Roos Telaumbanua

Due to the inaccessibility of Nias from the Sumatran mainland, the Regional Money of Republic Indonesia (ORIPDA) that was printed in Bukittinggi for Sumatra could not be distributed to Nias. Naval blockades that was imposed by the Dutch Navy in the West Sumatran coastline caused the scarcity of official ORIPDA banknotes and caused riots in Nias society. To cope with this problem, Telaumbanua asked the Government of Sumatra for the Nias government to print their own banknotes. The Governor of Sumatra, Teuku Muhammad Hasan, approved Telaumbanua's idea, and from 1947 and 1949, the Government of Nias began to print their own banknotes. The banknotes were named ORIPDA-Nias.[3]

The first production of the banknotes were printed on 25 September 1947. The second and third productions were printed on 20 December 1948 and 5 January 1949. All of the banknotes were signed by Telaumbanua himself to ensure the authenticity of the banknotes.[4]

On 19 November 1949, Yunan Nasution from the People's Representative Council of Sumatra, was sent to Nias to form the People's Representative Council of Nias, in accordance with the Law No. 22 of 1948. The committee was dissolved, and the position of Speaker was given ex officio to Telaumbanua.

Both Tarip Siregar (left) and Mulatua Pardede (right) claimed themselves as the legitimate Mayor of Pematangsiantar.

On 29 December 1966, Telaumbanua appointed a new acting mayor, Mulatua Pardede, for the city of Pematangsiantar.[10] His decision was disregarded by the acting mayor at the time, Tarip Siregar. This problem caused Medan to de facto have two mayors.[11] Siregar was supported by the popular youth movement in Pematangsiantar, such as the Pancasila Front and the Anti 30 September Movement Committee of Pematangsiantar,[12] while Pardede was supported by Telaumbanua. The groups that supported Siregar sent a protest to the Interior Minister demanding to remove Pardede out of office.[13] Telaumbanua defended himself by stating that he removed Siregar from his office as instructed by the military area commander of North Sumatra, on which the commander argued that Pematangsiantar had experienced lack of development during Siregar's term, and Siregar himself was in ill health.[14]

The dual mayors in Pematangsiantar caused confusion to the civil employees working in the city, as both claimed that they were the legitimate mayor. Tarip Siregar insisted to remain in his office, forcing Pardede to hold office in the former Siantar Mayor's residence. Siregar brought this problem to Colonel Selamat Gintings, the Regional Military Commander, but he received no response.[11]

In response to this problem, Arnold Baramuli from the Ministry of Internal Affairs was given full mandate by Telaumbanua to solve this problem.[15] Baramuli decided that Pardede was the rightful acting mayor of Pematangsiantar. Thus, on 28 January 1967, a ceremony was planned to transfer the mayor position from Siregar to Pardede. Even though the ceremony was officially recognized, both Baramuli and Siregar did not attend the ceremony. Siregar was reported to be abducted by a group of unidentified youths.[16]

At the end of his term, Telaumbanua was accused of accepting bribes amounting to 16 million rupiah (around $13,000) for giving a permit for building booths — which had been intended for building 16 public toilets — during his term as the acting Mayor,[17] and several other accusations during his term as the acting Governor, such as abusing his power, manipulating copra shipments, and supply of rice. Further investigations also stated that he issued an order to form Barisan Sukarno (Sukarno Brigade) and that he was responsible for the escape of a prisoner.[18]

Christian groups, such as the Sinar Harapan newspaper (newspaper owned by the Indonesian Christian Party), and the KESPEKRI, denied the allegations. Sinar Harapan stated that the allegations were fabricated by Chinese groups to foil Telaumbanua's nomination as the definitive Governor of North Sumatra,[19][20][21] while KESPEKRI demonstrated its support to Telaumbanua over the case.[22]

The Chief Prosecutor of North Sumatra, Djuang Harahap, summoned Telaumbanua over the corruption accusations, but after two occasions, Telaumbanua failed to show up to his trial. A delegation under E.M.L. Tobing attempted to stop the trial of Telaumbanua. The delegation threatened that pushing ahead with the trial could cause a "physical clash" that would endanger the safety of officials of the Chief Prosecutor's Office. Harahap replied to Tobing that he would not "bow down to such terrorism".[23] Harahap's stance towards the threat was supported by the Sumatra NU Students' Union, and stating that the organization w prepared to face anybody who threatened the Chief Prosecutor's safety.[24]

On 20 January 1967, the newspaper Angkatan Bersendjata (Armed Forces) reported that Telaumbanua was mentioned as possible candidates, among other 12 candidates. Soon, the number of candidates shrunk down. By January 24, Christian Lumbangaol, the regional secretary of North Sumatra, stated that there was only three possible candidates, namely Telaumbanua, Marah Halim Harahap, and Tumpal Dorianus Pardede. Telaumbanua and Pardede's candidacy was questioned by various groups, such as the Peasants' Action Committee and Central Indonesian Labor Action Front, due to Telaumbanua's corruption and bribery allegations, and Pardede's participation in the Dwikora cabinets.[25]

The three candidates were officially nominated to the Regional People's Representative Council of North Sumatra. Harahap was nominated by Golkar, Telaumbanua by the Indonesian Christian Party, and Pardede by the Indonesian National Party. In an unofficial polling of the 39 members of the council, Harahap was supported by 15 members, Telaumbanua by 11 members, and Pardede by 4 members. Eleven members of the council did not support any of the candidates but stated they would take part in the upcoming elections.[26]

The election was held on 6 February 1967. Harahap won the elections by 24 votes, while Telaumbanua only obtained 14 votes. One member abstained from the election, and the Indonesian National Party withdrawn Pardede's candidacy.[27]

As Telaumbanua lost the elections, the Indonesian Christian Party nominated Telaumbanua as the Deputy Governor instead.[28] His nomination as the Deputy Governor was not approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs,[29] and sparked protests from various organizations in North Sumatra.[30][31]