Mengenal Teuku Nyak Arief, Pahlawan Aceh yang Terlupakan, Getting to know Teuku Nyak Arief, the Forgotten Hero of Aceh

In Aceh there is the tomb of a hero in a period of independence that few people know in general. Named Teuku Nyak Arief, this tomb is a proof of the trail of his struggle.

Teuku Nyak Arief, at a glance when we hear the name will immediately imagine in our minds will be the name of a road in the city of Banda Aceh is the main road to the campus of Syiah Kuala University. This is in line with Asmarizal's response "I just know T. Nyak Arief is the name of the street in Darussalam, about who he is I do not know," said the engineering student, Unsyiah when questioned.

Teuku Nyak Arief is a National Hero of Indonesia. He was born in Ulee Lheue, Banda Aceh on July 17, 1899. Nyak Arief studied elementary school in Banda Aceh, Kweekschool (Sekolah Para Raja) in Bukit Tinggi and Osvia (Sekolah Pamong Praja) in Serang, Banten, West Java.

Indeed not many people know about this national hero, but quite a lot of services and sacrifices for this nation. This is due to the lack of historical knowledge and a lack of awareness of the importance of valuing the hero's services both in our academic and community circles.

This is also due to the lack of existing historical evidence about Teuku Nyak Arief. But there is some strong evidence of its existence, namely his residence at the time of life that is located not far from the Lamnyoeng Bridge or just beside the White Mosque (Teuku Nyak Arief Mosque).

In addition, a tomb that is about one kilometer became his last stopover. His tomb is located in Lamreueng Village, Ingin Jaya District, Aceh Besar. The building of this tomb complex is located right on the edge of the road which is approximately 30x8 square meters in which there are several tombs, the condition is quite well organized and organized.

But unfortunately when I visited the tomb caretaker was not found at the grave site, so I can not go inside. In the wall of the gate we can see the inscription that contains about his struggle.

At the time of the Indonesian Independence struggle, Teuku Nyak Arif was the first representative from Aceh in Voolksraad (People's Council) and chairman of the NIP (National Indiche partij) Kutaraja branch. Then he was sworn in as the first Aceh Governor (1945-1946) by the first Governor of Sumatra, Moehammad Hasan, who also came from Aceh.

He is also one of the founders of the National Faction in Voolksraad. He often criticized the Dutch Indies government policy that always harming the people. Similarly, in the Japanese period, Nyak Arief other than being appointed as a member of Aceh Syu Sangikai (Dewan Rakyat Aceh) is also believed to be a member of Sumatera Cuo Sangi In (Dewan Rakyat Sumatera).

Although both institutions were Japanese, but Nyak Arief secretly kept underground to oppose Japan. After Indonesian independence, Teuku Nyak Arief was appointed as the Aceh Resident. While Aceh still had Japanese soldiers left waiting to be kicked out by the allies.

Getting to know Teuku Nyak Arief, the Forgotten Hero of Aceh
The Allies were denied entry by Teuku Nyak Arief, the reason the Aceh local government was able to do so. Teuku Nyak Arief then disarmed the Japanese army. Then there was the war between the Acehnese warriors against the Japanese known as the Krueng Panjo, Bireuen.

At that time the Government of Aceh was also troubled by the rebellion committed by the Ulama in Aceh who want to take over the reins of government of the Ulee Balang (nobility). To avoid the bloodshed, Teuku Nyak Arief as the Aceh Resident allowed himself to be held captive by the Mujahidin Laskar and the People's Resistance Army (TPR).

Teuku Nyak Arief was then taken to Takengon. Not long afterwards on May 4, 1946, Teuku Nyak Arief died. Now only the tomb complex is left that buries so many of his services and struggles that are so valuable.