THE HISTORY OF RADIO RIMBA RAYA / SEJARAH RADIO RIMBA RAYA

Radio Rimba Raya whose monument was inaugurated by the Minister of Cooperatives / Head of Bulog, Bustanil Arifin on 27 October 1987 at 10:30 pm, located in the village of Rimba Raya, District Timang Gajah, Bener Meriah regency.

Rimba Raya Radio is very big to spread the news about Indonesia's independence. Since the second Dutch aggression on December 19, 1948, the role of radio as a messenger in the country has been done by Radio Rimba Raya operating in the middle of the Gayo forest.

Description of some prominent figures who founded Radio Rimba Raya which was then collected in a book titled "Rimba Raya Role" published by Kanwil Depdikbud Aceh, said, so great gait radio the struggle.

In the book was told, when delivering the news about the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia it can be captured clearly by a number of radios in the Malay Peninsula (Malaysia), Singapore, Saigon (Vietnam), Manila (Philippines) and even Australia and Europe.

Initially, in addition to broadcasting for public purposes, these radio crew also monitored, sent important announcements and instructions for the activities of the armed forces. Broadcast Radio Rimba Raya in the middle of the middle forest of Central Aceh, featuring five languages, namely English, Dutch, Chinese, Urdu and Arabic.

Within six months of airing, this radio has been able to form world opinion and "burn" the spirit of struggle in the homeland, even the existence of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia through the Proclamation of 17 August 1945 recognized by several countries anywhere in the world. In addition to the informed news of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia, Rimba Raya Radio also broadcast the news about the grand feast in Aceh.

At that time Radio Rimba Raya every day also made contact with representatives of the Republic of Indonesia in New Delhi. The reports were not only received directly by the representative Indonesian representative in New Delhi, also cited by All India Radio and so submitted to the intended address.

When the Asian Conference on Indonesia was held on 20-23 January 1949 in New Delhi, Radio Rimba Raya working hours were extended due to the large amount of news that had to be sent to representatives of Indonesia attending the conference.

As a guerrilla transmitter, Rimba Raya Radio also presents a listener's choice by presenting folk songs that can burn the spirit of the fighters, even the only means of Indonesian political diplomacy.

This radio continued to play until the recognition of the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia by the Dutch Government on 27 December 1949 in Jakarta as a result of the Round Table Conference (KMB) in The Hague.

Before being placed in the Bener Meriah Highlands, Radio Rimba Raya had moved around to get the right position in broadcasting news and messages of struggle.

In Koetaradja (Banda Aceh), the radio transmitter was installed in the village of "Cot Gue", eight kilometers south of the capital. Broadcasting is done in a Dutch heritage building in Peunayong area.

Transmitters in the village "Cot Gue" and Studio Peunayong, connected with cable and other well prepared studio reserves to anticipate if at any time Koetaradja seized enemy.

The radio transmitter at that time did not get on the air, because of the second Dutch military aggression on December 19, 1948. In such a precarious situation, December 20, 1948 the transmitter was dispatched to Central Aceh with tight guard and secret. The targeted area is Burni Bius village, Central Aceh considering the location is considered strategic and technically able to broadcast well.
The plan to install radio in Burni Bius village was not possible, the risk is very heavy because the Dutch planes continue to stalk the entourage during the trip. Taking into account possible risks, radio installations were eventually diverted to Rimba Raya, Timang Gajah District, Bener Meriah .

Radio Rimba Raya yang monumennya diresmikan oleh Menteri Koperasi/Kepala Bulog, Bustanil Arifin pada 27 Oktober 1987 pukul 10.30 WIB itu, terletak di desa Rimba Raya, Kecamatan Timang Gajah, Kabupaten bener meriah.

Radio Rimba Raya berjasa sangat besar dalam menyebarkan berita tentang kemerdekaan RI. Sejak Agresi Belanda ke-dua, 19 Desember 1948, peranan radio sebagai penyampai berita di tanah air sudah dilakukan oleh Radio Rimba Raya yang beroperasi di tengah hutan raya Gayo.

