Julius Tahija

Julius Tahija(13 July 1916 – 30 July 2002) was an Indonesian businessman, politician and soldier. He was a recipient of theMilitary Order of Williamfor his actions in theDutch East Indies campaignwhile serving in theRoyal Netherlands East Indies Armyand was the only Indonesian in the war to receive a highest military honor from anallied countryduringWorld War II.He briefly held various cabinet posts in theState of East Indonesiaduring theIndonesian National Revolutionin 1947 and later worked for and established the Indrapura conglomerate which became one of the largest in the country.
Tahija was born inSurabaya, then part ofDutch East Indies, on 13 July 1916.Tahija was ofAmbonesedescent.Due to his father's efforts, Tahija received Dutch education at theHandels School(trading school), as he had initially intended to pursue a career in business.
In 1937, Tahija joined theRoyal Netherlands East Indies Army(KNIL). He initially received training as a pilot, but was transferred to infantry – according to Tahija, he believed that this was due to his uncle's pro-independence views. He saw action inAcehbeforeWorld War II.
Following the outbreak of thePacific War, he was dispatched to Australia to escort a group of Japanese civilians interned there. After the beginning of theDutch East Indies campaign, Tahija (then a sergeant) volunteered to lead a group of Indonesian soldiers on an intelligence gathering mission toSaumlakiin theTanimbar Islands. According to Tahija's accounts, he arrested several Japanese spies and discovered that Japanese forces were about to stage a landing on the island. After setting up some trenches with the help of local officials, the group ambushed the Japanese soldiers who landed before dawn, with around eighty Japanese soldiers killed before Tahija and his party retreated into the jungle. The group – which had been reduced from thirteen to seven men – managed to secure aschoonerand sailed back to Australia'sBathurst Islandwith 27 (including local officials and other civilians) on board. He was later bestowed with aMilitary Order of William, fourth class award in August 1942 for the Saumlaki action,the only Indonesian to receive the highest military decoration from anallied nationduring WWII.His six surviving comrades also received other awards.
Later, he was promoted to lieutenant and served in American generalCharles A. Willoughby's unit, operating behind Japanese lines as part of theZ Special Unit– such asOperation Firetreein February 1945– and engaging in various intelligence operations to Indonesian islands in addition to training new volunteers.During his time in Australia, he met and began to dateVictoria-born dentist Jean Walters, and the two later marriedin 1946.
During theIndonesian National Revolution, Tahija was the adjutant ofSimon Spoor.Despite his position, he maintained good personal relationships with nationalist leaders, especiallySutan Sjahrir.Between 1946 and 1949, he also played a part in the formation of theState of East Indonesia(NIT). He was one of the candidates for chair of the state's first provisional legislature, though he was defeated in the leadership vote byTadjoeddin Noor.He also served in theCabinet of the State of East Indonesia, where he initially was made Minister of Social Affairs under Nadjamuddin Daeng Malewa's first cabinet, and later taking up the post of Minister of Information in Malewa's second cabinet between 2 June and 11 October 1947.His next cabinet post was the Minister of Economy between 11 October and 15 December 1947 in S.J. Warrouw's cabinet.He then became head of NIT's representative office in Jakarta. JournalistRosihan Anwarwrote that Tahija approved of the1947 Dutch offensiveagainst the Indonesian nationalist forces, but disapproved of the second,1948 offensive.
He attended theDutch–Indonesian Round Table Conferenceas a representative of theFederal Consultative Assembly(BFO). Following the conclusion of the conference and the recognition of Indonesian sovereignty, Tahija transferred to the Armed Forces of the United States of Indonesia (Angkatan Perang Republik Indonesia Serikat/APRIS) as a lieutenant colonel.During his service at APRIS – later theIndonesian National Armed Forces– he gave advice to the Indonesian government during military operations against theRepublic of South Malukuand was assigned underAhmad Yaniin a mission to purchase arms. He resigned from military service in 1951.
After leaving military service, Tahija was introduced toCaltexby an acquaintance in theU.S. Army. Tahija himself noted that he "learned to be a manager" at the company, and he eventually became the managing director of the Indonesian branch of the company on 1971, a position he held for six years. During this time, he also engaged in business activities outside Caltex – which he had explicitly requested to be permitted for in his contract of employment.During his time at the company, Tahija's links withSukarnospared Caltex from the nationalization of foreign companies conducted by the Indonesian government in the 1950s.
Tahija's companies operated under a conglomerate, known as the Indrapura group. The group was centered around an insurance company with the same name which was one of the largest in Indonesia during the 1950s.In 1955, Tahija foundedBank Niagain a partnership withSoedarpo Sastrosatomo.By 1972, Tahija's group had become the bank's main shareholder, until it sold a controlling 40 percent stake toHashim Djojohadikusumoin 1997 for Rp 605 billion (US$232.3 million at the time).
FollowingSuharto's takeover of the presidency, Tahija maintained his influence, and he was given some interest in the newly establishedGrasberg mineofFreeport-McMoRanafter he approached the company to negotiate with the Indonesian government in 1965.Later on, he was part of a joint venture to provide power for the mine with a 10 percent stake in Puncak Jaya Power.By 1994, Indrapura group was Indonesia's ninth-largest conglomerate by asset and 25th in terms of revenue. It was also the largest conglomerate held by"indigenous" Indonesiansin terms of assets,the value of which was estimated at US$2.9 billion in 1994.
Aside from his conglomerate, Tahija at some point served as the chairman ofTrisakti University, became a trustee for theWorld Wildlife Fund, and joined the business advisory council of theInternational Finance Corporation.PresidentSuhartoawarded him with theBintang Mahaputra Nararyain 1994.
Tahija and his wife founded the charitable Tahija Foundation in 1990, which works on health, education, culture, environment and social services.He was also made an honorary member of theOrder of Australiain February 2002 for "service to Australian-Indonesian business relations".Anwar wrote that in their last encounter, Tahija had said to Anwar:
Tahija died in Jakarta on 30 July 2002, at the age of 86. At the time of his death, he had two sons. He was buried next to his wife inPuncak,West Java.