Division of Java (1951)
The quick thinking military leaders that had not expected such a fast so-called truce in their favor, and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PSRI) was formed. Filled entirely with military officers and even a few generals, the provisional government was entirely for show. At the head of the government was Army General Sutomo, recently named head of the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National Armed Forces) after the resignation of General T.B. Simatupang. However, both titles had little meaning, as Indonesia as a nation no longer existed in reality. The government had not even met together in the capital Jakarta. Claiming that the city was unsuitable as a capital due to the influence of former President Sukarno, the PSRI held all meetings in KODAM Brawijaya military base, near Surabaya in East Java, one of the few places where the military had no major opposition. Despite everything around them, the military refused to acknowledge the existence of separatist states, and insisted that Indonesia was still united.
Meanwhile, in Western Java, the Darul Islam and Masyumi had agreed to cooperate and had written up a Sharia-inspired constitution for an independent state. With Imam Sekarmadji Maridjan Kartosuwirjo as the leader, the
Negara Islam Jawa Barat (Islamic State of West Java) was establsihed on the 25th of August, 1951 despite constant skirmishes between Darul Islam rebels and Indonesian military. The NIJB has complete control over not only the villages and rural areas, but also the main roads connecting the large cities due to the strategic location of Sukabumi. Western Java's largest cities, Jakarta and Bogor, are now surrounded by rebel forces. However several factors, including a large-enough presence of military to prevent an attack, as well as the rebels lacking training and equipment for a full-scale assault, prevent the vital cities from changing hands at the moment.
Colonel Alexander Evert Kaliwarang
Led by the young, ambitious Colonel Alexander Evert Kaliwarang, a force of around 25,000 men, well armed for an Indonesian military force and backed up by around 85 armored vehicles, some of which included tanks, marched from Surabaya and arrived in Bandung, very near the unofficial border between the NIJB and Indonesian military control and only recently taken back from the Islamic rebels. A week later Kaliwarang's forces moved forward, and initially succeeded in clearing the road towards Sukabumi. However, guerrilla warfare was used by the outnumbered and under-supplied Darul Islam to wear down the military forces. With dozens of Colonel Kaliwarang's new, untested recruits deserting every day, he was forced to fall back after achieving little in the region.
Now with the knowledge that the new military forces was weak, unprepared, and unwilling to fight, many insurgency groups popped up across Java, all wanting their own rights. Most were brutally shut down and their leaders executed. Former Head of the Armed Forces Simatupang, however, was planning his own scheme across the Strait of Madura on his own island. In his disposal were 6,000 troops. Although few they were loyal and battle-tested, as well as well trained, most of whom also came from T.B. Simatupang's homeland of northern Sumatra. The navy was contacted and, despite Simatupang being a former Army general, happily agreed to cooperate against the Army-dominated Provisional Government of Indonesia. Many naval vessels were relocated to Maduran harbors during the second half of 1951. In addition, he recruited up to 30,000 local men for his army. By December, Madura, just 30 kilometers across the strait from the city of Surabaya, Simatupang also had the local leaders of the island pledge their support. The next year would prove to be an important one for the future of the island and events there will have huge effects on its much larger neighbor, Java.
Local Madurese recruits hike through the hills in their early morning training. Many of these soldiers did not use firearms until early 1952, and instead trained with bamboo spears