CCN, Cilegon, June 8, 2024 – The Forum Peduli Peristiwa Peringatan Geger Cilegon 1888 has been conducting research and investigation into the descendants of the Geger Cilegon heroes since 2023. The forum plans to submit a proposal to the Mayor of Cilegon to award certificates of honor to the heroes involved in the historic Geger Cilegon event of 1888. This initiative is taken as a form of respect and recognition for the significant contributions of these heroes in the fight for independence and the dignity of the nation.
Read About: KH. Wasyid bin Muhammad Abbas
After more than 10 meetings, representatives from the Forum Peduli Peristiwa Peringatan Geger Cilegon 1888 will submit the official award proposal documents to the Cilegon Mayor. The Chairman of Forum Peduli, H. Asep Sofwatullah, who is also a descendant of KH. Wasyid, stated that the Geger Cilegon 1888 event is a significant milestone in the history of Banten’s struggle against Dutch colonialism.
“This activity is one of the regular agendas for awarding certificates of honor from the Mayor to the heroes of Geger Cilegon 1888, which started in 2021 during the pandemic. We see them as heroes who have given everything for the freedom and sovereignty of our nation,” said H. Asep Sofwatullah. He also hopes that remembering history will restore the community’s character to not easily give up or despair in facing the current difficult social situations, but to continue exploring the potential of human resources (HR) and natural resources (NR) in Cilegon.
Geger Cilegon 1888 was a people’s struggle led by local ulama and community leaders against oppressive colonial policies. This event left a profound mark on Indonesia’s struggle for independence.
In line with this, H. Nawawi Sahim, one of the initiators of the Geger Cilegon petition, welcomed the forum’s initiative. “We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Forum Peduli Peristiwa Peringatan Geger Cilegon 1888. This award is important to remember and inspire the younger generation about the fighting spirit of our predecessors,” said H. Nawawi Sahim.
The process of submitting this award proposal is expected to raise public awareness about the importance of appreciating and remembering the nation’s struggle history. The Forum Peduli Peristiwa Peringatan Geger Cilegon 1888 hopes that this award can be realized soon and presented at the upcoming commemoration event.
With this award, it is hoped that the heroes of Geger Cilegon will not only become part of historical records but also receive the recognition they deserve for their sacrifices for the beloved homeland.
Read about : Remembering Geger Cilegon
The review and investigation team consisting of H. Asep Sofwatullah, H. Nawawi Sahim, Ustadz Sunardi, Bambang Irawan, and Ahdi Zukhruf Amri has conducted field research and empirical data surveys regarding this award. Through an ethnographic and genealogical historical study approach of the Geger Cilegon heroes, 11 descendants have been identified to be proposed for this year’s award. (***)
