Suishintai

The Suishintai (Japanese: 推進体, romanized: Suishintai, lit. 'Pioneer Corps', Indonesian: Barisan Pelopor) was the paramilitary youth wing of the Jawa Hōkōkai (ジャワ奉公会, "Javanese Service Society") which was formed in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) under Japanese occupation in August 1944 by its leader Sukarno, alongside Soediro, Moewardi, Soeroso, Oto Iskandar di Nata, and Boentaran Martoatmodjo. Members of the Suishintai did not wear a special uniform like military units, instead wearing a badge of a bull's head in a circle that was attached to the left side of the chest.^[1] At the end of 1945, this so-called lascar had approximately 60,000 youth members, a number that could only be matched and beaten by the socialist Pesindo, the Barisan Hizbullah of the Masyumi Party, and the Lasjkar Rakjat of the Murba Party.^[2] Following the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, the Suishintai was renamed to Barisan Banteng ("Bulls Front"). The corps was mobilized to hear speeches from nationalist leaders. In addition, they were trained in the mobilization of large crowds, strengthening of military defenses, and in carrying out activities for the well-being of the people.^[3]