Solihin GP

The military and Police Were Not Hostile

One of the things that Solihin GP remembered was the security. At
that time, he was still studying at the Indonesian Army Staff and
Command School (Sesko) on Jalan Martanegara, Bandung. He was
still a major.
Every day, he went around the city. Neither the military nor the
police were seen carrying handguns, let alone rifles. All weapons
were hidden, said Solihin.
Security was tight, but the inspections and other security efforts
seemed perfectly normal. It was a must for soldiers who were on
duty to carry weapons because at that time DI/TII rebel group was
very active.
However, to make guests and Bandung residents feel comfortable,
all weapons and other security equipment were concealed. They
should not be seen by passers-by, he added.
Solihin did see the police doing inspections. However, everything
seemed normal and under control. He got a lot of information on
external security, because those who carried out this task were his
friends from Kodam (the Regional Military Command) III Siliwangi.
BOX
Vegetable vendors were allowed to enter Bandung
On Sunday, April 15, 1955, representatives of Kodam III Siliwangi
held a press conference. This was necessary to stop disconcerting
rumors that had been circulating among people.
In fact, it was widely rumored that Bandung was closed to nonresidents. This caused vegetable vendors to be hesitant to send
their vegetables to the city. As a result, supply of raw materials and
logistics were disturbed.
Major Nawawi Arif, a spokesman for Kodam III Siliwangi, said that
there were irresponsible people who tried to drive up the price of
daily necessities. They also intimidated vegetable vendors and
started a rumor that anyone who entered Bandung would be
arrested, because during Asian-African Conference, Bandung would
be closed.
Nawawi Afrif urged anyone who came across those irresponsible
people to report them to authorities.

The rumor that Bandung was closed to the public was not true at all.
He added, though, that for security purposes those who wanted to
pass through were inspected, but it was just an ID inspection.
BOX
200 People were arrested
To ensure the safety of delegates and observers who began arriving
a couple days ago, the frequency of security inspections was
increased. On Friday, April 1, 1955, the police arrested 200 people
who could not show any ID.
They were found passing down several streets in Bandung, while
others were arrested during home inspections.
''In the inspection, 200 people were held for failure to show their
ID.''
They were then taken to security headquarters for further
investigation. Those deemed unsuspicious were released
immediately.
Security had been tightened in hotels where delegates were staying,
for example around Preanger and Savoy Homann area. There was a
strict permission policy regarding who could enter the area,
journalists should use ID cards issued by the committee, press card
alone would not do.
Solihin GP
Aparat Tidak Vulgar
Salah satu yang diingat Solihin GP adalah soal pengamanan. Kala itu
Solihin masih menempuh pendidikan di Sekolah Staff dan Komando
(Sesko) Tentara Nasional Indonesia di Jalan Martanegara, Bandung.
Pangkatnya masih Mayor.
Ia tiap hari melintas di tengah kota. Tidak kelihatan tentara atau
polisi yang menenteng senjata api apalagi senjata laras panjang.
Semua disembunyikan,ujar Solihin.
Penjagaan memang ketat, namun razia atau penjagaan oleh aparat
baik yang berseragam maupun pakaian dinas itu wajar- wajar saja.
Tentara yang diturunkan membawa senjata ini menjadi wajib,
karena saat itu gerombolan DI/TII sangat aktif.
Namun untuk memberi kesan nyaman bagi tamu dan juga warga
Kota Bandung, semua senjata dan alat-alat penjunjang kemanan
disimpan. Pokoknya tidak kelihatan oleh yang lalu lalang di
jalan,tambahnya.

Solihin memang melihat razia yang dilakukan polisi. Tapi semua

nampak wajar dan biasa saja. Ia banyak mendapat info soal
keamanan luar, karena yang melaksanakan tugas adalah temantemannya di Kodam III Siliwangi.
BOX
Penjual Sayur Boleh Masuk Bandung
Pada Minggu 15 April 1955 pihak Kodam III Siliwangi melakukan
temu media. Ini dirasa perlu karena desas desus yang masuk ke
masyakarat sudah sampai pada titik mengganggu kenyamanan.
Bahkan isu yang berkembang hingga menyebutkan Bandung
menjadi kota tertutup dari setiap orang dari luar kota. Ini
mengakibatkan banyak pasokan logistik yang terganggu. Karena
para penjual sayur menjadi sungkan untuk mengirim sayuran ke
kota ini.
Mayor Nawawi Arif, selaku juru bicara Kodam III Siliwangi
menyatakan ada sejumlah oknum yang melambungkan harga
barang kebutuhan sehari-hari. Mereka ini juga membuat isu dan
melakukan intimidasi kepada penjual sayur mayur yang masuk
Bandung akan ditangkap, karena Bandung selama KAA menjadi
daerah tertutup.
Nawawi Afrif menghimbau bagi siapa pun yang mendapati pihakpihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab untuk segera melaporkan ke
pihak berwajib.
Isu Bandung tertutup sama sekali tidak benar. Ia menambahkan memang untuk
keperluan keamanan memang ada razia bagi pengguna jalan, namun itu hanya
pemeriksaan identitas warga.
BOX
200 Orang Diamankan
200 people were taken into police custody.
Untuk menjamin keamanan delegasi dan peninjau yang sudah mulai berdatangan,
sejak beberapa hari belakangan pihak keamanan meningkatkan razia. Pada Jumat 13
April 1955 aparat mengamankan 200 orang yang tidak bisa menunjukkan identitas
jelas.
Mereka ini didapati ketika melintas di jalan-jalan di Bandung. Sebagian lagi
tertangkap di sejumlah rumah ketika dilakukan pemeriksaan.

Dalam razia ini telah disergap 200 orang yang tidak dapat memperlihatkan suratsurat keterangan yang syah ketika diperiksa itu
Mereka akhirnya dibawa ke markas keamanan untuk
Mereka yang terlepas dari kecurigaan segera dibebaskan.

pemeriksaan lebih lanjut.

Penjagaan telah diperketat di hotel-hotel tempat para delegasi, misalnya di Preanger

dan Savoy Homann. Izin untuk memasuki area ini diperketat, wartawan harus
menggunakan ID card dari panitia, kartu pers saja tidak berlaku.