Kalimantan Physical Revolution | |||||||
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Part of the Indonesian National Revolution | |||||||
![]() Hasan Basry greeted by the people of Kalimantan in Kandangan after a meeting with NICA and United Nations envoy about sovereignty transfer. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
ContentsVarious militia and decentralized armed insurgencies | ![]() | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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The Kalimantan Physical Revolution (Indonesian : Revolusi fisik Kalimantan) was an armed conflict between Indonesian nationalists and pro-Dutch forces in Dutch Borneo in the second half of the 1940s. It began with the end of the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies and the 1945 Proclamation of Indonesian Independence by Sukarno and lasted until the Dutch withdrew from most of Indonesia in 1949. It can be considered part of the larger Indonesian National Revolution.
After the surrender of the Japanese at the end of World War II, allied forces took control of the Dutch East Indies, including Dutch Borneo. The return of Dutch authorities was rejected by a majority of the native population, resulting in various regional armed conflicts between the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army and Indonesian nationalist forces. Allied military forces in Borneo were in a strong position after an early conflict in August 1945, and they were able to pacify local nationalist uprisings and impose a blockade to prevent military aid and exchange in personnel from nationalist strongholds in Java and Sumatra. [1] [2] Later, nationalists with connections to Borneo were able to breach the military blockade to provide information on revolutionary events in Java and Sumatra, declaring Kalimantan an inseparable part of the new Indonesian republic in the Kalimantan proclamation. [3] [4] [5]
Borneo was home to several native sultanates such as Sultanate of Banjar, Kutai, and Sultanate of Bulungan. [6] Prior to 18th and 19th century, the Dutch began to intervene in internal matters of native sultanates, resulting conflict between the two. The most notable was Banjarmasin War, resulting in Dutch authorities eliminating most of royal institutions and declaring the sultanate cease to exist after 1863. Dutch control over the island remained weak and mostly handed over local authorities and royals that are supporting Dutch colonial establishment. [7] [8]
Indonesian nationalism, which only arose in Java in the 1910s, was unheard of in Borneo until the Indonesian National Party establish branches across the island and began exporting the ideals of the Indonesian National Awakening there. The military occupation by Japan also fueled nationalist and pro-Asia sentiment, in addition to giving some natives military training which they later used against allied forces. [9] [10] [11]
After the Indonesian declaration of Independence in 1945, various militia and armed organizations were formed across the archipelago. While nationalist sentiment was widespread between common people and grassroot movements, it was unpopular within aristocrats, especially in Kutai, East Kalimantan where royals there established a Dutch-supported East Kalimantan state. (There was also a Dutch puppet state in West Kalimantan led by Syarif Hamid II of Pontianak.) This later caused tensions between royals and people of Kutai, some of whom formed the Panitia Aksi Anti Swapraja (Committee for Anti-Royalty Action) and actively opposed the Dutch puppet state. [12] In Sambas, West Kalimantan, in October 1945, a clash occurred between nationalists wanted to replace flag of the Netherlands with red and white flag on official buildings, and pro-Dutch partisans, later known as "Bloody Sambas" (Indonesian : Sambas berdarah). [13] Following the clash, several other engagements also occurred within inland regions in Landak and Melawi. [12] [14] Nationalist opposition to the Dutch was severely impeded by the Dutch military strength and the blockade which cut off nationalists from their counterparts in Java. [1] In South Kalimantan, armed opposition was led by Hasan Basry in Meratus Mountains, with smaller conflicts occurring in Kotabaru and Tanah Laut. Anti-royalty and anti-Dutch sentiment were thought to be driven by influence of Communist Party of Indonesia in the region, which was exceptionally strong in South and East Kalimantan. [15] The Indonesian Navy, which had been founded in 1946, also sent secret emissaries to establish communication with nationlists in Kalimantan, to give them support and to attempt to bring them under their command. [1] However, those armed elements did not have the power to displace the Dutch, who forced an agreement for the United States of Indonesia in 1946 in which Dutch puppet states in Borneo and elsewhere would be equal partners to the republic of Indonesia.[ citation needed ]
In October 1947, newly formed Indonesian Airforce (AURI) conducted its first ever airborne operation led by Tjilik Riwut in what today is Central Kalimantan using a Douglas DC-3 aircraft disguised as civilian plane. [16] The group, named MN/1001 (Muhammad Noor 1001), consist of only 14 personnel, mostly Kalimantan-born. [17] [18] The goal was to break Dutch-imposed blockade and send back several Kalimantan-born nationalist back from Java. [16] Only 13 personnel were deployed from the plane and one allegedly deserted, leaving only 12 on the ground. [16] The group engaged against Dutch troops close to village of Pahandut, today Palangka Raya city. [17] The group was ambushed on 23 November, leaving three killed while the rest fled until the entirety of the group was captured on 7 December. [16] [18] They were jailed in Banjarmasin before released in the aftermath of Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference. [18]
On 17 May 1949, Hasan Basry declared Kalimantan as integral part of Indonesian Republic and opposed any act to grant it independence from Indonesia. The proclamation was read on Kandangan and later printed and circulated around Banjarmasin and Pontianak. Prior to declaration, Dutch authorities send an ultimatum to Hasan Basry and his followers to surrender.
