Sanusi Hardjadinata

Several days after the independence of Indonesia, on 1 September 1945, Sanusi was elected by the Indonesian National Committee of Priangan as the Vice Resident of Priangan.[10] His election sparked controversy among the people, who considered that a deputy resident should be a civil servant and not a merchant. However, the resident was able to dismiss the issue.[11] During the first years of his government, the residency is very instrumental in running the government. The government system was largely influenced by the Japanese system, which prioritizes the residency as the center of local government.[12]

Due to his position as the Vice Resident of Priangan, Sanusi was very close to Oto Iskandar di Nata, the State Minister at that time. In his last letter to her wife dated 31 October 1945, Oto stated that he was kidnapped and told his wife to ask Sanusi if she needs any form of assistance. About a month later after the letter was sent, Oto was declared in absentia.[13]

During the revolution, the Bandung Sea of Fire occurred. The city of Bandung was set to fire, and the government of West Java and Priangan had to evacuate to Garut. Due to the location of his hometown in Garut, his house was used as the office of the government of Priangan Residency. After the Linggadjati Agreement, the government moved again to Tasikmalaya. The government was short-lived in Tasikmalaya, as few days after the agreement, the Dutch launched Operation Product, and the government had to evacuate again to Garut.[14]

In Garut, the officials of the government began to be arrested by the Dutch forces after refusing to cooperate with the Dutch is establishing the State of Pasundan. Officials such as the Mayor of Bandung, Ukar Bratakusumah, and the Secretary of the Governor of West Java, Raden Enokh, was arrested as soon as they arrived in the Manggarai Station in Jakarta. The resident of Priangan, Raden Indung Ardiwinangun, was arrested on 26 February 1948 in Bandung.[15][16]

Even though Sanusi was in his village in Garut, his location was quickly discovered by the Dutch. Sanusi and his family decided to hide in the valley located on the east side of his village. His attempt to hide from the Dutch eventually failed, as a few days later, a group of Dutch troops was sent to his location to arrest him.[17] He was brought to Bandung and was arrested on the Tampomas street. He was officially arrested with an official letter dated 14 April 1948. He was freed several days later on 25 July 1948, with the condition that he must leave West Java and set for Yogyakarta, the remaining region of the Republic of Indonesia at that time.[18]

On 28 October, he left Yogyakarta for Madiun. He was appointed as a high ranking employee for the Resident of Madiun. In Madiun, Sanusi had to recover the war-torn Madiun Residency after being devastated by the revolt by the communists led by Musso. He had to cope with different cases occurring after the affair, such as suicide, farming, etc.[19]

Several months later, on 18 June 1949, Sanusi returned to Bandung. There, he was appointed by the Indonesian Government as the Acting Resident of Priangan in the shadow government of West Java, competing with the de facto government of the State of Pasundan. During the handover of the State of Pasundan to the central government of United States of Indonesia, Sanusi was appointed as the head of the education section.[20]

Sanusi Hardjadinata (right) and Zhou Enlai at the conference.

After the State of Pasundan was officially dissolved on 11 March 1950, the former territory of Pasundan was reorganized as the Province of West Java. A year after the formation of the province, Sanusi was elected as the Governor of West Java, replacing Sewaka, which had been appointed as the Minister of Defense in the Sukiman Cabinet.[21]

During his office term, the Afro–Asian Conference was held in Bandung. Sanusi was tasked with preparing the conference. He must ensure the security of Bandung and its surroundings, which was largely affected by the Darul Islam rebellion by Kartosuwiryo. He also had to ensure the accommodations and provisions for the delegates. He even checked himself the condition of Hotel Homann and Hotel Preanger, which was used to accommodate the delegates. A day before the conference, he was seen riding his Chevrolet car around the site of the conference to ensure the success of the conference.[22]

After the conference ended, Sanusi focused on the effort to establish a state university in Bandung. On 14 October 1956, the Committee for the Formation of State University in Bandung was formed, and he was chosen as the patron of the committee. A university was finally established on 11 September 1957.[23]

Sanusi ended his term after being appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs in the Djuanda Cabinet on 9 April 1957. He was replaced by Ipik Gandamana, his vice-governor.[24]

