Remembering Bandung Sea of Fire: When the People Burned Their City for Independence

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Tangerang - Exactly 79 years ago, Bandung witnessed the extraordinary sacrifice of the Indonesian people in defending their independence. On March 24, 1946, thousands of Bandung residents voluntarily burned their homes and buildings in their own city to prevent it from falling into the hands of the invaders. This heroic event is known as Bandung Sea of ​​Fire.

At that time, Allied forces and the Dutch East Indies Army (NICA) demanded that Indonesian fighters leave Bandung. Rather than simply surrender the city, the people and fighters opted for a scorched earth strategy. The southern part of Bandung was burned to the ground overnight, the sky reddened with flames, and history records it as a symbol of extraordinary resistance.

More than 200,000 residents fled, while the fighters retreated south to continue their guerrilla resistance. One of the key figures in this event was Muhammad Toha, a young fighter who heroically blew up an enemy ammunition depot and died in the explosion.

"Bandung Lautan Api is a symbol of courage and sacrifice. It shows that independence was not granted, but fought for at a heavy price," said Dr. Indra Wibowo, a historian from Padjadjaran University.

Today, the event is commemorated annually in Bandung, not only as a historical record, but also as a reminder that unity and courage can defeat colonial forces.

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