Bandung Sea of Fire

                           Bandung monument Sea of Fire

Events Bandung Sea of Fire is a large fire events that occurred in the city of Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia on March 23, 1946. Within seven hours, about 200,000 residents of Bandung burn their homes, leaving the city to the mountains in the south of Bandung. This is done to prevent the Allied soldiers and NICA Netherlands to be able to use the city of Bandung as a military strategic headquarters in the Indonesian War of Independence.

British troops part of the Brigade MacDonald arrived in Singapore on October 12, 1945. Since the beginning of their relationship with the government of Indonesia has been strained. They demanded that all firearms in the hands of the population, except for TKR and police, handed over to them. Dutch people newly released from prison camp began to take actions that begin to disrupt security. As a result, armed clashes between England and TKR unavoidable. Night November 21, 1945, TKR and agencies struggle launched an attack on the British positions in the north, including the Hotel Homann and Hotel Preanger which they use as a headquarters. Three days later, MacDonald delivered an ultimatum to the governor of North Bandung of West Java vacated by residents of Indonesia, including the armed forces.

Allied ultimatum that the Army of the Republic of Indonesia (TRI, the designation for the military at the time) to leave the city of Bandung encourage TRI to perform the operation "bumihangus". The fighters of the Republic of Indonesia is not willing parties if Bandung used by the Allies and NICA. Bandung burned decision to be reached by consensus Assembly Persatoean Priangan Struggle (MP3) in the presence of all the power struggle of the Republic of Indonesia, on March 23, 1946 [2]. Colonel Abdel Haris Nasution as the Commander of Division III TRI announce the results of the meetings and ordered the evacuation of the city of Bandung. [Need citation needed] That same day, a large group Bandung long flowing population left the city of Bandung and the burning of the town took place that night.

Bandung TRI and intentionally burned by local people with the intention that the Allies can not use the Bandung as a military strategic headquarters. Everywhere black smoke billowing soar in the air and all of a power failure. British troops began to attack so fierce fighting occurred. The greatest battles took place in the village of Dayeuhkolot, south of Bandung, where there are a large ammunition depot belonging to Allied. In this battle Muhammad Toha and Ramdan, two militiamen BRI (Barisan Indonesian people) falls on a mission to destroy the ammunition depot. Muhammad Toha managed to detonate the dynamite warehouse. Big warehouse exploded and burned along with two militants in it. Bandung city administration staff will initially remain in the city, but for the sake of their safety, then at 21.00 it was also in the group who evacuated from Bandung. Since that time, approximately 24.00 South Bandung was empty of inhabitants and TRI. But the fire still burning city rising, so Bandung became a sea of ​​fire.

Bandung scorched earth is considered to be an appropriate strategy in the War of Independence of Indonesia because of the strength of TRI and people's militia is not comparable to the strength of the Allies and NICA large amounts. After the incident, along with people's militia TRI guerrilla resistance from outside Bandung. These events inspired the song Halo, Halo Bandung creator name is still a matter of debate.

A few years later, the song "Halo, Halo Bandung" is officially written, into the memory of the emotions that the freedom fighters of the Republic of Indonesia experienced at that time, waiting to return to their beloved city that has become a sea of ​​fire..

"Great nation is a nation that respects the services of the heroes"