APRA coup d'état

The APRA coup d'état was a coup d'état by Raymond Westerling's Legion of the Just Ruler (APRA) to capture Bandung and Jakarta, with the aim to overthrow Sukarno's unitary Republic of Indonesia. Westerling was a demobilised Dutch Captain of the KNIL (Royal Netherlands East Indies Army), who sought to preserve the federal Republic of the United States of Indonesia, which retained the support of the Netherlands and various minority elements. Westerling's forces succeeded in capturing Bandung in the early hours of 23 January 1950.

APRA coup d'état
Part of the aftermath of the Indonesian National Revolution

Siliwangi Division headquarters occupied by the APRA during the coup
Date22–23 January 1950 (1 day)
Location
Bandung and Jakarta, State of Pasundan, Indonesia
Result

Indonesian victory

  • Coup succeeds initially and APRA temporarily occupies Bandung
  • APRA troops run out of ammunition and retreat after negotiations
  • Accelerated integration of federal states into the Republic of Indonesia by 17 August 1950
Belligerents
Legion of the Just Ruler (APRA)

 Indonesia

Commanders and leaders
Captain Raymond Westerling
Sultan Hamid II		 Colonel Ali Sadikin
Adolf Gustaaf Lembong †
Units involved
Siliwangi Division
Strength
2,000 APRA troops 4,500 TNI troops
Casualties and losses
≈100 killed

Simultaneously, the APRA infiltrated Jakarta as part of a coup d’état to overthrow the RUSI Cabinet. Their plan was to arrest and assassinate several prominent Republican figures including the Defence Minister Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX and Secretary-General Ali Budiardjo. However, Westerling's forces in Jakarta were killed or captured by the Indonesian army and police forces. The APRA was forced out of Bandung, while Westerling escaped to Singapore. After a mopping up campaign the Legion of Ratu Adil had ceased to function in February 1950. The coup d'état led to the downfall of Sultan Hamid II and accelerated the integration of the RUSI into the Republic by 17 August 1950.

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