page_title: Alexander Evert Kawilarang
section_title: Expeditionary force to East Indonesia
hierarchical_section_title: Alexander Evert Kawilarang / Expeditionary force to East Indonesia
caption_attribution_description: Alex Kawilarang (middle) and Suharto (right)
context_page_description: Alexander Evert Kawilarang was an Indonesian freedom fighter, military commander, and founder of Kesko TT, what would become the Indonesian special forces unit Kopassus. However, in 1958 he resigned his post as military attaché to the United States to join the separatist Permesta movement where he encountered Kopassus as his opponent. His involvement in Permesta damaged his promising military career, but he remained popular and active in the armed forces community.
context_section_description: Having just turned 30 and already promoted to Colonel, Kawilarang was given command of the first post-independence expeditionary force in April 1950. He was ordered to quell a revolt by a company of former KNIL that including Andi Aziz and Dutch army soldiers or Koninklijke Leger in Makassar, South Sulawesi. The expeditionary force consisted of several brigades, including those that were led by Suharto (the second president of Indonesia) and Joop Warouw. On 8 August 1950, fighting ceased after negotiations between Kawilarang and Dutch General Scheffelaar. Regarding Kawilarang's relationship with Suharto during the expedition, Kawilarang is said to have struck Suharto due to a blunder by the troops commanded by Suharto. In at least one interview with Kawilarang, he denied striking Suharto, but did state that he had to admonish him.
  Around the same time of the military operation in Makassar, Kawilarang also organized forces against the separatist RMS movement in the Moluccas. The fighting was more ferocious, because the opposition were well-trained Mollucan former KNIL soldiers including the Green Caps. Although better trained and renowned for their fighting skills, the resistance of the Mollucan soldiers was eventually put down in November 1950. Let. Col. Slamet Riyadi who was the commander of the government forces in the Maluku sector and an important participant during the offensive was killed on the final day of the campaign.
caption: Kawilarang (middle) and Suharto (right)
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