Hotel Majapahit

Oranje Hotel in the past

Majapahit hotel is a five star legendary hotel in Surabaya. It is located in the central area of Surabaya, on Jalan Tunjungan. It is famous of the revolutionary war story more than the hotel beauty itself.  The hotel was constructed in 1910 by an Armenian named Lucas Martin Sarkies with his family. The hotel name was changing
due to the colonial ruler. During the Dutch occupation, the hotel was named “Hotel Oranje” or the Orange Hotel. It was named orange hotel, since orange is the Dutch national color. When the Japanese troops entered Indonesia in 1942, they took over the hotel and changed its name to Yamato Hoteru (Hotel Yamato) until the time when the Dutch came back in 1945 and returned it to the Sarkies in 1946.. This 5 stars hotel with its luxury hid a bloody moment which remember by the nations. At this hotel Surabaya youths fought to get their pride and dignity as freedom nation.

The hotel beauty in the evening - top view(taken from vagabondquest.com)

On 19 September 1945, the hotel was a bloody battle ground of the Dutch and local Surabaya people. When the Japanese rule over most of Indonesia territory ended, after the World War II and the Indonesian independence on 17 August 1945, the Dutch flew their national flag on top of the Yamato Hotel. Knowing that the old colonialist showed off their force and presence, Surabaya youths were all in a big anger. They were insulted.
According to a senior journalist of Antara News Agency in Surabaya, Wiwiek Hidayat, the Hotel situated exactly across his office. He could clearly see what happened during that moment. He even noticed the main actor behind the flag incident. According to him a young Surabayanese called Kusno Wibowo, helped by Onny Manuhutu and two other people, ripped the blue part of the red-white-blue Dutch flag by his teeth. So the remaining was the red-white Indonesian flag. After it was ripped out, the man then hang the red-and white part to the flag pole.
Furthermore, according to Pak Wiwiek, there were also some other people who helped them to ripped the Dutch flag. They carried the ladder and controlled the hotel roof of the central building. The youths yelled and condemned the colonist. The journalist added there were only 4 people on the roof and the documentary photograph was kept by the news agency. Sadly after the incident many people admitted themselves as the main actor of the heroic moment. Thus, it is officially stated that the main actor of the Dutch flag ripped-out was “Arek Suroboyo” (Surabaya’s youth) which remain anonymous.
The incident was triggered by an action done by some half Indonesian-Dutch blood youngsters. They flew the Dutch national flag, which color is red-white-blue, on top of Yamato Hotel building. They did the action under the shelter of Dutch and its ally officers from the Allied Command. The troops came to Surabaya along with the Intercross group.

A parade in front of the Oranje Hotel, date unknown

A few days before, the news about the half-blood Indonesian-Dutch youngsters created an organization called “Kipas Hitam” (the black fan), was spread out in the whole city. The main goal of the organization was to fight back the Indonesian people and to get the Indonesian independence which has been proclaimed on 17 August 1945. Under the protection of the Allied Command and NICA (Netherland Indies Civil Administration), the youths were ready to open fire.
The show of force of the youths was clearly seen from the news agency office. All the journalists were furious. They spread out the action they had seen to the youths. The situation even worse when the people saw the Dutch flag was flown on the hotel roof. They felt so much disrespect as an independent country by the Dutch. Many people were in anger and they yelled to protest the flag raising. The Dutch youths remain still. Many showed their arrogances.
At first Surabaya youths were anxious. They didn’t know what they supposed to do. They wanted to fight back with their limited power and resource but they weren’t sure. Then some of journalist representatives came to the National Committee office and the Municipality Office of Surabaya (Kantor Karisidenan Surabaya). They were asking the government reaction due to the Dutch flag rising. The officials stated they didn’t know about what had happened. Residen Sudirman along with Surabaya city major Radjamin Nasution and Roeslan Abdulgani- a youth leader, some journalists including Pak Wiwiek and Soetomo (Bung Tomo) decided they had to come to the hotel. They demanded the Dutch flag to be removed, since Indonesia has got its independent on 17 August 1945 and the Dutch had no right to fly their flag. The Dutch declined. According to their officials, Netherlands and its allies had won the World War II, and there;s no reason not to fly the flag in Indonesia.

Hotel Majapahit with Indonesian flag

The tough arguments lead to a big fight. The mass attacked the hotel. There were hundreds of people came to Yamato Hotel and they fought to get their dignity as a freedom people back. There were 6 to 7 bamboo ladder brought by people and youths from their kampong. They came from Kampung Ketandan dan kampung Kebangsren. Using the bamboo ladder the youths strove to climbed the hotel roof. When the blue-part of the flag finally ripped out the crowd yelled “Merdeka…!, merdeka! (freedom!) while clenching their hands.
The heroic event will never be forgotten by Indonesian people. The spirit of the Surabaya youths will be remembered. The hotel name as a city historical building then changed into Hotel Majapahit. The name was taken after a great kingdom in ancient time which ruled over most area of Asia, Majapahit Kingdom. May the spirit of the nation be with all the youngsters eternally.
Merdeka!!!!!

Reference:
http://englishland.or.id, retrieved 22 July 2011
http://rajaagam.wordpress.com, retrieved 20 July 2011