Nora Suryanti (Soh Lian Tjie) puzzle 8

On the roads for exhibitions

I stayed at the Bellevue, Bogor, next to the building where I had to set up my exhibition. A young Indonesian came and offered his help. When he heard that I was to go on to Bandung, he asked whether he could go with me. When I agreed, he was really thankful to have found a job. Soon, he was able to work with the sticks to put up all the photographs. Even though Bogor was very quiet at that time, but there was no lack of interest!

After Bogor, we went to Bandung by bus. The exhibition was held in the office of the Regent of Bandung at the alun-alun.

On the last day of my stay, something terrible happened! My things were all packed and sent to the station for Semarang. My new assistant wanted to join me in Semarang too. Yet, I had no idea how it would work there. I would have a Mr Inkiriwang of the Ministry of Information from the State of Central Java to be my assistant in Semarang. I could only give him something extra, but I had to leave him behind.

Hardly had I reached the Savoy Homann Hotel when I saw people running into all directions. There were shots. The Angkatan Perang Ratu Adil (APRA) under the notorious Captain Westerling started some actions. Luckily, it was soon under control. I went out for a stroll in front of the hotel to see what was really happened. Then, some people warned me that there was a curfew. I could only hasten back to the hotel. How lucky that I was able to leave Bandung early the following day! Once again on the train, this time the destination was Semarang.

The only reasonable hotel at Semarang was Hotel du Pavilion. It had big rooms and was favourably situated. In the afternoon Mr Inkiriwang came to see me. We went to the station to check on my exhibits. They had not yet arrived. They should be installed in the Pendopo for the exhibition as soon as they arrived.

A cousin of mine saw me on the street that evening. She came with her husband and children to the hotel on the chance that I might be staying there. I was very happy to see them again. Years ago, before the war, together with her younger sister and relatives, she visited my family in Makassar. My father was already passed away. At that time, they were going to Toraja Highland and invited me to join them. I was really eager to join their journey as I had never been there. Yet, I had my school.

It was a great pleasure to meet my relatives after so many years of not meeting them. She asked me to go to Tegal for a day journey. My grandfather came from Tegal. I would love to see that town and my other relatives. So, I arranged with Mr Inkiriwang that I should take the Sunday off. That nice man was willing to take over my duty for that one day.

I enjoyed the trip wholeheartedly. To see Tegal again where I had so many relatives. But, there were many changes! My aunt had passed away. The cousins who used to spend their holidays with me when I was studying in Jakarta had also moved to Semarang. My eldest cousin had married and had one daughter. Her younger sister had passed away.

I was so grateful that my dear mother had pushed my poor father to send me to study in Jakarta. Despite our impoverished state, she made sure that I was able to get a good education in Jakarta. Now, being independent with an interesting job, I could only thank her with great gratitude in my heart. Amma Saga, the seer, had revealed a great secret to my Mother and I. And my mother had believed her!

After Semarang, I was going to Yogyakarta, the famous capital of the Republic of Indonesia. My heart was beating fast! How would it be? Mr Inkiriwang accompanied me, but from the Ministry of Information, I had a Mr Muljono to render me the necessary assistance in Yogya. He was very kind and helpful. We got rooms in the Hotel Merdeka. Nice spacious rooms at the very beginning of the Malioboro!

A strange feeling came as I realized that this was the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. But, everything was the same as before. Only some new houses seemed to be added. Hotel Merdeka, what else? The new parliament building and the Statue of General Soedirman were new. The Governor's residence was now the Gedung Agung. Yet, in spite of the few artificial changes, I had no awkward feeling.

"It is Indonesia! Only this part is entirely free and sovereign under the Indonesian leadership. The official language is Bahasa Indonesia. The time will soon come when the whole archipelago will be under the Indonesian leadership. The handful of Dutch people who tried to influence the so-called Federal States of East Indonesia, East Java, Central Java, East Sumatera, will soon have to leave this country," I convinced myself.

I admired the officials! Living under very difficult circumstances they still seemed to be cheerful and full of hope. They were fortunate to be in this area when the revolution broke out and the republic was proclaimed. They automatically joined the Republic! Those who were outside the island did not have that opportunity and thus were obliged to join forces with the Dutch, even though they had never had the desire to work for them. We had only our own country and people in mind. Each of us worked separately for the respective part of Indonesia that we happened to be in at the time. If we had in our minds that lofty ideal of being united, each part would fit in the whole pattern.

