The Republican Revolt: A Study of the Acehnese Rebellion PDF
Preview The Republican Revolt: A Study of the Acehnese Rebellion
i PL INSTITUTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES BIBLIOTHEEK KITLV 0012 1580 8bl 053 2sc 'UBLIC "Ol The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies was established as an autonomous organization in May 1968. It is a regional research centre for scholars and other specialists concerned with modern Southeast Asia, particularly the multi-faceted problems of stability and security, economic development, and political and social change. The Institute is governed by a twenty-two-member Board of Trustees comprising nominees from the Singapore Government, the National University of Singapore, the various Chambers of Commerce, and professional and civic organizations. A ten-man Executive Committee oversees day-to-day operations; it is chaired by the Director, the Institute's chief academic and administrative officer. The responsibility for facts and opinions expressed in this publication rests exclusively with the author and his interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views or the policy of the Institute or its supporters. H E 6- IYL8 - / ^ REPUBLICAN! A STUDY OF THE ACEHNESE REBELLION NAZARUDDIN SJAMSUDDIN * ' , WO!» * ] =»tó»=S**S,S' INSTITUTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES lCjS66i6 Published by Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Heng Mui Keng Terrace Pasir Panjang Singapore 0511 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted,, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. © 1985 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies ISBN 9971-988-16-X (soft cover edition) ISBN 9971-988-15-1 (hard cover edition) Cover photo: The Royal Mosque in Kutaraja, Aceh Printed by Singapore National Printers (Pte) Ltd. TO MY WIFE NURNIDA, AND OUR THREE CHILDREN, MELBY, AMALIA, AND SALLIKA Preface T he rebellion that broke out throughout Aceh in September 1953 was a turning point in Acehnese political history as far as the region's relations with the Indonesian Central Government were concerned. It was a significant turning point if only because just a few years earlier the Acehnese had demonstrated what seemed to have been boundless loyalty to the Indonesian Central Government when it was facing a crisis of survival during the national struggle for independence. The whole network of local political forces and institutions which had mobilized the people to oppose the Dutch in the 1945-49 revolutionary period and support the Republic of Indonesia throughout the course of the national revolution, turned to challenge the Central Government several years later in a bloody armed struggle. Any study of this rebellion must therefore be related to the broader background of the course of the national revolution in the region and the kinds of aspirations and expectations stimulated by the prospect of independence. For the newly independent government in Jakarta, just as for the old colonial authorities in Batavia, Aceh turned out to be a singular difficult region to control. In fact, many Indonesians, if not most, regard the Acehnese as a "stubborn" people. How far that description is true the reader may judge better for himself after reading this account. In order to Vlll Preface clarify the political problem confronted by the Central Government, I have related this study of the rebellion not only to the general course of events in the national revolution but also to certain earlier socio-political trends in the region during the colonial period. f~~~ Unlike some studies on regional politics in Indonesia, this book attempts to look at the problems from the perspective of the /^region concerned, and not from the national level. In so doing, it hopes to clarify most aspects of Acehnese political life and behaviour which had led the people to rebel against the authority of the Central Government in Jakarta. This, I believe, can most likely be achieved from a thorough look at the region, paying close attention to nuances that might have been overlooked otherwise. Only in this way would the problem of strained relations between the people of Aceh and their Central Government in Jakarta be placed on a more proportional basis. As such, this study would be a complement to other studies which concentrate on the national- level approach. Looking at the problems faced by the local people in their own regions has other advantages as well. The first is that a close look at the problems would bring about more carefully thought out conclusions because more factors, sometimes felt too detailed to attend to and often intertwined, come to attention. These factors, or even nuances, which might have been ignored otherwise, often deserve better consideration. Secondly, this kind of study would definitely bring particularities existing in the regions to the fore, thus enabling us to compare one region with another. This will provide a better understanding of national problems faced by a multi-ethnic country such as Indonesia. Finally, but more importantly, through this approach it is hoped that a complete picture of the region would be obtained. Of course, there is a significant weakness in overconcentrating on a regional-level approach. Too much importance given to regional elements to explain events would be dangerous as it might not only mislead but also create biases. This weakness can be minimized, however, if other works that have been based upon the national-level approach are also kept in view. This book originated from my doctoral thesis presented to the
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