​MURDER IN TOTAL SECRECY ON SUHARTO'S ORDERS ON
​APRIL 12,1966: DR. CHRIS SOUMOKIL, ML

During the 236 days of isolation, Indonesian authorities were afraid to kill our leader. They were deeply afraid of the actions of Moluccans abroad. This gave our leader numerous opportunities to escape the death penalty. Moluccans in the Netherlands demonstrated against their leader's decision, but these demonstrations were unofficial; they were not officially led by the RMS cabinet in exile. This policy gave Suharto ample room to assassinate our leader. (Source credit: 4)

Soumokil was sentenced to death by a military court in Java in April 1964, but only after General Suharto came to power in Indonesia in 1965 that the sentence was carried out. All pleas for clemency from the Dutch government were in vain. On April 12, 1966, the day after Easter, Soumokil was executed by firing squad in the early hours of the morning on Obi Island.

On July 26, 1966, Chris Soumokil's then-32-year-old widow, Josina Soumokil-Taniwel, arrived in the Netherlands with their son, Tommy.

Numerous attempts to find out where he was buried have been unsuccessful to this day. Mrs. Soumokil-Taniwel said: "The Indonesian government is worried that his grave will become a pilgrimage site."

References:
1. Wikipedia: Republiek der Zuid-Molukken;
2. Wikipedia: Chris Soumokil;
3. www.venstersmoluksegeschiedenis.nl: JURIST CHRIS SOUMOKIL
4. Perang terisolasi - Penindasan dua kali ganda terhadap hak orang Maluku untuk menentukan nasib sendiri - Sebuah memorandum. Assen 12 April 1981 oleh D.O. Sahalessy (perwakilan resmi dari parlemen darurat di Maluku)
​  
                                                                            published: April 3, 2026

 🚩 MURDER IN TOTAL SECRECY ON SUHARTO'S ORDERS ON APRIL 12, 1966: DR. CHRIS SOUMOKIL, ML​. is a translation of  Pembunuhan dalam kerahasiaan total atas perintah Suharto pada 12 April 1966: Dr. Chris Soumokil SH