Once again, I had no mind at all for political analysis. I just followed my own feelings, simple and intuitive. I had no basic training to participate in political discussions. I can say, however, that I did not feel like an alien during the week that I was in Yogyakarta. Mr Assaad had shown himself to be a man of great understanding and wisdom. He honoured our exhibition with his presence!

Nora Suryanti (Soh Lian Tjie) puzzle 7

Became a Civil Servant

The day came when the State of East Indonesia was proclaimed with Tjokorda Gde Raka Soekowati from Bali as the President. Mr Nadjamoeddin Daeng Malewa became the first Prime Minister. Ida Anak Agung Gde Agung was the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Pantouw was appointed as Minister of Information, while Dr S.J. Warrouw was the Minister of Health. I forgot the other chosen names.

I wanted to have a job. The Ministry of Information greatly attracted me. One day, I called on the Minister of Information whose wife had worked with me under Dr Warrouw. I stated my intention, and he told me to report at his office as soon as possible!

The next morning I reported to the office, and was accepted immediately! I became a civil servant! It was around twenty years after Amma Saga had stated her prophecy!

Soon I had familiarised myself with the job. It was something new. We had to build up. Yes, in cooperation with the Dutch. But, this way we were able to prevent impoverishment at least in this part of Archipelago.

People began to pay attention to their daily life again. Schools were opened again. Even, a University level for economics was started with Prof Dr Hanrath as the lecturer! (ed: Hasanuddin University was started as a part of Faculty of Economics from the University of Indonesia. Yet, the opening as a full university was launched on June 1956.)

As a simple woman who knew nothing about politics, I only saw the gradual progress coming over East Indonesia. People got properly dressed. Trade was started. In short, everyday life went on smoothly. Even students from Java came to study at our College of Economics.

Then, we considered organizing an exhibition of "East Indonesia Reconstruct" with blown-up photographs and all kinds of handicrafts. I was to travel with all the exhibits, ten or twelve huge boxes, by boat. We wrote a letter to the Minister of Information in Jakarta to render me the necessary assistance.

The Republic of Indonesia at that time was still based in Jogjakarta. President Soekarno and other leaders were kept under house arrest by the Dutch in Prapat, North Sumatera. So, Mr Assaat was the acting President.

Jakarta was like a beehive. At the former People's Council (Volksraad), a joint committee of the Republic and the Federal State of Indonesia (Dutch sponsored) was working for the acceptable solution. The representative of the State of East Indonesia, Andi Patoppoi, had his office there.

I got enough help to put up my exhibition. Tough quite inexperienced, I ordered invitation cards and sent them to many organizations, including to the Committee of Good Offices for Indonesia. The three members of this committee were chosen by different parties. Australia was chosen by the Republic of Indonesia, Belgium was chosen by the Dutch, and the USA was chosen by both Indonesia and the Netherland.  The representatives were Mr Cochran (USA), Mr Critchley (Australia), and Mr Harremans (Belgium).

Mr Cochran honoured me with a visit though he had not the slightest idea of what he had come to see. Many people came. After a week, I packed everything. I should move to Bogor.

A young man from Bogor, the son of the wealthy family of the well known Tan Ek Goan bakery, came to my help. He was studying Economics in Makassar. Everything was loaded into his pick up, and we left for Bogor.

Nora Suryanti (Soh Lian Tjie) puzzle 6

Became an official interpreter

Suddenly I found myself an official of the Court of Justice under Mr Emanuels who was from Suriname. He was a very clever judge. Yet, in the case of the Courts-Martial against the Japanese Prisoner of Wars he acted as a prosecutor. He had especially asked me to be his secretary. It was a tough job but really suited my interest. He praised me that my intelligence was above the average of a Dutch woman! Mr Emanuel's wife was actually a Dutch woman. She was rather weak, but she was very nice to us.

Then, came the first Courts-Martial. A Japanese policeman. A young and very quiet man. He was to be prosecuted.

A few days earlier the Chief Judge summoned me to inform me that I had been appointed official interpreter for the session. I protested as I had no official certificate for the Japanese language. Yet, there was nobody else! This Courts-Martial had to be held. I just had to accept it!

