BANYUWANGI - BALI — Sejarah perjuangan mempertahankan kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia tidak hanya tertulis di daratan Jawa. Salah satu babak paling heroik dan signifikan justru terjadi di perairan Selat Bali, melalui sebuah operasi amfibi nekat yang kini dikenang sebagai yang pertama dalam sejarah TNI. Operasi Lintas Laut Banyuwangi-Bali, yang berlangsung pada awal April 1946, adalah bukti keberanian prajurit-prajurit muda Republik dalam menembus blokade laut Belanda demi membela saudara-saudara mereka di Pulau Dewata.
Pascakemerdekaan Indonesia pada 17 Agustus 1945, situasi politik dan militer di tanah air masih jauh dari stabil. Pasukan Sekutu mendarat di berbagai wilayah Indonesia untuk melucuti tentara Jepang, namun sering kali diboncengi oleh NICA (Netherlands Indies Civil Administration) yang berniat mengembalikan kekuasaan kolonial Belanda. Bali, yang strategis sebagai gerbang ke wilayah timur Indonesia dan 'batu loncatan' untuk menyerang Jawa Timur, menjadi target utama Belanda. Pada tanggal 3 Maret 1946, Belanda mendaratkan pasukan dalam jumlah besar di Bali. Di bawah pimpinan Letkol I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Tentara Republik Indonesia (TRI) Divisi Sunda Kecil melakukan perlawanan sengit. Namun, mereka menghadapi keterbatasan personel, senjata, dan amunisi yang kronis. Ngurah Rai menyadari bahwa tanpa bantuan dari Jawa, perjuangan di Bali akan sangat sulit dipertahankan.
Merespons permintaan bantuan dari Bali, markas besar TRI di Yogyakarta segera mengambil tindakan. Jenderal Sudirman memerintahkan pengiriman pasukan dan persenjataan ke Bali. Misi penting ini diserahkan kepada TRI Divisi VIII Jawa Timur, khususnya Resimen 1 Banyuwangi. Maka dibentuklah 'Pasukan-M' atau 'Pasukan Merdeka', sebuah unit ekspedisi khusus yang dipimpin oleh Kapten Markadi, seorang perwira laut yang berani. Pasukan ini terdiri dari gabungan prajurit TRI dari Pangkalan X ALRI Banyuwangi, sukarelawan, dan pelaut lokal. Tujuan operasi ini sangat jelas: menyeberangi Selat Bali, menembus blokade laut Belanda, mendaratkan pasukan dan senjata di pantai Bali, dan bergabung dengan pasukan I Gusti Ngurah Rai untuk memperkuat perlawanan lokal.
Operasi ini adalah sebuah spekulasi tingkat tinggi, mengingat perbedaan kekuatan armada antara Republik yang hanya mengandalkan perahu layar tradisional dan kapal motor kecil, melawan Belanda yang memiliki kapal patroli canggih seperti LCM (Landing Craft Mechanized). Persiapan dan pemberangkatan pasukan dilakukan secara rahasia di Banyuwangi, terutama di wilayah Muncar. Rencana operasi dirancang untuk penyeberangan malam hari agar tidak terdeteksi radar Belanda. Pasukan dibagi menjadi beberapa gelombang pendaratan yang ditujukan ke titik-titik berbeda di pesisir barat Bali.
Malam tanggal 4 hingga 5 April 1946 adalah puncak ketegangan. Sembilan perahu layar ekspedisi, membawa ratusan pasukan dan senjata, mulai bergerak meninggalkan pantai Banyuwangi. Kapten Markadi sendiri memimpin gelombang utama. Di tengah kegelapan Selat Bali, armada Republik dipergoki oleh kapal patroli LCM Belanda. Belanda segera melepaskan tembakan. 'Pertempuran Selat Bali' yang tak seimbang pun meletus. Kapten Markadi tidak gentar. Ia memerintahkan pasukannya untuk membalas tembakan seadanya dengan senapan mesin dan granat sambil terus bermanuver di tengah gempuran meriam LCM Belanda. Dalam momen heroik ini, Pasukan-M berhasil melakukan perlawanan nekat. Keberanian dan taktik gerilya laut mereka membuahkan hasil: satu LCM Belanda berhasil diledakkan dan ditenggelamkan, sementara yang lainnya terpaksa mundur.
