HIS-STORY

“ THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF WESTERN COLONIALISM AND IMPREALISME AND THEIR INFLUENCE FOR INDONESIA”

(Only for JHS Saint’s John School)

Hosea Daen Malora

Adapted from

Suparman-Kuswanto-Fatimah

“The Essentials of History”

For Grade VIII of Junior High School,

EVO Bilingual Publisher

(KTSP2006)

A. The Arrival Process of Western Countries and the Form of Colonial Power in Indonesia.

Portuguese was the first Western country came to Indonesia. They started sailing by going along the west coast of Africa to the south then turned into the east coast of Africa. After that, they went to the north, and finally arrived in Goa (India) in 1498. There, Portuguese led by Alfonso d’Albuquerque established trading company. In India, they heard news about Malacca, a crowded port of trade.

Definition of Imperialism

Imperialism implies that the expansion of the territory or colony to establish empire or empires. Or in other words, imperialism is a system of direct colonization of one country against another country, aimed at the interests of the occupiers.

Definition of Colonialism

Colonialism is a system of the residents of a country outside the region of origin, then the area was declared as part of their territory. The main objective resource drain of wealth, welfare and education of the people while the colonies, are not prioritized.

1. The Arrival Process of Western Countries in Indonesia

The leader of Portuguese trading company in India, d’Albuquerque wished to make relationship with Malacca. To make his intention real, he sent a messenger to Malacca in 1509. The messenger was not welcomed by Sultan Mahmud Syah. It was because Sultan Mahmud Syah had heard the bad behavior of Portuguese. Therefore, Portuguese sent their army to attack Malacca and succeeded to occupy Malacca in 1511.

In 1512, Albuquerque sent some his ships to the eastern Indonesia and landed on Ternate, Molluccas. When Portuguese arrived in Ternate, it’s empire had been conflict with Tidore Empire. Portugues was welcomed by Sultan Ternate in order to Portuguese could be their ally in fighting against Tidore. On the other side, the arrival of Potuguese in Moluccas was followed by Spanish. Spanish made relationship with Tidore whereas Tidore was Ternate’s enemy. Finally, the enmity involved two white countries, Portuguese and Spanish.

To solve the conflict between Portuguese and Spanish, They held a peace agreement on April 22, 1529. The peace agreement was called Treaty of Saragosa. Actually, treaty of Saragosa was the follow up of Treaty of Tordesillas on June 7, 1494. The contents of Treaty of Saragosa were :

a. The earth was divided into two influences, Spanish influence and Portuguese influence.

b. The Spanish territory was from Mexico to the west until Philippines. Meanwhile the Portuguese territory was from Brazil to east until Moluccas Archipelago.

So, after both sides agreed the treaty, Spanish must be back to Philippines. Meanwhile Portuguese conquered Moluccas Archipelago and its surroundings.

In late of 16^th Century and beginning of 17^th century, Dutch, British, and French came into Indonesia. They had same motivation with Portuguese to come into Indonesia. In 1595, four Dutch ships sailed to Indonesia led by Cornelis de Houtman and Pieter de Kaizer. They sailed along the west coast of Africa to reach Cape of Hope. Then, they crossed Hindia Ocean and arrived in Indonesia through Sunda Strait.

In 1596, four Dutch ships landed in Banten. At that time, Banten was the Centre for white pepper trading. Dutch could not get sympathy from the people and the authority of Banten because of their unfriendly behavior. Then, Dutch moved to Moluccas to buy spices. This effort failed too. Finally, they came back to their country.

Even though, they failed on the first expedition. Dutch succeeded to open up the way for the next expedition. In the next expedition, Dutch was nice and respect to the people they met. The consequences, some Dutch companies, which sent their trading expeditions to Indonesia, could make relationships with native authorities. Dutch could get their big profit from the trading with the native of Indonesia.