After being appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs by Sukarno, Sanusi was deeply involved in the debates of whether to form a new constitution or return to the Constitution of Indonesia in the Constitutional Assembly of Indonesia. Due to the prolonged debates and the West Irian conflict that became more alerting, the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army Abdul Haris Nasution declared that Indonesia is in the state of emergency and forcing the prolonged debates to be ended quickly.[25]

Finally, on 5 July 1959, President Sukarno issued a presidential decree. Djuanda returned his mandate as the prime minister to Sukarno, and Sanusi Hardjadinata was replaced as the minister of Home Affairs by Ipik Gandamana, which previously had replaced him as the Governor of West Java.[25]

Due to his affiliation with the Indonesian National Party, there is an assumption that during his term, members of the party had many advantages in the bureaucracy.[26]

Sanusi Hardjadinata as the Ambassador of Indonesia to Egypt.

Sanusi was appointed as the ambassador of Indonesia to Egypt following his dismissal as the Minister of Home Affairs. At first, Sanusi was worried about becoming an ambassador. He felt that he had no previous diplomatic background. When he asked about the problem to Subandrio, the Minister of Foreign Affairs at that time, Subandrio gave him a thick book about the tasks and duties of an ambassador. He read the book before and during his term as the ambassador from 1960 until 1964. The book was very helpful, as Sukarno commenting that his work as an ambassador "wasn't disappointing".[27]

At the beginning of 1964, the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) began to get closer with Sukarno. PKI supported every policy made by Sukarno, and the party also formed the Association for Promoting Sukarnoism earlier in 1963. Due to this position, the Indonesian National Party began to adapt its ideology to make it closer to Marxism and communism. In the session of the Working Committee of PNI in Bandung from 13 until 17 November 1964, the party decided that the ideology of the party, Marhaenism was declared as "Marxism with Indonesian characteristics". The decision caused right-wing members of the party to be expelled. On 4 August 1965, Sanusi, along with 150 other leaders of the party from different regions of Indonesia was dismissed after being accused as "fake marhaenists", capitalists, and feudalists. The chairman of the party, Ali Sastroamidjojo, gradually increased left-wing members of the party.[32]

Even though Sanusi was expelled from the party, Sanusi still maintained good relations with Sukarno. Sukarno persuaded the dismissed members to continue forcing the party to hold an extraordinary congress. This was very odd, as Sukarno himself ordered the dismissal and the Ali faction was very reluctant to hold an extraordinary congress.[33]

Sanusi (sitting) along with other ministers of the Industry and Development section.

After Sukarno failed to restore order and law following the 30 September incidents by forming the two revised Dwikora cabinets, Sukarno handed over his position to the acting president of Indonesia, Suharto. Suharto then formed the Ampera Cabinet on 28 July 1966, which became the first cabinet in the New Order era. In the cabinet, Sanusi was appointed as the Chief Minister of Industry and Development.[34]

In his position, Sanusi supervised the Department of Public Works headed by Sutami, the Department of Textile and Handicraft Industry headed by Sanusi, the Department of Basic Industries, Light Industries, and Energy headed Mohammad Jusuf, and the Department of Mining by Bratanata.[35]

After the replacement of the Ampera Cabinet by the Revised Ampera Cabinet on 17 October 1967, Sanusi was appointed as the Minister of Education by Suharto. During his office as the Minister of Education, the only school building he inaugurated was the building of the Bandung Senior High School No. 11.[36]

Following the formation of a new cabinet, Sanusi was replaced as the Minister of Education by Mashuri Saleh.[37]

After his replacement as the Minister of Education, Sanusi became a high-ranking employee seconded to the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1968 until 1970. He retired from the ministry in 1971.[37]

From 1975 until 1978, Sanusi was appointed by Suharto as a member of the Supreme Advisory Council. During his term, the council was headed by Wilopo, a former prime minister of Indonesia. There weren't any reports on his works in the council, as everything that the council advised to the President must be kept in secret.[38]

On 10 January 1973, the five political parties: Indonesian National Party, League of Supporters of Indonesian Independence, Murba Party, Indonesian Christian Party, and the Catholic Party signed a declaration that officially merged the parties into the Indonesian Democratic Party. The Deputy Speaker of the People's Representative Council Mohammad Isnaeni was elected as the chairman of the party, while the former secretary-general of the Indonesian Christian Party Sabam Sirait was elected as general secretary.

