Nationalism & Indonesian Identity

• The presentation discusses nationalism and the identity of the Indonesian nation.

Learning Objectives

• To describe the relationship between geographical conditions and the arrival of colonialism and imperialism in Indonesia.
• To analyze the influence of colonialism and imperialism in Indonesia.
• To explain how the Indonesian people fought for independence.
• To analyze efforts to even out economic development in Indonesia.
• To design conflict resolution activities and efforts to improve social integration.

Exploration of the Seas, Colonialism and Imperialism in Indonesia

• Indonesia is located between two continents (Asia and Australia) and two oceans (Indian and Pacific).
• Indonesia's geography is within the tropics, bordered by 23.5° North Latitude and 23.5° South Latitude.
• Indonesia is the largest archipelago, rich in natural resources and diversity.

Factors Driving Western Nations

Natural Resources (Spices)

• Spices were used by Europeans to preserve food, as cooking ingredients, and for medicine.

Motivations 3G (Gold, Gospel, Glory)

• Gold signifies wealth.
• Glory signifies national glory.
• Gospel signifies spreading Christianity.

Industrial Revolution

• An encouragement for modern imperialism, occurring around 1750-1850.

Trade

• Europeans initially came to Nusantara to trade, drawn by rumors of black gold (valuable resources).

Life of Indonesian Society During Colonialism and Imperialism

Arrival of Western Nations in Indonesia

• 1486: Bartolomeu Dias made the first voyage along the African coast.
• 1511: Alfonso d'Albuquerque (Portugal) conquered Malacca, and by 1512 reached Maluku.
• 1521: Sebastian del Cano (Spain) landed in Tidore.
• 1595: Cornelis de Houtman led an expedition to Indonesia, arriving at Banten through the Sunda Strait.
• 1602: The Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) was founded.
• 1808: Herman Willem Daendels was appointed Governor-General.

The VOC (Dutch East India Company)

• The VOC was established in Amsterdam to avoid unhealthy competition among Dutch traders and strengthen the Dutch position against other nations' traders.

The VOC's Powers and Rights

• Held a trade monopoly in the region from the Cape of Good Hope to the Strait of Magellan, including Nusantara.
• Could form its own army.
• Could wage war.
• Could make treaties with local rulers.
• Could print and issue its own currency.
• Could appoint its own employees.
• Could govern colonized territories.

Impact of Trade Monopoly

• Initially, Western nations were well-received by Indonesians.
• The Dutch then implemented a monopoly, controlling markets through single or limited companies.
• The VOC monopoly occurred because the Dutch forced Indonesian kingdoms to sign monopoly contracts.
• Policies such as divide and rule soured relationships between kingdoms and Indonesians suffered due to restricted trade and being forced to sell products only to the VOC.

Impact of Forced Labor

• During colonization, Indonesians endured forced labor, including constructing the 1,000+ kilometer Anyer-Panarukan road.
• The road was built during Governor-General Daendels' (1808-1811) administration from the Bataaf Republic (France) for military purposes, colonial defense, and connecting important cities in Java, which was a center for export crop production.
• Forced labor caused hardship due to its involuntary nature.

Impact of the Cultivation System (Tanam Paksa)

• In 1830, Van Den Bosch implemented the Cultivation System due to the Netherlands' financial difficulties from the Java War or Diponegoro War (1825-1830) and the Belgian War (1830-1831).
• Regulations stipulated that obligatory crops should only use 1/5 of the people's land, but in reality it was often up to ½.
• Surpluses from mandatory crop yields were never compensated.
• Mandatory labor exceeded 66 days without adequate compensation.
• Land used for mandatory crops was still taxed.

Consequences of the Cultivation System

• In 1870, there was criticism of the policy by Dutch figures like Baron van Hoevell, E.F.E. Douwes Dekker (Multatuli), and L. Vitalis.
• The Agrarian Law (Agrarische Wet) of 1870 was enacted, stipulating principles of land politics in the colony, allowing private parties to lease land from both the government and the population.

Resistance Against Trade Alliances

• Trade monopolies during colonialism greatly disadvantaged Indonesian society, because the people had to sell their commodities to those trade alliances at below-market rates.
• 1529: Sultan Baabullah's resistance.
• 1607-1639: Acehnese resistance.
• 1628: Attack on Mataram.
• 1666: Sultan Hasanuddin's resistance.

The Padri War in West Sumatra (1821-1838)

Background

• Conflict between the Adat (customary) and Padri groups.
• Adat group wanted to preserve local traditions that mixed Islam with Minangkabau customs.
• Led by Tuanku Imam Bonjol, the Padri group fought to uphold purer Islamic teachings.

War Progression

• The Adat group requested Dutch assistance against the Padri.
• The Dutch exploited this conflict to strengthen influence in West Sumatra.
• The Adat group turned against the Dutch to support the Padri group after feeling oppressed.
• Major battles occurred throughout West Sumatra.
• The Dutch defeated the Padri using military tactics and agreements.
• Tuanku Imam Bonjol was arrested in 1837 and exiled until death.

