Lukas Rumkorem

Lukas Rumkorem
Lukas Rumkorem in 1962.
Members of the Supreme Advisory Council
In office 28 May 1963 – 1968
Personal details
Born	1900 Manduser, Biak Numfor, Dutch New Guinea
Died	1970s Inofi-Manduser Public Cemetery, Biak Numfor, Indonesia
Nationality	Dutch New Guinea (until 1962) Indonesia (after 1962)
Children	Seth Rumkorem
Military service
Allegiance	Indonesia
Branch/service	TNI AL (Indonesian Navy)
Rank	Titular Major
Unit	Tentara Tjadangan Tjendrawasih

Titular Major TNI AL Lukas Rumkorem (born 1900) was a leader of the resistance against Japan in Biak Numfor, Dutch New Guinea, in 1943. Apart from that, he was the founder of the Free Indonesia Party (Partai Indonesia Merdeka; PIM), the first political party on Biak Island and also the founder of the Tentara Tjadangan Tjenderawasih (TTT) movement. Based on Presidential Decree of 1963 No. 104, Lukas Rumkorem together with Johannes Abraham Dimara were appointed as members of the Supreme Advisory Council representing West Irian, then based on Presidential Decree No. 83 of 1966 this position was continued with the addition of Muhammad Achmad Aituarauw as representative of West Irian.

Early life

Lukas Rumkorem was born on Biak Island in 1900 to Indiken Rumkorem and a mother from the Kurni clan (keret), and started his education at Zendingschool Biak from 1916 to 1923. He continued his education at Normaalleergangschool.

In 1937, he obtained a Volksonderwijzer teacher's diploma. After the Japanese occupation, on 1 January 1945, he was appointed as an employee of the HBA (Hulp Bestuur Ambtenaar). That's where he started to get to know Soegoro Atmoprasodjo who also had a background as a teacher.

Political history

In 1942, Japan entered Dutch East Indies with the aim of controlling the entire Southeast Asia region. One of the areas that Japan explored was Papua (New Guinea), which caused suffering to its people. The reason is that the Papuan people were made slaves, beaten, and even cruelly abused. Ultimately, the Papuan people dared to resist the Japanese. One example of this resistance took place in Biak, led by Lukas Rumkorem.

In 1943, the Biak people resisted using the Koreri movement. Koreri is a movement of the Biak people in resistance against the Japanese which means 'we change our skin'. Koreri itself comes from two words in the Biak language, namely ko which means 'we' and reri which means 'changing skin'. However, the phrase shedding skin is not in the literal sense, but a figure of speech meaning 'a happy life that lasts forever'. The resistance and rebellion of the Biak people against the Japanese occupation practices commanded by Lukas Rumkorem implemented a guerrilla warfare strategy. This strategy was implemented because the Biak people did not have adequate weapons to fight the Japanese.

Even though many people became victims, the people of Biak did not give up. In the end, the guerrilla warfare strategy was able to overwhelm Japan in facing the resistance of the Biak people. Their persistence paid off, under the leadership of Lukas Rumkorem, Biak became the first region in Indonesia to be freed from Japanese colonial rule.

In September 1945, Rumkorem was known to have founded the Free Indonesia Party (PIM), the first political party movement on Biak Numfor. The party first had its headquarters in Nusi, Padaido, where meetings were held in September and November 1945. However, since January 1946 it has been centered in Bosnek, East Biak. On 16 August 1947, Rumkorem was arrested by the Dutch authorities because he was accused of trying to kill Frans Kaisiepo and Markus Kaisiepo and will carry out a rebellion. On 5 October 1949, PIM was reactivated with Lukas Rumkorem (who had been released) as chairman, Corinus Krey as deputy, J. Tarumaselly as advisor, and Petrus Warikar as secretary.

In 1958, a new movement was formed by Lukas Rumkorem with the name Tentara Tjadangan Tjenderawasih (TTT). Based on J. Tarumaselly's statement, TTT also has branches in other areas in Papua, such as Waropen, Manokwari, Wandamen, Sorong-Raja Ampat, Fakfak, Babo, Kaimana, Jayapura, Sarmi, and Merauke. Other leaders of this organization are David Woisiri, secretary Sem Harry Uy, and treasurer Faidiban. This organization trains Biak youth outside Papua and to assist in Operation Trikora. TTT is in direct contact with the Indonesian consulate general in Singapore and using Chinese intermediaries, such as Jakub Thung and the organization Kok Eng Hwee, because movement is considered freer using KPM ships. Some of the information that was successfully smuggled was in the form of several photos of potential locations on Biak Island by J. Tarumaselly and T. Rumngeur which was given to representatives of the Indonesian government in Singapore, Ambon, Hollandia, and Serui. TTT's activities began to be hampered with the arrest of David Woisiri, Rafael Maselkosu, J. Tarumaselly, Jonathan Saroy, and Fritz Werluken who are members of TTT in Serui.

For his services, he received an honorary title from the Indonesian Government and was given the rank of Titular Major of the Navy. Apart from that, according to tradition, Lukas Rumkorem received the title of Mayor Mandiboar from the Kurni clan (keret). His son, named Seth Rumkorem, had the opportunity to take part in non-commissioned officer training in Cimahi, West Java. Although his son later defected and became the founder of Markas Victoria, one of the Free West Papua (OPM) factions.