, chocolate, pecan and cashew. Plateau is dominated by rottan, ebony
and ironwood.
9
In eastern side of gulf, the condition is best for some plantation crops as cloves, nutmeg, cacao, palms and sago. The fact has existed since a long
time, even before Indonesia’s independence, some platantion crops had been cultivated as palm and sago.
Calm condition and crossing position made the Peling gulf as a best position for defense strategy in liberating West Irian, or Trikora Operation.
10
Peling gulf participated in this part of Indonesian history. As Urip Santoso said,
Finally, naval taskforce came at DK meeting point 1. The location is Peling Gulf in Banggai islands. We arrived there in early August 1962.
While waiting for a negotiation in the United Nations, we made some combat trainings as necessary. In Peling Gulf, I got a present as an
instruction to receive 2 platoons of civilian voluntarilies and five “humat torpedoes” for jibaku from Japanese language, meaning “to take suciede”.
I wondered about the operation that never seen before even some briefing.”
11
Comfort condition was felt by Indonesian army that positioned in the gulf. However, it was not so for Montomisan people. In August 1962, the comfortable
gulf was shocked by Indonesian’s naval forces under the command of Commodor Soedomo. Some months before, Indonesian cruiser visited the gulf. As some
9
Wisnawaty, Op.cit., p. 27.
10
I define that the most crucial thing is our combination attack on Biak with amphibious landing and airborne. The place of rendezvous is Peling Gulf, in Banggai islands. Meanwhile
airborne troops in Morotai, Ambon and Makassar will strike. Thus, we collect all maritime force that positioned in Ambon and Makasar, to a meeting point in Peling Gulf. According to the
instruction, at late on August 17
th
, 1962, national flag must be flown on the ground of Irian. The operation is planned to work for five daus. Therefore, D-day is defined on August 12
th
, 1962 the day for landing in Biak. On 8-D, all naval force has to meet in Peling Gulf. On 20-D submarines
that load special troops of command RPKAD has to leave for a position between Biak and Hollandia Jayapura at present, with a task to sink enemy’s ship and land the special troops to attack Hollandia.
I will depart with police’s patrol ship, accompanied with some minesweepers and anti-submarine, as a last group from Ambon to the meeting point of naval force in Peling Gulf. In this route, our trip
is followed by a foreign submarine. Dwipayan and Ramadhan. SOEHARTO; Pikiran, Ucapan, dan Tindakan Saya: Otobiografi.
t.t.: PT. Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada, 1989, p. 46.
11
Santoso. “Operasi Pembebasan Djayawijaya” in Sukono dkk, Dan Toch Maar; Apa Boleh Buat, Maju Terus: Ingatan dan Pengalaman ADELBORST INDONESIA 1949-1957.
Jakarta: Kompas. 2009, p, 295.