"But, please, dress more richly! You are neatly dressed but too modestly for a court-martial," said the Chief Judge. I blushed! What did this man think of me? The war had just ended and I had no money for a new silk dress!

I went to the biggest shop open at that time and selected some white crepe georgette scattered here and there with brown circles. I thought that would be proper enough for the occasion. I cut a simple dress out of it and sewed it my self...all by hand! I was glad that the Chief Judge nodded at me in approval when we entered the hall of the Court.

For me, the dress was not that important. I had been praying all the time that this session might have a successful ending. It became so interesting that I was surprised by the fact that I had encountered no great difficulty in translating the whole session. But I had been tense for the whole time!

The sentence for that young man, Nakamura, was to be shot by a squad. Yet, during the night, he committed suicide by cutting his wrist with a paper clip!

Fortunately, two legal Japanese interpreters were sent to Makassar for the Prisoner of Wars (P.O.W.) But, Captain van der Hyde still asked me to assist him. So we rode to the P.O.W. camp and each of the interpreters had five Japanese to interrogate. The Captain's assistant said to me, "Your Japanese is more up to date. We don't know those new words for nurse, police, etc." Of course, I learnt Japanese from these people very recently! Alas, after the war, since there was no need for me to use Japanese, I gradually forgot it.

Nora Suryanti (Soh Lian Tjie) puzzle 5

The return of the Dutch

The commanding officer of the Netherlands Indies Central Administration (NICA) acted more or less as the governor of the new re-occupied territory. I came to work in the legal division as a translator. Colonel Klein was my direct boss. I had to translate the letters from Dutch into English. I was often asked to accompany guests to the interior.

I came to know an undergraduate student from Jakarta who came to Makassar to observe the current situation. He was later known as Prof Dr Kalim. Once I had to accompany him to Maros or Pangkadjene. I did not remember the place so well. Kalim was to attend a meeting between Colonel Klein and the local authorities about an election. We arrived earlier than predicted, so we had time to visit a home industry where the well known "lipa sa'be" (silk sarong) were woven. He bought several sarongs and asked me to send it to Jakarta by post. Afterwards, he sent me a letter to say that one sarong was missing. At that time, such case was not a rarity, and to complain about it was an impossibility.

Not long after this trip, I was informed that I had been put at the disposal of the Australian battalion which has its office in the former residence across the street. I was surrounded by Aussies. Captain Ray was the leader of the legal section. He asked me to interrogate a Japanese Prisoner of War. I also had to translate Japanese documents into English which was not always so easy. After all, I had not had a normal course in Japanese though I had picked up quite a bit of it.

However, there was one boy, Alister, who was born and educated in Japan as his father had his business there. He often helped me. Then, there was Len Opie who was the Adjutant of Captain Ray. These Aussies were so young, still in their teens, I suppose. Len was also very helpful. In the beginning, it was hard to follow their Australian "slang". Len explained to me that he could speak English correctly, but his friends would frown at him. So, he was obliged to speak as they did!

When talking to me, Len was very careful. I got a liking to those young Aussies. They had been away from home for a couple of years. When Christmas came, I invited them for a simple Christmas dinner. Luckily, one of my relatives who was a clever cook was in town. She made sharks' fin soup and some other dishes from the available ingredients at that time. I wrapped some picture frames, a letter opener, Balinese statuettes, etc. as my Christmas presents. There was nothing available at that time. No shops were open. Only the local market opened for daily meals.

A simple Christmas indeed, but enjoyable! The first since the end of the terrible war! In spite of the absence of wine, those young boys were really grateful. It was not very much of a Christmas party but at least there was peace and gratitude in our hearts!

I could sense their eagerness to be home again. However, they still need to spend some more time in Indonesia. They had to replace the Dutch who had not enough troops yet to occupy the area.

Len often came to see me. One Sunday morning I provided him with a bicycle, and we cycled to Sungguminasa which was about 11 km south of Makassar. It was very pleasant to cycle along the deserted roads. It gave us a feeling of peace.

I knew a peasant's family living in this village. He welcomed us in his typical Makasaresse house of bamboo on stilts, surrounded by rice fields. He was very pleased to see us and offered us some tea. When it started to get raining, we excused ourselves. Len put on his army raincoat and gave me his jacket. We took leave of those friendly people. By then, Len had the idea of how an ordinary family lived in South Celebes.