1. The Establishment of VOC

So many merchants who came to Indonesia mad the tight trading competition among them. As a result, the spices price in Indonesia tended to increase whereas in Europe the spices price tended to decrease. This condition made Portuguese was in advantageous as Dutch competitor. Moreover, Portuguese firstly applied monopoly in Indonesia and Asia in general. To avoid that competition, from the idea of Dutch parliament member, Johan van Oldebarnevelt, formed collective trading association. The idea had good response and on March 20, 1602, they established Vereenigde Oost Indishe Compagnie (VOC) or The East Hindia Trading Association.

The purposes of VOC establishment were:

Avoiding the trading competition among Dutch merchants
Making Dutch position stronger to face competition with Europe or Asian countries
Helping Dutch government in fighting against the power of Spain.

To run their activities, VOC had special rights from the government of Dutch Empire. Those special rights, such as

rights to form army squad and make fortress
rights to make their own currency
rights to promote and demote officers from low level until governor general
rights to war, peace, and make agreement with kings in foreign countries
monopoly rights.

VOC efforts to make their commercial monopoly was still obeyed, were:

1. Hongi Sailing was completed sailing by kora-kora boat to control and prevent disobedience to VOC rules.

2. Extirpation Right was rights to destroy excessive spices tree in order to the spices price in Europe could be still high.

The special right had promoted VOC as government institution and autonomous commercial authority. To make their activities run well, VOC was led by a governor general. The first governor general was Pieter Both. Under his authority, VOC started to run commercial monopoly and expand their colonies. The first VOC headquarter was in Ambon. The reason VOC made Ambon as their headquarter because Ambon was the central of spices producer. This choice was correct to make their spices commercial monopoly smooth and run well. VOC was allowed by Prince Jayakarta to build their headquater in Jayakarta eventhough that territory belongs to Banten. A few years later, VOC had a competitor, EIC (East Indian Company) that was permitted to build their trading office in there. As consequences, there was a rivalry between VOC and EIC.

Those things were done with following reasons:

Jayakarta was strategic, in the line of Asian trading
From Jayakarta, it would be easier for VOC to take out Portuguese from Maluku.

3. The Form of Dutch Indies Colonial Government in Indonesia

After occupying Indonesia for more than 200 years, finally VOC was bankrupt. This was because :

a. They expended more cost to overcome people struggle in many regions in Indonesia.

b. There were many corruptions in VOC

c. There were others trading companies as competitors, such as British, French, and Portuguese

d. The change of politics situation in Europe

The declining VOC was supported by the condition of Netherland. Since 1795, France occupied the Netherlands. King Willem V as the ruler of Netherlands had to evacuate to England. The Netherlands under France authority was changed into the Republic of Bataaf.

The new government of Netherland soon took required action to ward VOC. Pada tanggal 31 December 1799, VOC was formally liquidated. All debt and credit matters of VOC and its business were taken over by new government of Netherlands. Therefore, Indonesia was formally colonized by Netherlands government which at that time Netherlands was occupied by France.

Napoleon Bonaparte as France ruler sent his brother, Louis Napolen to run government in Netherlands. Louis Napoleon was promoted to be the king of Netherlands Kingdom. Louis Napoleon also promoted a governor general to run governor in Indonesia in the name of the government of Netherlands Kingdoms. That governor general was Herman Willem Deandels.

The main task of Daendals was to defend Java Island from British attack and organize government system in Indonesia, including overcoming financial matter.

A. The Colonial Government Policy and Its Influence for the Economic Life of Indonesia People.

After VOC went bankrupt and did not take authority over Indonesia anymore, colonial government took over the authority. A governor general ran colonial government in Indonesia. Each governor general had his or her own polities.

The Renewal on Government System of Dutch Indies Colonial under Daendals Government (1808-1811)

The arrival of Daendals in Indonesia as governor general had a main task to defend Java Island from British attack. Besides that, he had to fix the colony, Indonesia. Daendals took the following steps to defend Java Island from British attack were:

a. he strengthened his army with Indonesian members;

b. he built a weapon factory in Semarang and Surabaya;

c. he built Navy base in Merak and Ujung Kulon;

d. he built some fortress:

e. he made the main street from Anyer (West Java) to Panarukan (East Java).

