MT Haryono: TNI Officer, Polyglot, and Revolution Hero

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Lieutenant General TNI (Posthumous) Mas Tirtodarmo Haryono, or MT Haryono, is one of Indonesia's military figures known for his academic abilities and proficiency in foreign languages. He also became one of the Heroes of the Revolution who fell during the events of 30 September 1965. In addition to his military career, MT Haryono was once entrusted with several strategic positions in the Indonesian government and defense.

MT Haryono was born in Surabaya, East Java, on 20 January 1924. He pursued his education at Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) and then continued to Hoogere Burgerschool (HBS). After completing his secondary education, he continued his medical studies at Ika Daigaku Gakko in Jakarta. However, he did not complete his education because MT Haryono chose to join the struggle to defend Indonesia's independence.

After Indonesia gained independence, MT Haryono joined the People's Security Army (TKR) with the rank of Major. His career then progressed, and he was entrusted with several important positions, including Secretary of the National Defense Council, Deputy Minister of Defense for Ceasefire Affairs, Director of Army Logistics, and Deputy III Minister/Army Chief of Staff with the rank of Major General.

MT Haryono's competence was not restricted to the military domain. He is known to be proficient in three foreign languages: English, German, and Dutch. That ability earned him the trust to carry out several military diplomacy tasks. One of them was serving as the secretary of the Indonesian military delegation at the Round Table Conference (RTC) in The Hague, Netherlands, which was an important part of the process of Indonesia's recognition of sovereignty.

During his tenure as Deputy III Minister/Army Chief of Staff, Indonesia faced a volatile and precarious political and security situation. One of the issues that developed at that time was the proposal to form a Fifth Force by arming labor and farmer groups. MT Haryono, along with several high-ranking Army officers, rejected the proposal because it was deemed to potentially disrupt the balance of power in the country's defense.

MT Haryono's stance occurred amid the rising political tensions leading up to the events of 30 September 1965. He then became one of the targets for abduction. In the early hours of 1 October 1965, troops who came to his residence on Jalan Prambanan, Jakarta, clashed with MT Haryono. He was then shot and died at his residence.

After the incident, MT Haryono's family sought help in a still tense situation. The body of MT Haryono was later found in the Lubang Buaya area, East Jakarta, along with several other Army officers who were victims in the incident.

MT Haryono was then designated as a Revolutionary Hero and buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta. His life journey became part of Indonesia's military history, not only through his service in the TNI but also through his role in military diplomacy and his foreign language skills that supported his duties for the country.