1945 PETA Revolt in Blitar national sentiments of the local people from the very beginning of its arrival, so that they would support the Japanese occupation of Indonesia. The Japanese military forces did not suppress nor restrain Indonesian people's desire for sovereignty for their nation. Instead, Indonesia Raya was allowed to be played in the middle of the city street, and ‘Sang Merah Putih’, the national flag of Indonesia could be displayed everywhere. Japan tried to spread propaganda, to make sure that Indonesians perceived imperial Japan as a friend who came to help liberate the nation, instead of as an enemy who exploited resources of
Besi Merah Putih but were often frightened away by enraged villagers, or at times killed. Several did for a time successfully integrate back into the villages of Buku Mara and Bazartete, given the job of being a servant to the other villagers, chopping and gathering firewood or cleaning. However, many of those who were integrated disappeared, with International authorities being unable to verify their whereabouts when attempting to locate them for questioning. It was suspected that they were killed by the village inhabitants in retaliation to their prior acts of violence against their own people. Besi Merah Putih Besi Merah Putih (also known