“PROKLAMASI“
MERDEKA, DENGAN INI KAMI RAKYAT INDONESIA DI KALIMANTAN SELATAN, MEMPERMAKLUMKAN BERDIRINYA PEMERINTAHAN GUBERNUR TENTARA DARI “ALRI” MELINGKUNGI SELURUH DAERAH KALIMANTAN SELATAN MENJADI BAGIAN DARI REPUBLIK INDONESIA, UNTUK MEMENUHI ISI PROKLAMASI 17 AGUSTUS 1945 YANG DITANDATANGANI OLEH PRESIDEN SOEKARNO DAN WAKIL PRESIDEN MOHAMMAD HATTA. HAL-HAL YANG BERSANGKUTAN DENGAN PEMINDAHAN KEKUASAAN AKAN DIPERTAHANKAN DAN KALAU PERLU DIPERJUANGKAN SAMPAI TETES DARAH YANG PENGHABISAN.
TETAP MERDEKA !
KANDANGAN,17 MEI. ATAS NAMA RAKYAT INDONESIA DI KALIMANTAN SELATAN
GUBERNUR TENTARA
HASSAN BASRY
English version:
"PROCLAMATION"
MERDEKA (FREEDOM),
WITH THIS WE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA IN SOUTH KALIMANTAN REGION REQUEST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MILITARY GOVERNOR UNDER THE INDONESIAN NAVY, INCLUDING ALL THE SOUTH KALIMANTAN REGION, TO BE PART OF THE INDONESIAN REPUBLIC, TO MEET THE CONTENT OF 1945 INDEPENDENCE PROCLAMATION SIGNED BY PRESIDENT SOEKARNO AND VICE PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD HATTA. CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF POWER WILL BE MAINTAINED AND IF NEED TO BE STRUGGLED TO A DROP OF BLOOD THAT DRIVES.STAY INDEPENDENT!
KANDANGAN, 17 MAY
IN THE NAME OF THE INDONESIAN PEOPLE IN SOUTH KALIMANTANMILITARY GOVERNOR
HASAN BASRY
After the proclamation, the conflict in Kalimantan continued to take place. The Dutch did not recognize the proclamation and made a military push to limit the actual reach of Basry's claim to establishing a new Indonesian territory on Kalimantan soil. [1] Starting in the late summer, while the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference was being negotiated in The Hague, Indonesian defense ministers Mohammad Hatta (replaced by Hamengkubuwono IX during the negotiations) sent a military force led by Major General Soehardjo to peacefully observe the state of affairs in Banjarmasin, where the Dutch KNIL forces were still mobilized. [20] Yet the guerilla actions, strikes, targeted killings of KNIL soldiers, and theft of supplies from the Dutch side continued in late 1949. [21] [22] [23] As the Republican position was strengthened, Basry attempted to impose military discipline over the remaining guerilla forces, some of whom had even conducted raids on Republican positions. [1] However, the end of the military conflict came not as a result of military defeat of Dutch forces, but because the Netherlands were forced to cede sovereignty to Indonesia at the negotiating table in December 1949.[ citation needed ]
Several monuments and statues exist in Kalimantan to commemorate the conflict and 17 May Proclamation. [24] [25] 17th May Stadium was named after the proclamation. A folk song titled Kampung Batuah created by local artist Anang Ardiansyah contains lyrics about the event.[ citation needed ]
The Dayak or Dyak or Dayuh are one of the native groups of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic groups, located principally in the central and southern interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory, and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily identifiable. The Dayak were animist in belief; however, since the 19th century there has been mass conversion to Christianity as well as Islam due to the spreading of Abrahamic religions.
South Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia. It is the smallest province in Kalimantan, the Indonesian territory of the island of Borneo. The provincial capital was Banjarmasin until 15 February 2022 when it was legally moved to Banjarbaru. The population of South Kalimantan was recorded at just over 3.625 million people at the 2010 Census, and at 4.07 million at the 2020 Census. The official estimate as at mid 2023 was 4,221,929. One of the five Indonesian provinces in Kalimantan, it is bordered by the Makassar Strait in the east, Central Kalimantan in the west and north, the Java Sea in the south, and East Kalimantan in the northeast. The province also includes the island of Pulau Laut, located off the eastern coast of Kalimantan, as well as other smaller offshore islands. The province is divided into 11 regencies and 2 cities. South Kalimantan is the traditional homeland of the Banjar people, although some parts of East Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan are also included in this criterion. Nevertheless, South Kalimantan, especially the former capital city Banjarmasin has always been the cultural capital of Banjarese culture. Many Banjarese have migrated to other parts of Indonesia, as well as neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. In addition, other ethnic groups also inhabit the province, such as several groups of the Dayaks, who mostly live in the interior part of the province, as well as the Javanese, who mostly migrated from Java due to the Transmigration program which dated from the Dutch colonial era. It is one of the provinces in Indonesia that has a larger population than Mongolia.
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Banjarmasin is a city in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It was the capital of the province until 15 February 2022. The city is located on a delta island near the junction of the Barito and Martapura rivers. Historically the centre of the Banjarese culture, and the capital of the Sultanate of Banjar, it is the biggest city in South Kalimantan and one of the main cities of Kalimantan. The city covers an area of 98.46 km2 (38.02 sq mi) and had a population of 625,481 as of the 2010 Census and 657,663 as of the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid 2023 was 675,915. It is the third most populous city on the island of Borneo.
Palangka Raya is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan. The city is situated between the Kahayan and the Sabangau rivers on the island of Borneo. As of the 2020 census, the city has a population of 293,500; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 305,797. Palangka Raya is the largest city by land area in Indonesia ; however, most of the area is forested including protected forests, nature conservation areas, and Tangkiling Forest). It also has the highest Human Development Index rating of any city in Kalimantan.
The Banjar or Banjarese are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the Banjar regions in the southeastern Kalimantan regions of Indonesia. Nowadays, Banjarese diaspora can be found in neighbouring Banjar regions as well; including Kotabaru Regency, the southeastern regions of Central Kalimantan, southernmost regions of East Kalimantan, and some provinces of Indonesia in general. The Banjarese diaspora community also can be found in neighbouring countries of Indonesia, such as Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore.
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Sampit is a large town located in East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan. Previously a timber port town, it has grown to be a medium-sized community with a population of 166,773 according to Statistics Indonesia in 2019, with the economy having since divested from timber products. However, the town is not an autonomous city and not an administrative division by despite having a sizeable population and urban built-up. It consists of 11 urban villages (kelurahan) from Baamang District, Seranau District, and Mentawa Baru Ketapang District. The total area of the town is 751.45 square kilometres.
Bakumpai or Baraki are indigenous people of Borneo and are considered as a sub-ethnic group of the Dayak Ngaju people group with Islamic background. The Bakumpai people first occupy along the Barito riverbanks in South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan, from Marabahan to Puruk Cahu, Murung Raya Regency. The Bakumpai people first appeared as a newly recognized people group in census 2000 and were made up of 7.51% of Central Kalimantan population, which before this the Bakumpai people were considered as part of the Dayak people in a 1930 census.
