During World War II, thousands of young Japanese were
dispatched to Southeast Asia as part of the Pacific War campaigns and the
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. These individuals, hailing from diverse
backgrounds, found themselves conscripted into military service, leaving behind
civilian lives for the battlegrounds of Southeast Asia.
In the Dutch East Indies, the Japanese occupiers established
several military and paramilitary organizations. These groups, including the
Greater Asia Youth Corps, San A Seinen Kutensho, Seinendan, Keibodan, Barisan
Pelopor, Hizbullah, and Barisan Berani Mati, each had distinct objectives and
training programs. They were instrumental in educating, training, and
mobilizing the youth to support Japan’s defense efforts.
Among these conscripted youths were Koreans, who were forced
to serve as gunsok (assistants to the Japanese army) and had to forsake their
Korean identities. They were promised monthly salaries and various amenities
but faced severe discrimination and extended labor contracts that caused
significant distress.
Japan’s conscription system was imposed on Korea from 1910
to 1945. Yang Chil Sung, a Korean, was forcibly made a phorokamsiwon (prison
guard) in Bandung in 1943. After Korea gained independence, Yang Chil Sung did
not return home. Instead, he joined guerrilla fighters resisting the Dutch in
the forests of Bandung.
Yang Chil Sung, along with four others—two Koreans and two
Japanese—joined the Pangeran Papak Forces under Major SM Kosasih in Majalaya.
They integrated into the local community, converted to Islam, taught various
skills, and adopted new names: Komarudin (Yang Chil Sung), Aboe Bakar
(Masashiro Aoki), Oemar (Lee Gil Dong), Soebardjo (Guk Jae-man), and Oesman
(Hasegawa Katsuo).
The Pangeran Papak Forces, formed in 1945, became known for
integrating former Japanese soldiers who supported Indonesia’s independence
struggle. Led by Major SM Kosasih, a veteran PETA soldier, the forces conducted
various missions and operations, refusing to relocate to Yogyakarta after the
1948 Renville Agreement. Instead, they chose to defend West Java from Dutch
attacks, establishing their base at Gunung Dora, a guerrilla headquarters on
the Garut-Tasikmalaya border.
The Pangeran Papak Forces were part of the BPRI (Indonesian
People’s Rebel Front) under Bung Tomo, equipped with diverse weaponry,
including firearms, grenades, and sharpened bamboo sticks. They carried out
numerous attacks on infrastructure and logistics in Dutch-occupied areas. In
1949, they merged with other militias to form the Galunggung Guerrilla
Headquarters (MBGG) under the Siliwangi Division.
The forces included experienced soldiers from Korea and
Japan who shared their combat knowledge and skills with local fighters. In
1947, Yang Chil Sung and his comrades sabotaged the Cimanuk Bridge, disrupting
vital supply lines. This led to a manhunt by Dutch forces, culminating in their
capture at Gunung Dora on October 26, 1948. They were executed in February 1949
after a military trial.
Yang Chil Sung and his comrades were buried in Pasirpogor
Public Cemetery and later reinterred at Tenjolaya Heroes’ Cemetery in Garut in
1975. On the 50th anniversary of Indonesia’s independence, the Indonesian
government held a ceremony to honor Komarudin, formerly known as Yang Chil
Sung.
The Pangeran Papak Forces were named after a historical
figure who spread Islam in Garut at the end of the 18th century. Raden Wangsa
Muhammad, known as Pangeran Papak, was a noble from the Galuh Pakuan kingdom.
He dedicated his life to spreading Islamic teachings across Garut and
neighboring regions, earning the title “Papak” for his egalitarian principles.
Pangeran Papak’s legacy continued through his influence on
local religious and community leaders. He was known for his artistry and use of
cultural events to propagate Islamic teachings. He passed away around 1898,
leaving behind a legacy of equality and devotion.
The story of the Pangeran Papak Forces and their diverse
members—Japanese, Koreans, and Indonesians—reflects the complex history of
Southeast Asia during World War II. These young fighters, drawn from different
backgrounds, united in their struggle for Indonesia’s independence, leaving a
legacy that continues to be honored today.
Comments
Post a Comment