Soon the Aussies left us. The situation became more and more normal.


(Note: real names were not checked as it was not easy to find the sources of bibliography)

Nora Suryanti (Soh Lian Tjie) puzzle 4

We got up. Walked back to the hospital. Wounded people had been brought in. The nasty smell of blood attacked our noses. There was no time to waste. Dr Warouw started sewing up the wounded. I drew threads through needles and handed them to him.

“Is this war?” This question came up and whirling in my mind. It came over and over. “These people are innocent. They earn their bread in a hard and honest way. And they became the first victims!”

I could not stand the cigarette smoke for days. Scenting it made me sick.

From that day on, the allied plane did not leave us alone. They came again and again...They flew mostly at night, at a full moon.

In my room, my Red Cross uniform was always at hand. As soon as the sirens whistled, I put my Red Cross blouse and trousers almost automatically. Then I grabbed my bicycle and cycled to Stella Maris hospital. The hospital was situated on the beach road. No wonder it was an excellent landmark for the allied planes.

On some occasion, the alarm sounded while I was still on my way. I usually called on the Saelans, a respected Indonesian family whose house was near the hospital. I knew they were awake and I was always sure of a welcome.

Standing at the entrance of the Hospital. My eyes looked at the moonlit sea, the Bay of Macassar. I could not help crying silently. God’s creation was so beautiful, so peaceful... Why should it ruined by the horrible disturbance caused by the Tenno Heika. A war against the world in order to be the Master of the whole Asia!

When the all-clear alarm had sounded, I slowly cycled back home intensely enjoying the beautiful moonlight and the empty streets.

One night, however, the aerial attack was more than terrible! Incendiary bombs were scattered over several places. The hospital got about twenty such bombs! I saw some were still burning. So, I ran to throw sand over them. Where were the others? I was alone! Even the patients had fled. 

The available amount of sand was all used up. I ran into the garden. With my bare hands, I grabbed as much sand as I could. When the greater part of the burning firebombs had been extinguished, a Japanese from our Health Department turned up, “ Soh-san,” he exclaimed in great surprise, “Are you alone? Where are the others?”  I answered with tiredness in my voice, “I don’t know.”

Gradually the staff came back. They all fled and hid in the big ditches!

Our Japanese colleagues saw to it that the "due homage" was paid to my "heroic" action by inserting a full description in the local newspaper of the ravage this nocturnal aerial attack had made, especially to the Hospital Stella Maris, and my part in saving it from more than ten burning bombs single-handedly!

The aerial attack came more often. Full hits were stated at various places in towns. A distant relative of mine had left the town with his family. He gave me permission to live in his house. One day, while I was still at the office, the house was hit by a bomb. My furniture went missing, probably was taken by the gardener who took advantage of the situation. What could I do? Who would help me? I locked the doors and windows and moved to stay with friends at the edge of town.

More and more news of defeated came in. We were sure that the Japanese Army was losing now, although we did not really know about the Japanese unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945.

On August 17th, 1945, Soekarno and Hatta proclaimed the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. We knew that there would be numerous difficulties. The Dutch would try their best to save their former colony, the Dutch East Indies. The United States was not in favour of this idea. It wanted colonialism to die with the war! The British, however, was also determined to save as many of their colonies as possible. I have no political sense. 

All of the sudden, the Dutch was back in Makassar and in other islands like the Lesser Sunda Islands including Bali, the Moluccas, and even the New Guinea!

Nora Suryanti (Soh Lian Tjie) puzzle 3

One evening, we got the order to leave a little lamp burning outside our camp. The enemy was approaching. A large Red Cross Flag was spread in an open field. There was a striking and frightening silence. We went to bed with anxiety.

We got up early in the morning only to find out some Japanese soldiers in our camp. Our commander, Dr. Tinbergen de Moulin was tied to a tree and beaten. We, the civil nurses and other staff of the Camp had to stand nearby and watched this inhumane scene. So, this was part of the war!

In the course of the day, together with other nurses, I was driven to a shed. We had to sit down on the ground. Just sat down. We should do nothing! How tedious! It made us very...very tired!

The Japanese soldiers who had to guard the Camp sometimes approached us. Invariably they asked us, “Minahasa ka? Indonesia ka?” It seemed that the Minahassan people were in favour with them.

