Talking Strategy

S5E14: Abdul Haris Nasution: Insurgent Founder of the Indonesian Army

Apr 15, 2025
Almuchalif Suryo, a retired colonel and military strategist, shares insights on General Abdul Haris Nasution's extraordinary journey. Nasution, trained by the Dutch, heroically shifted from fighting the Japanese to leading Indonesia in its independence struggle. Suryo discusses Nasution's innovative guerrilla warfare tactics and his pivotal role in unifying diverse military forces while battling communist threats. Their conversation uncovers the complexities of Indonesia's military politics and Nasution’s remarkable legacy as one of the nation's five-star generals.
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ANECDOTE

Nasution's Long March and Madiun Coup

  • Nasution led a 700-kilometer Long March from West Java to Yogyakarta with his troops during the Indonesian independence war.
  • He later moved forces to East Java to suppress a communist coup in Madiun in 1948 under General Sudirman's command.
INSIGHT

Balancing Brutal Counterinsurgency

  • Nasution emphasized anti-guerrilla troops needing to mirror guerrilla tactics but avoid cruelty to win popular support.
  • He balanced brutal counterinsurgency with an understanding that excessive force alienates civilians and strengthens guerrilla appeal.
INSIGHT

Parallel Military-Civil Governance

  • Nasution developed a parallel territorial structure integrating military and civilian governance to support guerrilla warfare.
  • This created a functional shadow government that controlled local resistance and influenced Indonesia's military-civil relations.
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