Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo (21 September 1927 – 16 January 2021) was an Indonesian military officer and diplomat who served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army from 1973 until 1974, Ambassador of Indonesia to Japan from 1979 until 1983, and Ambassador-at-large of Indonesia to Africa from 1992 until 1995.
Early life
Sayidiman was born on 21 September 1927 in Bojonegoro, East Java, to Bawadiman Kartohadiprodjo and Umi Untari Kartohadiprodjo. Sayidiman's father, who served as the Regent of Pasuruan from 1932 until 1933, died while Sayidiman was six years old. As most Javanese at the time, Sayidiman was born with a mononym. The sixth of seven children in a Muslim family, he has two brothers named Soediman Kartohadiprodjo and Soekarmen Koesoemohadiprodjo and four sisters named Soelasikin, Soelasbawiati, Soelasbawiatini, and Soelasmiarti.
Sayidiman attended the Europeesche Lagere School (European Primary School) from 1932 to 1939. He continued his studies at the Hogere Burgerschool (Higher Civic School) from 1939 until 1942, at the Taman Dewasa from 1942 until 1942, and at the High School from 1943 until 1945.
Military career
National Military Academy
Following the proclamation of Indonesian independence, Sayidiman enrolled at the Yogya Military Academy in Jogjakarta. At that time, the academy was just recently established on 31 October 1945. Sayidiman, along with 441 other cadets, was accepted into the academy.
After Sayidiman finished his final exam, he was deployed to Surakarta on 19 September 1948 to quell the Madiun Affair. Sayidiman was put in command of the 1st Platoon of the S Company. The company was initially deployed in Surakarta, but was transferred to Wonogiri after the Nasuhi Battalion—the main battalion of the company—faced heavy resistance from the People's Democratic Front troops. The conflict ended at the end of October 1948, and Sayidiman was withdrawn from the battlefield to prepare for his graduation.
Sayidiman graduated with the rank of second lieutenant on 28 November 1948 in a ceremony at the Istana Negara. Sayidiman became the third best graduate from the academy after Kun Suryoatmodjo and Subroto. As the third best graduate from the academy, Sayidiman was given the privilege of choosing his post. Sayidiman choose to be posted in the Siliwangi Division due to his previous experience of commanding a platoon in the division.
Deployments
A month after his graduation from the academy, the Dutch began a military offensive codenamed Operation Kraai. As a second lieutenant, Sayidiman returned to his post as a platoon commander inside the Nasuhi Battalion. Sayidiman did not hold his old post for a long period as in December 1949 he was transferred to command the 1st company inside the 13th Brigade in an acting capacity. After the peace treaty between Indonesia and the Dutch was signed, Sayidiman was promoted to first lieutenant on 12 April 1950 and became the company's commander. Following a reorganization inside the 13th Brigade, Sayidiman was transferred to the 2nd Company in the battalion in June 1950, where he fought against the Darul Islam rebels. According to Salim Said, a lecturer in the Indonesian Defence University, Sayidiman initially wanted to attend military schools abroad after the peace treaty was made but changed his mind because he felt that he "owed a debt of gratitude to the people".
On 4 January 1951, Sayidiman was instructed by the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army to attend the United States Army Infantry School. After he graduated in 1953, Sayidiman returned to Indonesia and enrolled at the Economic Faculty of the Padjadjaran University. Aside from his study in the university, Sayidiman also taught at the Infantry Training Center. In accordance with his new assignment, Sayidiman was promoted to captain on 1 July 1954. Sayidiman studied for three years in the university until 1 November 1956. He dropped out of the university due to his appointment as a teaching officer in the National Military Academy.