Meskipun dihadang, sebagian besar gelombang pasukan Republik berhasil mencapai pesisir Bali. Mereka mendarat di berbagai titik, seperti pantai Yeh Kuning, Cupel, Candi Kusuma, dan Pulukan. Pendaratan dilakukan dengan cepat di bawah ancaman patroli darat Belanda. Meskipun memakan korban, pengiriman bantuan pasukan dan persenjataan berhasil memperkuat TRI Sunda Kecil, memungkinkan Letkol I Gusti Ngurah Rai untuk mengkonsolidasikan kekuatannya dan terus melakukan perlawanan gerilya sepanjang tahun 1946 hingga Puputan Margarana pada November 1946. Operasi ini diakui sebagai operasi lintas laut amfibi pertama dan pertempuran laut pertama dalam sejarah Republik Indonesia pasca-proklamasi, yang kini diabadikan di Monumen Operasi Lintas Laut Jawa-Bali di Cekik, Gilimanuk.
BANYUWANGI - BALI — The history of the struggle to defend the independence of the Republic of Indonesia was not only written on the mainland of Java. One of the most heroic and significant chapters took place in the waters of the Bali Strait, through a daring amphibious operation now remembered as the first in the history of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). The Banyuwangi-Bali Sea Crossing Operation, which took place in early April 1946, is proof of the bravery of young Republican soldiers in breaking through the Dutch naval blockade to defend their brothers on the Island of the Gods.
Post-independence of Indonesia on August 17, 1945, the political and military situation in the country was far from stable. Allied forces landed in various parts of Indonesia to disarm Japanese troops, but were often accompanied by NICA (Netherlands Indies Civil Administration) intending to restore Dutch colonial rule. Bali, strategic as a gateway to eastern Indonesia and a 'stepping stone' to attack East Java, became a primary target for the Dutch. On March 3, 1946, the Dutch landed a large number of troops in Bali. Under the leadership of Lieut. Col. I Gusti Ngurah Rai, the Republic of Indonesia Army (TRI) Lesser Sunda Division put up a fierce resistance. However, they faced chronic limitations of personnel, weapons, and ammunition. Ngurah Rai realized that without help from Java, the struggle in Bali would be very difficult to sustain.
Responding to requests for help from Bali, the TRI headquarters in Yogyakarta immediately took action. General Sudirman ordered the dispatch of troops and weaponry to Bali. This critical mission was entrusted to the TRI Division VIII of East Java, specifically the 1st Regiment of Banyuwangi. Thus, 'Pasukan-M' or 'Pasukan Merdeka' (Freedom Force) was formed, a special expeditionary unit led by Captain Markadi, a brave naval officer. This force consisted of a combination of TRI soldiers from ALRI Base X Banyuwangi, volunteers, and local sailors. The objective of the operation was clear: cross the Bali Strait, breach the Dutch naval blockade, land troops and weapons on the beaches of Bali, and join forces with I Gusti Ngurah Rai's troops to strengthen local resistance.
This operation was a high-stakes speculation, considering the disparity in fleet strength between the Republic, which relied only on traditional sailboats and small motorboats, against the Dutch, who possessed advanced patrol boats like the LCM (Landing Craft Mechanized). Preparations and troop departures were carried out secretly in Banyuwangi, particularly in the Muncar area. The operation plan was designed for a nighttime crossing to avoid Dutch radar detection. The troops were divided into several landing waves aimed at different points on the western coast of Bali.
The night of April 4 to 5, 1946, was the peak of tension. Nine expeditionary sailboats, carrying hundreds of troops and weapons, began to move away from the Banyuwangi coast. Captain Markadi himself led the main wave. In the darkness of the Bali Strait, the Republican fleet was spotted by a Dutch LCM patrol boat. The Dutch immediately opened fire. The unbalanced 'Battle of the Bali Strait' broke out. Captain Markadi was undeterred. He ordered his troops to return fire as best they could with machine guns and grenades while continuing to maneuver amidst the onslaught of the Dutch LCM cannons. In this heroic moment, Pasukan-M managed to mount a daring resistance. Their bravery and maritime guerrilla tactics bore fruit: one Dutch LCM was successfully blasted and sunk, while the others were forced to retreat.
Despite being intercepted, most waves of the Republican forces successfully reached the coast of Bali. They landed at various points, such as Yeh Kuning, Cupel, Candi Kusuma, and Pulukan beaches. The landing was carried out quickly under the threat of Dutch land patrols. Despite causing casualties, the reinforcement of troops and weaponry successfully strengthened the Lesser Sunda TRI, allowing Lieut. Col. I Gusti Ngurah Rai to consolidate his power and continue guerrilla resistance throughout 1946 until the Puputan Margarana in November 1946. This operation is recognized as the first amphibious sea-crossing operation and the first naval battle in the history of the post-proclamation Republic of Indonesia, which is now immortalized at the Java-Bali Sea Crossing Operation Monument in Cekik, Gilimanuk.
