Madiun

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Madiun is a city in the western part of the province of East Java Indonesia, an agricultural centre best known as the site of an uprising in 1948 which resulted in thousands of deaths. It is the capital of the regency of the same name.

Madiun, located 169 km south west of Surabaya, had a population of 190,823 in 1992. The town is an average of 63 metres above sea level and lies on the Madiun River, a tributary of the Bengawan Solo River. It is surrounded by a number of mountains, including Mount Wilis (2,169 m) to the east, to the south the Kapur Selatan range (500-1000 m) and to the west Mount Lawu (3,285 m). Madiun has an average temperature of 20 - 35 degrees C. Map of Madiun and surrounding area

Madiun was the site of an uprising in 1948 by elements of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI). After the signing of the Renville Agreement that year, guerrilla units and militias under the influence of PKI were ordered to disband. In Madiun a group of PKI militia refused to disarm and were killed in September. The killings sparked a violent uprising. Army sources claimed that the PKI had announced the proclamation of the "Soviet Republic of Indonesia" on September 18 with Musso as its president and Amir Sjarifuddin as its prime minister.

The uprising was suppressed by republican troops. On September 30 Madiun was taken over by republican troops of the Silwangi Division. Thousands of party cadres were killed and 36 000 were imprisoned. Amongst the executed were several leaders including Musso who was killed on October 31, allegedly while trying to escape from prison. Other PKI leaders such as D.N. Aidit went into exile in China.