Sutan Mohammad Amin Nasution

Sutan Mohammad Amin Nasution, also known by his birth name Krueng Raba Nasution (22 February 1904 – 16 April 1993), was an Indonesian lawyer and politician with an Acehnese–Mandailing background.

Born in Aceh, Nasution became an attorney after finishing his studies at the Higher Law School in Batavia. After the Indonesian independence, he was involved in the independence movement, serving mainly as a head of the North Sumatra province, albeit with different names. He also served as the first Governor of Riau.

Early life Nasution was born on 22 February 1904 in Lhoknga, Aceh Besar, with the name Krueng Raba Nasution. He was the son of Muhammad Taif, an Acehnese, and Siti Madinah, a Batak Mandailing. He was the fifth of his parents' six children.

Nasution went to study at the Europeesche Lagere School (ELS, European Primary School) in Sabang in 1912. Three years later, in 1915, he moved to the ELS in Solok, and in 1916, he moved again to the ELS in Sibolga and the ELS in Tanjung Pinang until he finally graduated in 1918.

During his study at the Rechtschoogeschool, he became one of the founding members of the Young Indonesians organization. The organization would later hold the Second Youth Congress in Batavia.

As the Junior Governor of North Sumatra After the Japanese surrendered on 15 August 1945, the independence of Indonesia was proclaimed on 17 August 1945. The Indonesian government quickly set up provinces and appointed governors to the provinces. The Sumatra province, which consisted of the North Sumatra, Central Sumatra, and South Sumatra sub-province was formed, and Teuku Muhammad Hasan was inaugurated as the governor of the province on 29 September 1945. The North Sumatra sub-province consisted of Aceh, Tapanuli, and East Sumatra Residency.

As the governor of Sumatra, Hasan appointed three junior governors to act as his deputies in the residencies. Nasution was inaugurated by Hasan as the Junior Governor of North Sumatra on 14 April 1947. His inauguration was held at the Elephant Division II building in Siantar and was attended by Teuku Muhammad Daudsjah, the Resident of Aceh, Ferdinand Lumbantobing, the Resident of North Sumatra, and Abubakar Jaar, the Resident of East Sumatra.

Even though Siantar was occupied by the Dutch army, Nasution recklessly visited his mother's house in the Mandailing Village in Siantar. When Nasution arrived, his mother's house was surrounded by the Dutch army. He was arrested and brought to Medan under tight escort. He was put on house arrest under heavy surveillance in a home owned by a man named Yusuf.

As the Governor of North Sumatra First term With the Law No. 10 of 1948, dated 15 April 1948, the Province of Sumatra was abolished, and the sub-provinces of North Sumatra, Central Sumatra, and South Sumatra became a province. Nasution was inaugurated by President Sukarno as the Governor of North Sumatra on 19 June 1948.

During his term, he began printing local money for the province of North Sumatra, namely the Uang Republik Indonesia Sumatera Utara (URIPSU, Money of the Republic of Indonesia for North Sumatra). This policy was implemented to repair the war-torn economy, and the money was officially released on 1 March 1949 with Nasution's signature on it.

Government Commissioner for North Sumatra After the occupation of Jogjakarta, the central government of Indonesia in Java was dissolved. To cope with this problem, the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI) was established on 22 December 1948 in Bukittinggi, Central Sumatra (now West Sumatra). During this emergency government, the position of governor was abolished, and civilian and military powers were given over to the military governor.

In North Sumatra, Nasution handed over his power to the military governor Ferdinand Lumbantobing (for the region of Tapanuli and Southern East Sumatra) and Daud Beureu'eh (for the Langkat and Karo regency). Nasution himself became the Commissary of the Central Government for North Sumatra on 17 May 1949, with the decision No. 23 of the PDRI.

After the formation of the United States of Indonesia, the Preparatory Committee of the Unitary State for East Sumatra (PPKNST) was formed on 14 July 1950 with the Decree of the Minister of Internal Affairs. The committee main task was to integrate the State of East Sumatra to the Republic of Indonesia. Nasution was appointed as a member of the committee.

After the handover of power to Sarimin, Nasution moved to Jakarta and worked as a lawyer.

After his term as the Governor of North Sumatra ended on 12 March 1956, he moved again to Jakarta and worked under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Awards Satyalancana Peringatan Perjuangan Kemerdekaan RI (1961) Bintang Legiun Veteran Republik Indonesia (Star of the Veterans’ Legion of Indonesia) (1991) Bintang Jasa Utama (1st Class Star of Service) (1991) Bintang Mahaputra (Star of Mahaputera) (posthumously, 1998)

Legacy The Government of North Sumatra has campaigned to make Nasution a National Hero of Indonesia.

A street in Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau, is named after him.