Westerling Attempted Coup in Bandung

VIVAnews – 58 years ago today, on 23 January 1950, Captain Pierre Raymond Westerling, former commander of the Dutch Special Troops, attempted a coup in Bandung, claiming the lives of 94 Indonesian soldiers.

A month after the Dutch acknowledged Indonesia’s status as a sovereign country, a number of former KNIL (Netherlands Indies Army) soldiers planned military coup against the Indonesian government. These soldiers rallied under the leadership of Captain Pierre Raymond Westerling, who was commander of the Dutch Special Troops or KST (Korps Speciaale Troepen).

The Dutch military intelligence had been aware of Westerling’s illegal activity in Indonesia since November 1949. According to J. M. Verburgh, the Dutch Police Inspector, Westerling had founded an organization called Ratu Adil Persatuan Indonesia (RAPI). This organization has a military wing called Angkatan Perang Ratu Adil (APRA), headed by Westerling himself. Most of his followers were former KNIL soldiers and a few dozen deserters from the KST.

On 5 January 1950, Westerling sent an ultimatum to the United States of Indonesia (RIS) government. In his ultimatum, Westerling demanded the RIS government to pay more respect to its constituent states, especially the Pasundan States, and to acknowledge APRA as the official armed forces of the Pasundan States. The Indonesian government, however, ignored his ultimatum. Instead, Vice President Hatta told the Dutch High Commissioner, H. M. Hirscfeld, that the Indonesian government has issued an arrest warrant against Westerling.   

On 22 January 1950, a number of RST troops quietly left their headquarters at Batujajar, Bandung. The Dutch commander quickly forwarded the news to the commander of the Siliwangi Division, Lieutenant Colonel Sadikin. According to the Dutch estimation, the rebel forces numbered around 350 to 800 soldiers.

The next day, on 23 January 1950, Westerling and his troops stormed the city of Bandung. On their way to the city, the rebels shot dead all members of the Indonesian armed forces who happened to be on the streets. In all, no less than 94 Indonesian soldiers, mostly unarmed, were killed as a result of this rebellion including Lieutenant Colonel Lembong, the vice-commander of Siliwangi.

After negotiations, the Dutch army commander in Bandung managed to persuade Westerling to withdraw from Bandung. The next day, APRA attempted similar coup in Jakarta but failed since the Indonesian army managed to halt and defeat the rebel forces near Pacet, Cianjur.

After the attack, the Indonesian government arrested Sultan Hamid II, a good friend of Westerling and the would-be president of PARI. Westerling himself, however, managed to escape to Singapore. From there, he went to the Netherlands and lived there until he died in 1987. While he was still alive, the Indonesian government had several times wanted to try him for war crimes, but to no avail.