A year after the establishment of the party, there was a conflict between the chairman of the party, Mohammad Isnaeni, with Sunawar Sukowati, the head of the party and the Minister of Welfare at that time. Sunawar, supported by the former Indonesian National Party members, stated that the formation of the Central Executive Council (CEC) of the party must be made proportional based on the number of seats obtained in the 1971 election. Thus, Sukowati wanted to reshuffle the entire CEC of the party in a congress, including the chairman seat.

Meanwhile, Isnaeni, supported by the other parties, stated that the congress must only inaugurate the existing CEC rather than forming a new CEC. This means that Isnaeni wanted to keep his position as the chairman of the party. This difference of opinion cause conflict in the party.

During this conflict, Sanusi emerged as a neutral party. He stated that he would accept both statements with the condition that both parties have a will to confer; the personal interests of both parties will not be conferred; third parties would not intervene in this conflict. Sanusi's solution wasn't accepted by both parties, and on 17 January 1975, Sunawar and Isnaeni stated their will to resign from their post.

The conflict was known by President Suharto, and on 16 February 1975, Suharto called Abdul Madjid and Sabam Sirait about the conflict. Suharto suggested that Sanusi should be the chairman of the party. Suharto had told Sanusi about his suggestion earlier on an event in the Indonesia University of Education. On 20 February 1975, Isnaeni officially handed over the chairman post to Sanusi.

Several days after seating the post of chairman, the former parties agreed to hold a congress as soon as possible, in the face of the upcoming election. Sanusi was tasked with preparing the congress and further meetings by the CEC and the party's council was held in the house of Dr. Hasjim Ning.

The first congress was finally held from 12 until 13 April 1976. It was planned that Sanusi would open the congress, but he later went sick, and he was replaced by Usep Ranudwidjaja. The congress was finally opened at 15.30 on the Istora Gelora Bung Karno after being delayed for seven hours. The congress was attended by about 1300 delegates which represented 191 out of 216 branches of the party.

During the congress, several delegates who do not have any identification card forced their way into the congress site. Abdul Madjid went to the sick Sanusi and asked him what to do about the commotion. Sanusi suggested that he should allow the delegates outside the congress site to enter. This decision proved right, as no casualties occurred during the congress.

The congress was finally closed by Sanusi himself on 13 April 1976. In his final speech, Sanusi stated that the fusion of the party has been completed through the congress.

Even though the congress had finished, the party was still being plagued with internal conflicts. Those who did not agree with the leadership of Sanusi began to bring the internal conflicts of the party into the surface.

During the 1978 General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, there was a conflict between the position of the deputy speaker of the People's Representative Council for the party. The military fraction, supported by Golkar and PPP, agreed to nominate Mohammad Isnaeni as the deputy speaker, while PDI itself nominated Usep Ranuwidjaja. Due to the large support of Isnaeni, he was elected as the deputy speaker. Regarding the issue, PDI felt that the party wasn't being represented in the council.

After several years into Sanusi's leadership, there were already signs of polarization in the leadership of the party. Isnaeni began to reconcile with Sunawar, and bring Achmad Sukarmadidjaja, the head of PDI in Sanusi's leadership, and Marsoesi, the chairman of the East Java branch of PDI. The faction began calling for an extraordinary congress, which in turn would overthrow the Sanusi-Usep faction. Achmad warned Sanusi to hold an extraordinary congress but was ignored.

