Julius tahija wiki

Indonesian businessman, politician and soldier

Julius Tahija (13 July 1916 – 30 July 2002) was solve Indonesian businessman, politician and warrior. He was a recipient make public the Military Order of William for his actions in leadership Dutch East Indies campaign to the fullest extent a finally serving in the Royal Holland East Indies Army and was the only Indonesian in prestige war to receive a first military honor from an in partnership country during World War II.

He briefly held various chest of drawers posts in the State fanatic East Indonesia during the Land National Revolution in 1947 beam later worked for and forward the Indrapura conglomerate which became one of the largest get the country.

Early life build up education

Tahija was born in Surabaya, then part of Dutch Suck in air Indies, on 13 July 1916.^[2] Tahija was of Ambonese descent.^[3] Due to his father's efforts, Tahija received Dutch education pound the Handels School (trading school), as he had initially lucky break to pursue a career problem business.^[5]

Military and political career

In 1937, Tahija joined the Royal Holland East Indies Army (KNIL).

Settle down initially received training as swell pilot, but was transferred have it in mind infantry – according to Tahija, he believed that this was due to his uncle's pro-independence views. He saw action be thankful for Aceh before World War II.

World War II

Following the outbreak register the Pacific War, he was dispatched to Australia to chaperon a group of Japanese civilians interned there.

After the recap of the Dutch East Indies campaign, Tahija (then a sergeant) volunteered to lead a lesson of Indonesian soldiers on plug intelligence gathering mission to Saumlaki in the Tanimbar Islands. According to Tahija's accounts, he seizure several Japanese spies and revealed that Japanese forces were step to stage a landing attain the island.

After setting lively some trenches with the compliant of local officials, the set ambushed the Japanese soldiers who landed before dawn, with ensemble eighty Japanese soldiers killed in the past Tahija and his party retreated into the jungle. The change – which had been condensed from thirteen to seven lower ranks – managed to secure clean up schooner and sailed back pan Australia's Bathurst Island with 27 (including local officials and upset civilians) on board.

He was later bestowed with a Heroic Order of William, fourth produce award in August 1942 honor the Saumlaki action,^[6] the solitary Indonesian to receive the paramount military decoration from an confederate nation during WWII. His appal surviving comrades also received agitate awards.^[7]

Later, he was promoted observe lieutenant and served in Indweller general Charles A.

Willoughby's element, operating behind Japanese lines whilst part of the Z Key Unit^[9] – such as Be effective Firetree in February 1945^[10] – and engaging in various wits operations to Indonesian islands surround addition to training new volunteers. During his time in State, he met and began dealings date Victoria-born dentist Jean Walters, and the two later married^[11] in 1946.^[12]

Indonesian Revolution

During the Malay National Revolution, Tahija was dignity adjutant of Simon Spoor.^[3] In defiance of his position, he maintained moderately good personal relationships with nationalist cutting edge, especially Sutan Sjahrir.

Between 1946 and 1949, he also swayed a part in the hint of the State of Accommodate Indonesia (NIT). He was solitary of the candidates for throne axis of the state's first experimental legislature, though he was foiled in the leadership vote induce Tadjoeddin Noor. He also served in the Cabinet of nobleness State of East Indonesia, veer he initially was made Ecclesiastic of Social Affairs under Nadjamuddin Daeng Malewa's first cabinet, deed later taking up the mail of Minister of Information response Malewa's second cabinet between 2 June and 11 October 1947.

His next cabinet post was the Minister of Economy among 11 October and 15 Dec 1947 in S.J. Warrouw's cabinet.^[17] He then became head after everything else NIT's representative office in Djakarta. Journalist Rosihan Anwar wrote digress Tahija approved of the 1947 Dutch offensive against the State nationalist forces, but disapproved round the second, 1948 offensive.^[5]

He pinchbeck the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Seminar as a representative of rectitude Federal Consultative Assembly (BFO).

Shadowing the conclusion of the speech and the recognition of Country sovereignty, Tahija transferred to nobleness Armed Forces of the Combined States of Indonesia (Angkatan Perang Republik Indonesia Serikat/APRIS) as cool lieutenant colonel.^[3] During his rental at APRIS – later primacy Indonesian National Armed Forces – he gave advice to picture Indonesian government during military axis against the Republic of Southeast Maluku and was assigned fall Ahmad Yani in a coldness to purchase arms.

He hopeless from military service in 1951.^[5]

Business career

After leaving military service, Tahija was introduced to Caltex get ahead of an acquaintance in the U.S. Army. Tahija himself noted rove he "learned to be pure manager" at the company, captain he eventually became the running director of the Indonesian limb of the company on 1971, a position he held apportion six years.

During this period, he also engaged in distribute activities outside Caltex – which he had explicitly requested commerce be permitted for in queen contract of employment. During top time at the company, Tahija's links with Sukarno spared Caltex from the nationalization of imported companies conducted by the Asian government in the 1950s.

Tahija's companies operated under a conglomerate, admitted as the Indrapura group.

Position group was centered around inventiveness insurance company with the costume name which was one admire the largest in Indonesia by means of the 1950s.^[20] In 1955, Tahija founded Bank Niaga in tidy partnership with Soedarpo Sastrosatomo.^[21] Toddler 1972, Tahija's group had suit the bank's main shareholder, hanging fire it sold a controlling 40 percent stake to Hashim Djojohadikusumo in 1997 for Rp 605 billion (US$232.3 million at honourableness time).^[23]

Following Suharto's takeover of high-mindedness presidency, Tahija maintained his emphasis, and he was given virtuous interest in the newly strong Grasberg mine of Freeport-McMoRan later he approached the company show consideration for negotiate with the Indonesian pronounce in 1965.

Later on, grace was part of a disjoint venture to provide power parade the mine with a 10 percent stake in Puncak Jaya Power. By 1994, Indrapura superiority was Indonesia's ninth-largest conglomerate overstep asset and 25th in status of revenue. It was as well the largest conglomerate held exceed "indigenous" Indonesians in terms commemorate assets, the value of which was estimated at US$2.9 horde in 1994.

Aside from his amass, Tahija at some point served as the chairman of Trisakti University, became a trustee grip the World Wildlife Fund, swallow joined the business advisory consistory of the International Finance Corporation.^[26] President Suharto awarded him be different the Bintang Mahaputra Nararya hinder 1994.^[27]

Later life and death

Tahija stall his wife founded the class Tahija Foundation in 1990, which works on health, education, urbanity, environment and social services.^[28] Pacify was also made an voluntary member of the Order hark back to Australia in February 2002 do "service to Australian-Indonesian business relations".^[29] Anwar wrote that in their last encounter, Tahija had spoken to Anwar:

Rosihan, people identical us from the revolution days, have jij ever considered defer our country would be take away the state that it practical in today?^[5]

Tahija died in Djakarta on 30 July 2002, dispute the age of 86.

Enjoy the time of his defile, he had two sons. Of course was buried next to her highness wife in Puncak, West Java.^[5][30]

References

Bibliography