Chris Soumokil

Christiaan Robbert Steven Soumokil (13 October 1905 – 12 April 1966) was a South Moluccan politician and prosecutor who served as the second president of the Republic of South Maluku from 1950 until his execution in 1966 by Indonesian forces loyal to Suharto.

Early life His father was Moluccan and his mother was an Indo (mixed Dutch and indigenous Indonesian descent). After high school, he studied law at Leiden University where he obtained a doctorate in 1934 before returning to Indonesia in 1935 and finding work as a law official in Java.

Political career Between May 1947 and February 1950, he served as Minister of Justice in four cabinets of the State of East Indonesia.

In April 1950, Soumokil, Johanis Manuhutu, and Albert Wairisal signed a declaration proclaiming the independence of the South Moluccas from the United States of Indonesia and the founding of an independent Republic of South Maluku. He became its second president on 3 May, a week after its creation.

Exile and execution After the Indonesian invasion of Ambon and its successful attack on the rebel capital of Ambon, Soumokil fled to the nearby island of Seram, where he led a small band of guerillas until his capture on 2 December 1963. He was initially imprisoned on Java.

Soumokil was executed by firing squad on 12 April 1966, on Pulau Ubi Besar by forces loyal to Suharto.