His effort to defend Java Island needed much fund. Meanwhile, Daendals did not get aid from Netherland government. Therefore, Daendals took the following ways:

a. Selling wide lands to private (Dutchman and Chinese). The lands were for example in Pemanukan, Ciasem, and Probolinggo.

b. Applying tax to the people by giving some of their crop (contingenten).

c. Maintaining the rules of forced selling for crops to the government with price determined by the government (verplichte leverentie).

d. Applying obligatory working (verplichte diensten) karena dirasa memberikan manfaat yang besar bagi pemerintah Belanda.

e. Escalating coffe plants

Despite the effort in military aspect. Daendals also tried to fix governmental system, such as by:

a. increasing officer salary, removing corruption, and also giving hard punishment for dishonest officers;

b. dividing Java Island into nine residencies;

c. promoting all regents in Java Island as Netherlands government officers;

d. making justice institutions which having task to judge Indonesian according to their customs;

e. determining Batavia as the central of government;

f. making simple all custom ceremony processing in all palaces.

Daendels policy in Indonesia mad all people in suffering. Beside of their properties was taken, people were also squeezed their power by cruel way. The making of Anyer-Panarukan street by obligatory working system caused thousands people died. So did the making of making of navy base in Merak and Ujung Kulon, there were many people died.

Daendels did everything what he want. His action made people him. Besides that, he made big mistake by selling government land to entrepreneurs in Bogor and Probolinggo. For his mistake, Daendals was commanded to be back to the Netherlands in 1811. Then, Louis Napoleon promoted Janssens as a successor of Daendals.

The Reformation on Government System during the Authority of Governor General Raffles (1811-1815)

Based on the agreement in Treaty of Tuntang since 1811, Java Island was under the authority of British Empire. To do the duty, British government promoted Thomas Stamford Raffless as lieutenant governor who would organize the government in Indonesia.

Raffles started his duty as lieutenant governor general on 19^th October 1811. He resided in Batavia. Raffles was a representative of young king (viceroy) Lord Minto. Immediately, Raffles did many improvement in Indonesia. His action in Indonesia was on the following sectors, such as:

a. Government, Court, and social sectors :

1) dividing Java Island into 16 residences including Yogyakarta and Surakarta

2) forming landraad (court institution) in each residency

3) forbidding slave trading

b. Economics:

1) applying land rent or land tax (landrente system).

2) selling land to private owners, like in Karawang, Priangan, Semarang, and Surabaya.

c. Science:

1) composing a history book entitled History of Java in 1817.

2) inviting foreigner expert to do scientific research in Indonesia.

3) Finding a giant flower called Rafflesia arnoldi.

Raffles government did not take along time because British government had to give Indonesia back to the Netherlands. It is caused by the change of power in Europe. Napoleon authority fallen at 1814. Therefore, France did not occupy the Netherlands anymore. Napoleon government was over.

Europen countries soon held a conference in Wina that was called Wina Congress (1814-1815). The congress stated that Europe condition and situation had bring back like before France revolution. Therefore, British must return the Dutch colonies that they grabbed. Treaty of London agreed this colonies return in 1814. Treaty of London, stated such as, the Netherlands would receive its former colonies that grabbed by British.

Raffles did not agree with the contents of Treaty of London and he did not to give back Indonesia to the Dutch. So, he was replaced by John Fendall (1816) who must give Java Island to the Dutch. Then, the Netherlands government immediately formed general commissioner that consist of Mr. Elout, Buysket, and van der Cappelen. In 1816, general commissioner formally received the authority over Indonesia from British. By then, Indonesia was occupied by Dutch again. Next, the Dutch was period well-known as the Dutch colonial government period.

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