Achmad's faction announced a unilateral reshuffle of the CEC on 25 November 1977. The reshuffle only affected former PNI members. Sanusi's position as the chairman of the party was replaced by Isnaeni, and other functionaries of the CEC was replaced. The reshuffle caused the party to be split into two factions. The reshuffle CEC was supported by the former members of IPKI and Murba, while the CEC led by Sanusi was supported by the former members of the Indonesian Christian Party and the Catholic Party. The dualism of leadership inside PDI caused the external intervention of the government through the State Intelligence Coordinating Agency (BAKIN), which was represented by Ali Murtopo. Ali was appointed by the government to resolve the problem. On 16 January 1978, both factions agreed to form a new CEC, on which Isnaeni and Sukowati would be installed as the head of the party.

The agreement didn't solve the conflict, as was later known, that the reshuffle CEC had already formed new branches, causing dualism of leadership at the regional level. This was used by Sanusi against Isnaeni and Sunawar, where Sanusi relinquished Isnaeni and Sunawar from their position. Isnaeni and Sunawar retaliated by firing Sanusi as the chairman on behalf of the Indonesian National Party.

The conflict caused the emergence of a minor third party, dubbed as the "Tugu Group". The group threatened both CEC to finish the internal conflict immediately, or the group will take over the CEC. The group held meetings in Pandaan to prepare a plan that would overthrow Sanusi, Isnaeni, and Sukowati from the party. The group consisted of members of the CEC, functionaries of the Pancasila Youth, and members of the Marhaen Youth Movement. Even though the group had plans, there was no clear intent about what the group would do.

The conflict escalates to its peak when a group of youths from the party tried to barge into the party's office in Diponegoro Street. To avoid physical clashes, Sanusi handed over the keys of the office to the Kopkamtib and entrusted the security of the office to Kopkamtib. The office was later sealed. Since then, a real attempt to reconcile both factions began. Kopkamtib proposed to form an ad hoc committee to resolve the problems. The committee was finally dissolved on 6 September 1980, when both CEC was announced as the United CEC of PDI, and the tasks of the CEC was back to normal.

On 16 October 1980, Sanusi held a press conference in the office of PDI. Accompanied by his colleagues, he announced that he was resigning from the party. The decision was made a day before. On the evening of 15 October, Sanusi called his typist and stated that he wanted to resign as the chairman of the party. He then swore his typist not to tell it to anybody prior to 16 October.

Sanusi later revealed that his resignation was due to his attempt to keep his mental stability. The conflicts that struck the party caused personal pressures to him. On one occasion, he also revealed that he was pressured by Suharto to sack Usep and Abdul Madjid, his colleagues, as the functionaries of the party.

On another occasion, he told one of his students, Eka Santosa, that since the conflict occurred, he was offered an amount of money and the position of commissioner in any government bank if he was willing to resign. Without accepting the offers, he resigned voluntarily.

After his resignation from the party, Sanusi became more involved in the 1945 Institution for Constitution Awareness (Lembaga Kesadaran Berkonstitusi 1945, LKB 1945). The institution was established on June 1, 1978, by Mohammad Hatta, and Sanusi became one of the members since 1978. The organization was the main opposition to the Suharto regime, due to it being filled by former influential ministers and politicians in the Sukarno era. The members of this organization then issued the Petition of Fifty on 5 May 1980, which criticized Suharto's compulsory instruction in the state philosophy, Pancasila.

Suharto later revoked the signatories' travel privileges and forbade newspapers from printing their pictures or quoting them. Members of the group were unable to obtain bank loans and contracts. Even so, the signatories formed the Petition of Fifty Working Group, based on Ali Sadikin's house. Sanusi frequently came to the working group meeting and gave advice.

A year later, one of the members of the Petition of Fifty, HR Dharsono, issued the Petition of Sixty-One on 21 August 1981. The content of the petition was similar to the previous one, but this time, Sanusi was put as number one in the list of signatories, meaning that he officially opposed the government. Due to his support to the petition, Sanusi was ignored and disrespected by several politicians and government officials in the events at the Gedung Sate.

At a quarter past midnight on 12 December 1995, Sanusi died after suffering complications in his lungs, kidney, and liver. He had been treated since 1993, and since 29 October 1995, he was put under intensive treatment under the supervision of Dr. Demin Sheng and Dr. Frans. He was buried at the Sirnaraga Public Cemetery on 12 December 1995, with the inspector Lieutenant General Mashudi.