When talking about independence fighters, the name The Sin Nio may not be as well-known as others, but her contributions were extraordinary. This Chinese-Indonesian woman from Wonosobo, Central Java, is often called the "Indonesian Mulan" for her bravery in the fight against the Dutch.
Initially, The Sin Nio worked in logistics, preparing food for soldiers during the frequent Dutch attacks on Wonosobo. However, her determination extended far beyond the kitchen.
She disguised herself as a male soldier by cutting her hair short and binding her chest with cloth. To join the battle, she even changed her name to Mochamad Moeksin.
Her courage led her to become the only woman in Company 1, Battalion 4, Regiment 18, under the command of Ir. Soekarno. Armed with simple weapons like machetes, spears, and bamboo spikes, she fought on the front lines against the Dutch forces. Her first firearm, a Lee-Enfield (LE) rifle, was taken from a captured Dutch soldier.
In addition to combat, The Sin Nio also served in the medical unit, caring for wounded soldiers. Her journey as a freedom fighter reflects extraordinary dedication—a woman who defied the limits of her time to defend her homeland.
The Silent End of The Sin Nio: A Forgotten Heroine
After the country’s situation stabilized, The Sin Nio decided to marry. From her two marriages, she had six children, although both ended in divorce.
In 1973, she left Wonosobo for Jakarta to fight for official recognition as a war veteran and secure a pension from the government.
However, life in the capital was far from prosperous. She lived alone in a cramped 2x3-meter shack near Juanda Station, Central Jakarta. Her living conditions were dire—the small space served as both a bedroom and kitchen, and she could clearly hear the voices of the tenants above her. At one point, she even sought refuge in a mosque in the Petojo area.
Despite her service on the battlefield, The Sin Nio spent years struggling against bureaucratic hurdles to gain official recognition. On July 29, 1976, the Military Court of Yogyakarta finally issued a letter acknowledging her contributions, but it did not grant her the right to a proper pension.
Without a steady source of income, she was forced to live as a vagrant after exhausting her resources. Her pension—only Rp28,000 per month—was granted years later, and a portion of it was sent to support her family back home.
The government once promised her housing assistance, but the pledge remained unfulfilled until her death. In 1985, at the age of 70, The Sin Nio passed away and was buried at Layur Public Cemetery in Rawamangun, Jakarta—leaving behind an extraordinary legacy, from the battlefields of war to the harsh realities of post-independence life.
A Fighter’s Long-Awaited Recognition
Although The Sin Nio sacrificed greatly for Indonesia's independence, her contributions only began to receive renewed attention years after her passing. In November 2022, the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) proposed her name for the title of national hero. This proposal aimed to challenge the perception that courage and heroism belong solely to men.
