Misteri Tawa di Markas Tentara Pelajar: Cagar Budaya Indonesia

Memeringati 72 tahun kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia pada 17 Agustus 2017 mendatang, ada baiknya kita ke Kantor Komisi Pemilihan Umum Daerah (KPUD) Kota Yogyakarta. Apa hubungannya kantor penyelenggara pemilu dengan perjuangan merebut kemerdekaan?

Berbeda dengan kantor penyelenggara pemilu lainnya di Indonesia, kantor KPUD Yogyakarta terlihat sederhana, anggun, dan seperti menyeret memori ke masa silam. Terletak di Jalan Magaleng Nomor 41, kantor ini dari jalan terlihat seperti rumah berasitektur tahun 1940-an.

Yah, KPUD Yogyakarta memang menempati bekas Markas Besar Tentara Pelajar Indonesia yang sudah digunakan sejak masa perjuangan kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia, pada 1940-an. Rumah itu bergenteng merah kehitaman yang sudah kehilangan warna aslinya termakan usia. Bagian depannya sebagian terbuat dari kayu dengan bentuk pintu persegi panjang. Separuh ke atas tertutupi kaca gelap, dan separuh ke bawah terdiri dari kayu. Arsitektur serupa ini banyak terdapat di daerah lain di Jawa.

Pintu dan jendela serupa banyak terdapat di belakang. Seolah ingin memberikan akses leluasa bagi angin dan cahaya matahari, bekas Markas Tentara Pelajar itu memiliki banyak jendela dan ventilasi. Jeruji besinya terbuat dari besi bulat berjarak sekita 10 sentimeter sehingga banyak celah bagi masuknya udara.

Di belakang, sedikitnya terdapat empat kamar berderet yang terbuat dari beton.Deretan kamar itu terlihat kaku dan sama sekali tidak menarik. “Di sini dulu bekas penjara,” ungkap Wawan Budianto, ketua KPUD Kota Yogyakarta. Pantas saja bentuknya begitu.

Menggunakan bekas Markas Tentara Pelajar yang merupakan cagar budaya yang dilindungi, ada keuntungan juga bagi KPUD Yogyakarta. Setengah bercanda, Wawan mengatakan dalam pilkada 2017 lalu, ketika ada yang berdemo, massa hanya bisa berorasi saja di halaman. Tidak ada yang berani merusak kantor karena dilindungi undang-undang. “Bahkan, ketika kami mau pasang AC saja, harus minta izin tertulis karena ada beton nanti yang dibor,” tambah Nurhayati, anggota KPUD Yogyakarta.

Tentara Pelajar termasuk kesatuan militer yang berjasa dalam perjuangan kemerdekaan Indonesia. Mereka mempersenjatai diri dan ikut berperang melawan Belanda bersama seluruh komponen bangsa. Peran Tentara Pelajar semakin penting ketika ibukota Republik Indonesia pindah dari Jakarta ke Yogyakarta dalam masa perjuangan kemerdekaan.

Untuk menghormati perjuangan Tentara Pelajar, di Kota Sleman ada sebuah jalan yang ditabalkan dengan nama Jalan Palagan Tentara Pelajar.

Namanya juga gedung lama yang bernilai sejarah, aroma misteri juga melingkupi kantor KPUD Yogya tersebut. Anggota KPUD dan petugas secretariat mengaku sering mendengar orang bercakap-cakap dan terkadang suara tawa pada malam hari. “Kami sudah biasa mendengar itu,” ungkap anggta KPUD Yogya lainnya, Rani.

Lalu, ketika saya minta izin buang air kecil ke belakang, yang lokasi toiletnya persis di sebelah deretan ruangan yang dulunya bekas penjara, di sana saya sungguh-sungguh mendengar suara tawa. Tawa lepas seorang lelaki.

Sambil buang air kecil, buluk kuduk saya berdiri. Suara tawa itu terdengar keras diselingi orang bercakap-cakap. Ternyata ini bukan mitos. Cepat-cepat saya kancing celana dan bergegas keluar.

Ternyata, itu suara tawa Mas Wawan yang sedang bercakap dengan Jufri Sulaiman, ketua KPUD Aceh Utara.***

The Mystery of Laughter at the Students Soldiers' Headquarters: Indonesian Heritage

Celebrating 17 years of independence of the Republic of Indonesia on August 17, 2017, it's good we go to the Office of the Regional General Election Commission (KPUD) Yogyakarta. What is the relationship of the election organizer with the struggle for independence?

Unlike other election organizers in Indonesia, the KPUD Yogyakarta office looks simple, elegant, and like dragging memory into the past. Located on Jalan Magaleng Number 41, this office from the street looks like a 1940's architecture house.

Well, the KPUD Yogyakarta occupies the former Indonesian Student Army Headquarters that has been used since the struggle for independence of the Republic of Indonesia, in the 1940s. The house was a blackish-tiled roof that had lost its original color with age. The front is partly made of wood with a rectangular door shape. The top half is covered with dark glass, and halfway down is made up of wood. This similar architecture is widely available in other areas of Java.

Similar doors and windows are in the back. As if to provide free access to wind and sunlight, the former Student Army Head had many windows and vents. The iron bars are made of round iron about 10 centimeters apart so there are many gaps for air entry.

At the back, there are at least four rooms of rows made of concrete.The slate of the room looks stiff and not at all attractive. "Here used to be former prison," said Wawan Budianto, chairman of Yogyakarta City Election Commission. No wonder the shape is so.

Using the former Student Army Headquarters which is a protected cultural heritage, there is also an advantage to the Yogyakarta KPUD. Half joked, Wawan said in the 2017 election last, when there is a march, the masses can only berorasi only in the yard. No one dares to damage the office because it is reserved. "In fact, when we want to install air conditioning, we have to ask for written permission because there will be concrete later drilled," added Nurhayati, member of KPUD Yogyakarta.

The Student Army included a military unity that was instrumental in Indonesia's independence struggle. They armed themselves and fought against the Dutch with all the components of the nation. The role of the Student Army was increasingly important when the capital of the Republic of Indonesia moved from Jakarta to Yogyakarta during the struggle for independence.

To honor the struggle of the Student Army, in Sleman City there is a street which is to be endowed with the name of Jalan Palagan Tentara Pelajar.

Its name is also the old building of historical value, the scent of mystery also surrounding the office of KPUD Yogya. Members of the KPUD and secretariat officials often hear people talking and sometimes laughter at night. "We are used to hearing that," said another member of KPUD Yogya, Rani.

Then, when I asked for permission to urinate backwards, where the toilet location was right next to a row of formerly jailed rooms, there I actually heard a laugh. Laughter from a man.

While urinating, my nape hair is stood up. The sound of laughter was heard loudly interrupted by people conversing. Apparently this is not a myth. Quickly I buttoned my pants and rushed out.

Apparently, it was the laughter of Mas Wawan who was talking to Jufri Sulaiman, chairman of North Aceh KPUD.[]

Photos by @ayijufridar

Happy Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia's 72nd Independence. There is no freedom without prosperity for all Indonesian people. Merdeka....!!

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