Sultanate of Banjar or Sultanate of Banjarmasin was a sultanate located in what is today the South Kalimantan province of Indonesia. For most of its history, its capital was at Banjarmasin.
The Martapura River is a river in southeast Borneo, Indonesia. It is a tributary of the Barito River. Other names for the river are Banjar Kecil River or Kayutangi River and due to many activities of Chinese merchants in the past in the downstream area also called China River. It merges with the Barito River in Banjarmasin, flowing from the source in Martapura, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan.
A. A. Hamidhan, is the popular name of Anang Abdul Hamidhan, an Indonesian freedom fighter and journalist from South Kalimantan. He established the daily Soeara Kalimantan in 1930. It was he who brought news of Indonesia's unilateral declaration of independence to Borneo.
Hasan Basry was a military general, Indonesian nationalist leader, and was a key figure in the liberation of Kalimantan from Dutch rule. During the Indonesian National Revolution, he acted as the military representative of the Indonesian army in Kalimantan and led a guerilla war against the Linggadjati Agreement. He was a key figure behind the 17 May Proclamation which rallied Kalimantan natives against Dutch rule in 1949. He was declared a National Hero of Indonesia in 2001.
Anakletus Tjilik Riwut was an Indonesian military officer and journalist who served as the governor of Central Kalimantan from 1959 to 1967. He participated in the Indonesian National Revolution, becoming one of the leaders of the Kalimantan Physical Revolution in Dutch Borneo. In 1988, the government of Indonesia declared him a national hero.
This is a list of emblems or coat of arms used in Indonesia. Indonesia is divided into 38 provinces, and each province is divided into regencies (kabupaten) and cities (kota). There are 416 regencies and 98 cities. Each province, regency, and city has its own emblem.
Jukung tambangan is a traditional boat made by the Banjar people of South Kalimantan. They are mainly used for riverine transportation. It is already present at least since mid-18th century. They were not seen anymore in Banjarmasin ca. 1950s and around the 1970s on the Nagara River, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency.
Mohammad Noor, known by his Indonesian name Pangeran Mohammad Noor and also written as P. M. Noor, was an Indonesian politician, independence fighter and first Governor of Kalimantan. He was also member of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence and served as the Minister of Public Works between 1956 and 1959.
The Dayak Desa War or Majang Desa War was an armed uprising by the Dayak Desa tribe, and later Indonesian nationalists, in West Kalimantan against the Japanese Empire and the Dutch East Indies during World War II. The war was initially caused by the local population's opposition against the rōmusha system and disappointment with Japanese occupation. In the initial phase of Japanese occupation, several Japanese companies entered the region to gain natural resources in order to support the Japanese war effort in the Pacific. Occupying Japanese forced locals to work for free for these companies, mainly in coal mining and timber production. After that, a Japanese foreman working in a company wanted to marry the daughter of Pang Linggan, a respected Dayak chief in the region, which caused more tension between locals and the Japanese. Dayak tribes in the region initiated mangkuk merah ritual, as a sign to mobilise men from villages and prepare for war. The Japanese were driven out of the Borneo interior in June 1945, but returned on 17 July and continued until 31 August 1945 when Japanese forces there surrendered and left the region, replaced by Allied forces including the Dutch, who would later be opposed again until recognition of Indonesian independence in 1949.
Fachrul Baraqbah (1925–1980) was an Indonesian politician who was a member of the Kutai Sultanate royal family and was a mid-level leader of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) until his arrest in 1965 during the anti-communist repression preceding the Transition to the New Order. As an aristocrat, he was considered an anomaly for supporting the Indonesian National Revolution, renouncing his royal title, and joining the PKI.
Hausman Baboe was a colonial head of Kuala Kapuas district of Central Kalimantan in the Dutch East Indies; he was also an early Dayak journalist and an Indonesian nationalist. Baboe was born into an aristocratic family of Dayak Ngaju people and served as head of Kuala Kapuas under the Dutch colonial government but was dismissed from his post due to his anti-colonial remarks. He became a prominent Dayak political figure and was several times accused of being a communist due to his close association with the left-wing political party Sarekat Rakjat. Despite being a Christian, his Indonesian nationalist ideals drew him close to Sarekat Islam.