Mohammad Roem


Mohammad Roem was a diplomat and one of Indonesia's leaders in the Indonesian war for independence. During the Sukarno presidency, he served as Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and later Minister of Home Affairs. He was most notable for his part in the Roem–Van Roijen Agreement during the Indonesian revolution.

Early life

Roem was born in Parakan, Temanggung, West Java, on 16 May 1908. His father's name was Dulkarnaen Djojosasmito, and his mother's name was Siti Tarbijah. He moved to Pekalongan because Parakan was hit by an outbreak of infectious diseases like cholera, plague, and influenza.
In 1915, he studied at Volksschool and two years later continued to Hollandse Inlandsche School until 1924. In 1924, he received a scholarship to study at the School tot Opleiding van Inlandsche Artsen after attending government examinations. Three years later, he completed the preliminary test and was transferred to Algemene Middelbare School, and graduated in 1930. After attending the admission test of Medical College, and was rejected, he turned to law, entering Rechts Hoogeschool in 1932 and obtained the degree Meester in de Rechten in 1939.

Career

During the Indonesian national awakening, he was active in several organizations such as Jong Islamieten Bond in 1924 and Sarekat Islam in 1925. During the revolution, he was a member of the Indonesian delegation at the Linggarjati Agreement and Renville Agreement. In 1949, he was also the leader of the delegation at the Roem–Van Roijen Agreement, that discussed Indonesia's borders, and which was signed on May 7, 1949.
As a state official, he served as interior minister in the Sjahrir III Cabinet, foreign minister during the Natsir Cabinet, interior minister during the Wilopo Cabinet, and deputy prime minister during the Ali Sastroamidjojo II Cabinet.

Prison

Roem was a senior figure in the Masyumi Party, which was banned by President Sukarno in 1960 for its support of the PRRI rebellion. In 1962 he was arrested and jailed without trial in Madiun, together with Sutan Sjahrir, Anuk Agung, the sultan of Pontianak Hamid and Soedarpo Sastrosatomo. They were released by attorney-general Sugi Aito in May 1966.

Personal life

Roem married Markisah Dahlia in 1932. They had two children; a boy, Roemoso, born
in 1933 and a girl, Rumeisa, born in 1939.

Death

Roem died in September 1983 from a lung disorder, leaving a wife and two children.