Keterangan beberapa tokoh yang berjasa mendirikan Radio Rimba Raya yang kemudian dihimpun dalam buku berjudul ”Peranan Radio Rimba Raya” terbitan Kanwil Depdikbud Aceh, menyebutkan, begitu besarnya kiprah radio perjuangan tersebut.

Dalam buku itu diceritakan, saat menyampaikan berita tentang Kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia itu dapat ditangkap jelas oleh sejumlah radio di Semenanjung Melayu (Malaysia), Singapura, Saigon (Vietnam), Manila (Filipina) bahkan Australia dan Eropa.

Pada awalnya, selain mengudara untuk kepentingan umum, para awak radio ini juga melakukan monitor, mengirim berbagai pengumuman dan instruksi penting bagi kegiatan angkatan bersenjata. Siaran Radio Rimba Raya di tengah hutan belantara Aceh Tengah itu, menampilkan lima bahasa, yakni bahasa Inggris, Belanda, Cina, Urdu dan Arab.

Dalam tempo enam bulan mengudara, radio ini telah mampu membentuk opini dunia serta ”membakar” semangat perjuangan di tanah air, bahkan keberadaan negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia melalui Proklamasi 17 Agustus 1945 diakui oleh beberapa negara manapun di dunia. Selain berita kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia yang diinformasikan, Radio Rimba Raya juga menyiarkan berita tentang kenduri akbar di Aceh.

Waktu itu Radio Rimba Raya setiap hari juga melakukan kontak dengan perwakilan RI di New Delhi. Berita-berita itu selain diterima langsung oleh petugas sandi perwakilan RI di New Delhi, juga dikutip oleh All India Radio dan seterusnya disampaikan ke alamat yang dituju.

Ketika Konferensi Asia tentang Indonesia digelar tanggal 20-23 Januari 1949 di New Delhi, jam kerja Radio Rimba Raya diperpanjang karena banyaknya berita yang harus dikirim ke wakil-wakil Indonesia yang menghadiri konferensi tersebut.

Sebagai pemancar gerilya, Radio Rimba Raya juga menyajikan acara pilihan pendengar dengan menghidangkan nyanyian-nyanyian rakyat yang dapat membakar semangat pejuang, bahkan merupakan satu-satunya sarana diplomasi politik Indonesia.

Radio ini terus berperan sampai saat pengakuan kedaulatan Republik Indonesia oleh Pemerintahan Belanda pada 27 Desember 1949 di Jakarta sebagai hasil Konfrensi Meja Bundar (KMB) di Den Haag.

Sebelum ditempatkan di hutan Raya Bener Meriah, Radio Rimba Raya sempat berpindah-pindah untuk memperoleh posisi yang tepat dalam menyiarkan berita-berita dan pesan-pesan perjuangan.

Di Koetaradja (Banda Aceh), radio pemancar itu dipasang di desa ”Cot Gue”, delapan kilometer arah selatan ibukota tersebut. Penyiarannya dilakukan dalam sebuah gedung peninggalan Belanda di Kawasan Peunayong.

Pemancar di desa ”Cot Gue” dan Studio Peunayong, dihubungkan dengan kabel dan selain juga disiapkan studio cadangan lain untuk mengantisipasi bila sewaktu-waktu Koetaradja direbut musuh.

Pemancar radio pada saat itu tidak sempat mengudara, karena terjadi agresi militer Belanda ke-dua pada 19 Desember 1948. Dalam keadaan yang genting itu, 20 Desember 1948 pemancar diberangkatkan ke Aceh Tengah dengan pengawalan ketat dan dirahasiakan. Daerah yang dituju, ialah desa Burni Bius, Aceh Tengah dengan pertimbangan lokasi itu dinilai strategis dan secara teknis dapat memancarkan siaran dengan baik.

Rencana pemasangan radio di desa Burni Bius itu ternyata tidak dapat dilakukan, risiko yang sangat berat karena pesawat-pesawat Belanda terus mengintai rombongan selama dalam perjalanan. Dengan mempertimbangkan risiko yang mungkin terjadi, pemasangan radio akhirnya dialihkan ke Rimba Raya, Kecamatan Timang Gajah, Bener Meriah