VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) is entering its 75th year. The existence of RRI has improved because of technological developments. But the journey of radio broadcasts in Indonesia is not only about the RRI story.

Even though Indonesia had become independent, the Dutch still made various efforts, one of which was during Military Aggression II in 1948. The Dutch re-entered Indonesia to spread slander, saying that Indonesia was dissolving and the RRI was taken over by the Dutch.

When all means of communication were cut off, there was one communication transmitter in Bener Meriah, Aceh that survived the bomb, which is Radio Rimba Raya (RRR).

Thanks to the transmitter that survived the bomb, Radio Rimba Raya is still active and voice Indonesia's presence through liaison radio.

"So what Radio Rimba Raya uses is PHB radio through its voice mode to send Indonesian messages," President Director of the Public Broadcasting Institute Radio Republik Indonesia Mohammad Rohanudin said.

RRR was broadcasted throughout the world from Aug. 23 to Nov. 2, 1949. This broadcast was the basis for holding the Round Table Conference meeting in The Hague, Netherlands, and stated that Indonesia was sovereign.

The RRR also became the forerunner of RRI's overseas broadcasts since Dec. 30, 1948. One of the former Indonesian Army RRI antennas from the X Gajah Division can still be found in the middle of the Rimba Raya Forest, Timang Gajah District, Aceh, or 280 kilometers southeast of Banda Aceh.

In the past, this radio broadcast throughout the world using three languages, namely Urdu, English, and Indonesian.

The RRR was a savior for Indonesia because it successfully denied the statement that Indonesia had surrendered to the Netherlands, which was aired by Radio Hilversum of the Dutch.

In addition, RRR also became a substitute for Radio Rakyat Indonesia (RRI) which was then controlled by the Dutch. All RRI stations were destroyed by the Dutch and they also tracked the location of the transmitter.

The then commander of the Elephant X Division, Colonel Hoesin Yoesoef, secured the RRR antenna and transmitter by moving around in the middle of the forest. Not only that, he also hid a small generator that is a source of power. However, RRR aired every night.

In 1987, Colonel Hoesin died in Bireun with the last rank of Colonel of the Indonesian Army in the ranks of the Bukit Barisan Military Command. Apart from Colonel Hoesin, there is another living witness who plays a role in maintaining the safety of the RRR transmitter. He is Sultan Aman Mar, a soldier from the X Gajah Division.

Before the Dutch chased it down, RRR transmitter was placed at the army headquarters of the X Elephant Division, Sungai Krueng Simpo near Bireun, North Aceh Regency. Then, the RRR transmitter was moved to the Bur Ni Bios forest, Ronga-Ronga to avoid being chased by the Dutch and the last one hid in the Forest Rimba Raya. (RRI)