Moestopo | |
|---|---|
 Moestopo in the 1940s | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 July 1913 Kediri, Dutch East Indies |
| Died | 29 September 1986 (aged 73) Bandung, Indonesia |
| Occupation | Dentist, founder of Moestopo University |
| Awards | National Hero of Indonesia |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Indonesia |
| Branch/service | People's Security Forces |
| Years of service | 1943–1949 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Surabaya (1945) Indonesian National Revolution (1945–1949) |
Major General Professor Moestopo (13 July 1913 – 29 September 1986) was an Indonesian dentist, freedom fighter, and educator. He was declared a National Hero of Indonesia on 10 November 2007.
Born in Kediri, East Java, Moestopo moved to Surabaya to attend the School of Dentistry there. At first becoming a practitioner, his work was interrupted in 1942 when the Japanese occupied Indonesia and Moestopo was arrested by the Kempeitai for looking suspicious. Upon his release, he became a dentist for the Japanese but eventually decided to train as an army officer. After graduating with honours, Moestopo was given command of PETA (Pembela Tanah Air) troops in Sidoarjo; he was later promoted to commander of the troops in Gresik.
While in Surabaya, during the Indonesian National Revolution Moestopo conducted negotiations with British expeditionary forces led by Brigadier Aubertin Walter Sothern Mallaby. When relations broke down and President Sukarno was called to Surabaya to mend them, Moestopo was offered a job as an adviser but declined. During the war he held several other positions, including leading a squadron of regular soldiers, pickpockets, and prostitutes to spread confusion in the ranks of the enemy Dutch forces. After the war, Moestopo continued to work as a dentist, and in 1961 he founded Moestopo University. He died in Bandung in 1986.