The whole day long we just sat there, without food or drink. Only when the sun was about to set down that we were allowed to return to the hospital. I was unexpectedly appointed to prepare food in our kitchen. Of course, I refused to go alone, so four other ladies were allowed to assist me. I could barely hold my tears when I entered the kitchen. Our once so neatly arranged kitchen was at sixes and sevens! Margarine containers were opened, the tins of sweetened fruits were thrown everywhere. I cried in my heart, “Those barbarians!” They did not know these products and were afraid that they contained poison. My heart was still crying for our precious yet wasted food.

Some drivers followed us. They offered their services as cooks. We gratefully accepted their kind offer and we went back to the hospital. I do not know what happened further as none of us saw any food that evening.

We went to bed fully dressed. Several times we were startled as some flashlight was centred on our faces. Some haggard-looking Japanese soldiers wanted to see us even in our sleep. Fortunately, no incident occurred.

The following day, we asked permission to cook in the hospital kitchen. We got rice and salted fish for breakfast. I went to collect the fish heads, then picked some chillies and wild spinach that grow in abundance outside the hospital. I made a kind of vegetable soup flavoured with the fish heads. The surgeon in charge of the hospital thanked me for my initiative. They all need fresh vegetables.

After a week, all patients and the nurses were transported to Makassar. We, the civil nurses, were to assist in the army hospital in Makassar. It turned out that wounded soldiers, sailors and pilots of the Allied Forces had been brought in. This was my very first contact with war casualties. I pitied those young men and tried to be as helpful as possible.

Yet, the war did not end so soon. We, the civilian nurses, were dismissed. The European ladies were taken to Malino, a mountain resort serving as an internment camp. I was free, but I did not know what to do. My school was closed and I had nowhere to live. A teacher offered to put me up for the time being.

Soon the Japanese set up a sort of civil administration under the supervision of Japanese high officials. Celebes came under the Kaigun, the Navy. The Minseibu was the civil administrative office, headed by a Minseibucho. The whole convent of Roman Catholic nuns was occupied by Minseibu. Next to the Japanese officials, there was also a staff of Indonesians. I was fortunate enough to come into contact with Dr. J.S. Warouw, a highly gifted man from Manado. Under his capable guidance we did our work.

It is certainly very wrong to call us “collaborators”. Yes, seemingly we collaborated. But, in reality, we were doing our best to help our own people. Our salary was nothing, but sometimes we could obtain a whole “picul” of rice which we were able to distribute among various friends. Soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sugar were scarce, but kind-hearted Japanese friends gave us some every now and then.

It was not long before I had mastered the Japanese language sufficiently to teach my other colleagues. In this way, the Japanese did not treat us so haughtily anymore. Whenever we had the chance we used the Japanese language.

At first, life went on as usual, though after dark there was no social activity at all. Lamps were dimmed. We, women, had to be very careful as many Japanese servicemen roamed the deserted street and tried to enter some houses. Every now and then, on hearing the siren alarmed, we had to hide in the shelters.

I had to translate all the health regulations from Dutch into English. It was very instructive for me. I got more practice in first aid. From the faces of the Japanese soldiers, we guessed that the course of the war was not very favourable for them.

One fine day, around 11 a.m. when all activities in the city were in full swing, especially in the harbour, four allied bombers flew over Makassar. The sirens whistled instantly, followed by a heavy voice of explosion. Within minutes, we were ordered to go to the spot that had been hit in the harbour district. We saw the wounded and attended their wounds as best as we could. All of a sudden the planes returned and we fled to seek shelter.

The harbour district was bordered by the Chinese Quarter.  There were no gardens at all. Some two or three-story houses packed closely, leaving us no hiding space. Luckily, we found an empty open front verandah. Dr Warouw, two other colleagues and I laid down on our stomachs. I saw an elderly woman sheltered not far from us. Her whole body trembled while she was crying out loud her pray in a hysterical voice.

This time the planes dropped no bombs.

Nora Suryanti (Soh Lian Tjie) puzzle 2

In this post, I am going to share the second puzzle. The whole article was written from the script of her autobiography which was never published. So, the second puzzle of Soh Lian Tjie's life is presented in her own words.

The rumours of World War II and a Pacific War forced me to make another decision to go back to my mother, brothers and sisters. The Shiong Tih Hui (Men’s association) was willing to accept me as a teacher for their elementary school. Then life became a treadmill for me.