Sayuti Melik

Melik was born in 1908 in Sleman, Yogyakarta. He went to Loro Ongko School in the village of Srowolan, and after that continued his education in Yogyakarta.

His father had instilled nationalism in him since his childhood. At the time, his father opposed the Dutch government's decision to use their fields to grow tobacco.

While studying at a teacher's school in Solo in the year of 1920, he learned nationalism from his Dutch history teacher, HA Zurink.

In his teenage years, he was interested in reading the Islamic magazine Moving leader KH Misbach in Kauman, Solo, a left-leaning scholar. At that time, many people, including Muslim leaders, saw Marxism as an ideology of the struggle against colonialism. Of Kiai Misbach he studied Marxism.

The first acquaintance with Bung Karno occurs in London in 1926.

His writings on politics caused him to be detained multiple times by the Dutch. Holland was arrested in 1926 for allegedly helping PKI, and subsequently discharged into the Boven Digul (1927-1933).

In 1936, he was arrested in England, and was imprisoned in Singapore for a year. After expulsion from the British territory, he was recaptured by the Dutch and taken to Jakarta, and put into a cell at Central Gang (1937-1938).

Upon return from exile, Sayuti met with S. K. Trimurti, and engaged in a variety of movement activities together. On July 19, 1938, they were married.

In the same year, they founded the newspaper Rapid in Semarang, which was published three times a week with a circulation of two thousand copies. Because the income was small, the couple was forced to perform a variety of jobs, from editorial to printing business, from sales to distribution and subscription.

S. K. Trimurti and Sayuti Melik entry turns out jail due to their writings that criticized the Dutch government. Suyuti, as a former political prisoner exiled to Boven Digul, was spied on by the Dutch intelligence service (PID).

At the time of the Japanese occupation, the Japanese locked the March 1942 newspaper “Rapid” down. Kempetai arrested S. K. Trimurti. Japan also suspected Sayuti as a communist member.

On March 9, 1943, inaugurated the establishment of son (People Power Center) headed "Gang of Four" Sukarno, Moh. Hatta, Ki Hajar Dewantara, and Kyai Mas Mansoer. When the Sukarno asked the Japanese government to free S. K. Trimurti, then took her to Jakarta to work in the Son, and then in Java Hookoo Kai, Devotional Association of People All Java. Then S. K. Trimurti and Sayuti Melik can live relatively peaceful. Sayuti continues to be at the Bung Karno.

The Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI) was formed August 7, 1945 and chaired by Sukarno, replacing the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK). There were initially 21 members, but, unbeknownst to the Japanese, the membership grew by 6 people including Sayuti Melik.

Sayuti Melik was a member of the group 'Menteng 31', which played a role in the kidnapping of Sukarno and Hatta on August 16, 1945. The young fighters, including Chaerul Saleh, Sukarni, and Wikana, with Shodancho Singgih, a member of the PETA, and another young man, brought Sukarno (along with Fatmawati and Guntur who was only 9 months old at the time), and Hatta, to Rengasdengklok. The aim was to ensure that Sukarno and Hatta were not persuaded or affected in any way by the Japanese.

Here, they re-assured Sukarno that Japan had surrendered and the fighters were ready to fight the Japanese, no matter what. In Jakarta, youth groups, Wikana, and groups of older people, namely Mr. Ahmad Soebardjo negotiated. Mr. Ahmad Soebardjo agreed to proclaim the independence of Indonesia in Jakarta. Then he asked Yusuf Ahmad Soebardjo Kunto to go Rengasdengklok. They brought Sukarno and Hatta back to Jakarta. Mr. Ahmad Soebardjo managed to convince the youths to not hastily declare independence.

The original manuscript proclamation preserved in the National Monument

The Declaration of Independence was composed by Sukarno, Hatta and Achmad Subardjo at the home of Japanese Rear Admiral Maeda. Sukarni and Melik were present as witnesses on behalf of the youth revolutionaries. When finished, at dawn on August 17, 1945, the draft text of the proclamation was read to the audience. However, the youth group rejected it as they regarded the text as a product of the Japanese.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Melik put forward the idea of Sukarno and Hatta signing the Declaration of Independence on behalf of Indonesia. After they consented, Sayuti immediately typed up a revised version of the declaration stating it was made on behalf of Indonesia rather than saying Sukarno and Hatta were representatives of the Indonesian people.

After the Indonesian Independence, he became a member of Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP). In 1946 on the orders of Mr. Amir Syarifuddin, he was arrested by the Indonesian government as he was considered close to the 'United Struggle' and was considered to be conspiring and involved in the "July 3, 1946" event. After being questioned by the Army Court, he was found not guilty. During the Dutch Military Aggression II, the Dutch arrested and imprisoned him in the Ambarawa. He was released after the completion of KMB. In 1950, he was appointed a member of MPR and DPR-GR as Deputy Force '45 and became a Deputy Scholar.

Sayuti Melik died on February 27, 1989 after a year of illness at the age of 80. He was buried in Kalibata Heroes Cemetery.

• Sayuti Melik received the Star Mahaputra Nararya (Level V) of President Sukarno (1961).

• Star Mahaputra Adipradana (II) of President Suharto (1973).