Godlief Rudolf Pantouw was born in Manado, a city in present-day North Sulawesi, on 30 October 1910.

[2] During the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies (1941–1945), Pantouw joined another organization in Makassar, Syukai Gi In; it changed its name to Sumburan Darah Rakyat (Sudara, lit.

[2] Despite being active in organizations like Sudara and the People's Sovereignty Party, Pantouw decided to collaborate with the Dutch after realizing an inability to achieve much with the former.

He argued that "it was impossible for the newly proclaimed Republic of Indonesia — which had no power, no army, and no weapons in this part of the country — to fight the Dutch effectively" therefore joining the NIT was essential to advance the cause of Indonesian independence given the political conditions at the time.

[3]: 206  The revolution eventually came to an end in 1949, but nationalists continued their goal of disbanding the NIT and re-establishing a unitary state.