Alexander Evert Kawilarang

Alex Evert Kawilarang
Alex Kawilarang, c. 1950
Born(1920-02-23)23 February 1920
Batavia, Dutch East Indies
Died6 June 2000(2000-06-06) (aged 80)
Jakarta, Indonesia
AllegianceIndonesia
Permesta
Service / branch Indonesian Army
Years of service1945–1961
RankColonel (TNI)
Commander (Permesta)
UnitKNIL (1941–1942)
T & T III Siliwangi (1946–1948 & 1951–1956)
T & T I Bukit Barisan (1948–1950)
T & T VII Wirabuana (1950–1951)
Permesta (1958–1961)
CommandsT & T I Bukit Barisan (TNI)
T & T III Siliwangi (TNI)
T & T VII Wirabuana (TNI)
Permesta
Battles / warsIndonesian National Revolution
Invasion of Ambon
Permesta rebellion

Alexander Evert Kawilarang (23 February 1920 – 6 June 2000) was an Indonesian freedom fighter, military commander, and founder of Kesko TT, which would become the Indonesian special forces unit Kopassus. However, in 1958 he resigned his post as military attaché to the United States to join the rebel Permesta movement where he encountered Kopassus as his opponent. His involvement in Permesta damaged his military career, but he remained popular and active in the armed forces community.