Effects

• The Dutch fully controlled West Sumatra.
• There were efforts to integrate Islam with adat after the war.

Aceh War (1873-1904)

Background

• The Dutch wanted to control Aceh due to its strategic location on the Malacca Strait trade route.
• Aceh refused to submit to Dutch authority and maintained independence.
• The Aceh Sultanate had diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Caliphate and Western nations.

War Summary

• 1873: The Dutch launched the initial attack led by General Kohler (who died in battle).
• 1874: The Dutch occupied the Aceh Sultanate (Kraton) in Banda Aceh, but resistance continued.
• 1899-1904: The Dutch implemented the "De Aceh Oorlog" (Guerrilla Warfare) tactic, appointing conquered Acehnese figures as mediators.

Impact

• Many lives were lost on the Acehnese side.
• The culture and spirit of Acehnese resistance persisted until Indonesian independence.

Diponegoro War (1825-1830)

• Key Figures: Pangeran Diponegoro, Sentot Alibasyah, General De Kock.

Background

• The Javanese people, especially farmers, suffered due to high taxes and oppressive Dutch rule.
• The Dutch seized Yogyakarta's royal land for infrastructure.
• Pangeran Diponegoro felt Javanese traditions and royal sovereignty were threatened.

War Events

• 1825: Diponegoro declared resistance from his residence in Tegalrejo.
• The war was fought as a guerrilla war with widespread support.
• Dutch forces struggled against Diponegoro's guerrilla tactics.
• 1830: Diponegoro was captured through deceptive negotiations in Magelang.
• Diponegoro was exiled to Makassar, where he died in 1855.

Outcomes

• Thousands of Javanese died in the five-year war.
• The Dutch tightened control in Java to prevent similar resistance.
• Pangeran Diponegoro became a symbol of resistance and an Indonesian national hero.

Japanese Occupation Period

• Japan seized Indonesia for economic and political gain, especially to obtain raw materials and expand markets.

• The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941, marked Japan's military aggression.

• Japanese troops landed in Tarakan, East Kalimantan, on January 11, 1942, before seizing strategic areas such as Balikpapan and Palembang before assaulting Java.

• Japan successfully took Batavia on March 5, 1942, and the Netherlands surrendered unconditionally on March 8 in Kalijati, West Java.

• Japan attempted to win Indonesian support via propaganda, however, the occupation was harsh, marked by oppressive policies.

Formation of Social Organizations during Japanese Occupation

• Gerakan 3A (led by Mr. Syamsuddin) sought public sympathy but was ineffective.
• Pusat Tenaga Rakyat (Putera), formed on March 1, 1943, and led by the Four Serangkai (Soekarno, Mohammad Hatta, K.H. Mas Mansyur, Ki Hajar Dewantara), was used to consolidate national figures.
• Jawa Hokokai (1944) was under Japanese supervision to gather support for the Japanese government
• Masyumi (1943) replaced the Majelis Islam A'la Indonesia, led by K.H. Hasyim Ashari and K.H. Mas Mansyur, to accommodate the majority Muslim population.

Establishment of Military Organizations Under Japan

• Seinendan: wartime youth soldiers aged 14-22.
• Fujinkai: women over 15 in semi-military training.
• Keibodan: auxiliary police force of men aged 20-25.
• Heiho (1943): auxiliary soldiers for the Japanese army.
• Peta: guerrilla forces assisting Japan against surprise attacks.

Romusha and Exploitation of Natural Resources During Japanese Occupation

• Japan recruited Romusha to aid the war effort, forcing Indonesians to build infrastructure such as roads, fortifications, railways, and bridges.
• Japan forced Indonesian women to become Jugun lanfu (comfort women) in battle outposts, adding to the suffering during the occupation.
• Japan exploited Indonesia's natural resources more ruthlessly than the Dutch, and focused economic activities on supporting the war effort.
• Economic assets were seized, and plantations and industries were forced to produce materials like castor oil plants for war machine lubricants.
• People had to surrender most of their harvests to Japan, keeping only about 20%, leading to mass starvation and hunger-related diseases.
• Jawa Hokokai and government agencies were used to enforce these policies.

How Society Changed Due to Western & Japanese Colonization

Economic Aspects

• Shift from people's economy to colonial economy, focused on exporting plantation products like coffee, tea, and spices.
• Forced labor systems (cultuurstelsel/tanam paksa and Romusha) caused suffering.
• Exploitation of natural resources by both Western and Japanese colonizers.

Political Aspects

• Indonesians were denied political rights under colonial rule.
• Emergence of national movement organizations such as Budi Utomo, Sarekat Islam, and PNI.
• Japan introduced social and political organizations such as Putera and Masyumi, which were used for resistance.

Geographical Aspects

• Division of administrative regions by the colonial government happened.
• Infrastructure construction such as railways, ports, and highways served colonial interests.

Cultural Aspects

• Introduction of Western culture influenced dress, language, and lifestyle.
• Social values changed due to interaction with foreign cultures.

Educational Aspects

• Education was restricted, mainly provided to the native elite.
• A educated group that pioneered the national movement emerged.