Melanchton Siregar

Melanchton Siregar (7 August 1912 – 24 February 1975) was the co-founder and last chairman of the Indonesian Christian Party, and the commander of the Arrow Division, the military wing of the North Sumatra branch of the Indonesian Christian Party. He was also the member of the Central Indonesian National Committee since 1947.

Early life Melanchton Siregar was born on 7 August 1912 in Lumban Silo, Pearung, Paranginan, Humbang Hasundutan, North Sumatra, Dutch East Indies. When he was eight years old, he entered the Gouvernment Hollandsch Inlandsch School in Balige, the elementary school provided by the Dutch for local Indonesians. After finishing his elementary school, he went to the Christelijke Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs in Tarutung, the junior high school for Christians.

He went to Java after his basic studies were finished. He studied in the Christelijke Hollands Indische Kweekschool (HIS) in 1935, and later in the Gouvernment Hoofdacte Cursus (GHS) in 1938. Originally, the HQ of the division was in Pematang Siantar, but later moved to Muara. Together with his friend Bosar Sianipar, code named Mondar Mandir , Siregar and him became one of the most wanted figures by the Dutch Army.

To eliminate Siregar, the Dutch Army twice bombed the division's HQ. The first one was in Pematang Siantar, which forced him and his division flee to North Tapanuli. The second one was in Lintongnihuta, where the Dutch alleged him to be. In reality, his division was in another place, the Sitio-Tio Cave, not far from Lintongnihuta.

The purpose of the Arrow Division wasn't only to fight against the Dutch. The division also opened trade networks so that logistics for troops can be channeled smoothly. Other than that, the trade network was kept by Siregar as the lifeline for the villagers who rely on farming and agriculture to live. To fulfil the needs, Siregar kept markets nearby opened so that villagers can trade and stockpiled the commodities of the village. In his meantime, he also taught villagers around him. To fulfill the education needs, he recruited his ex-students to be the teacher. The nomination was supported by Try Sutrisno, the 6th Vice President of Indonesia.

Awards