Teuku Nyak Arif | |
---|---|
Chief of Sagi XXVII Mukim | |
In office 1911–1946 | |
Preceded by | Teuku Nyak Banta |
Member of the People's Council of Aceh | |
In office 1927–1931 | |
Member of the People's Representative Council of Aceh | |
In office 1942–1945 | |
Member of the People's Representative Council of Sumatra | |
In office 1943–1945 | |
1st Governor of Aceh | |
In office 3 October 1945 – 4 May 1946 | |
Preceded by | Post created |
Succeeded by | Teuku Daud Syah |
Personal details | |
Born | 17 July 1899 Ulèë Lheuë, Koetaradja, Dutch East Indies |
Died | 4 May 1946 Takengon, Aceh, Indonesia | (aged 46)
Resting place | Lam Nyong family cemetery |
Nationality | Indonesian |
Spouse | Tjut Nyak Jauhari (divorced) |
Children | 3 |
Residence | Lamnyong Family Residence |
Nickname | Rencong of Aceh |
Military service | |
Rank | Major General (titular) |
Teungku Nyak Arif (17 July 1899 – 4 May 1946) was an Acehnese nationalist and National Hero of Indonesia. He has been given the nickname Rencong of Aceh, after the traditional Acehnese weapon, for his bravery. [1]
Nyak Arif was born in Ulèë Lheuë, Banda Aceh, Aceh, on 17 July 1899. [2] He was the third of five siblings born to Chief of Sagi XXVII Mukim Teuku Nyak Banta and Cut Nyak Rayeuh; he also had five siblings from his father's two other wives. [2] After graduating from elementary school in Banda Aceh, he moved to Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, to study at the teacher's college (kweekschool) there. [2] In 1911 he was chosen as the new leader of Sagi XXVI Mukim, but due to his age Nyak Arif was represented by his father. [2]
Upon finishing his studies in Bukittinggi, Nyak Arif went to the leadership school for native Indonesians (Opleiding School Voor Inlandsche Ambtenaren) in Banten on the island of Java. [2] While at school, he demonstrated a dislike of the Dutch colonial government and their programs, at times disobeying commands from his teachers and refusing to take the f 10 allowance allocated to every Acehnese student outside of Aceh. [2] After graduating in 1915, he returned to Aceh. [3]
Nyak Arif became active in politics beginning in 1919, when he joined the Nationaal Indische Party, a continuation of the original Indische Party founded by Ernest Douwes Dekker, Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo, and Ki Hajar Dewantara; he became the party's head in Aceh. [4] He also founded the Acehnese Society (Aceh Vereniging) and led the Aceh branches of the Islamic Youth Group (Jong Islamietan Bond) and Sumatran Youth Group (Jong Sumatranen Bond). [5] Beginning in this period he became an ardent supporter of the Taman Siswa and Muhammadiyah social organisations, which continued until his death. [6]
On 16 May 1927, Nyak Arif was selected to join the People's Council of Aceh (Volksraad Aceh) in addition to his duties as Chief of Sagi XXVII Mukim. [7] As a member of the council he would consistently criticise Dutch policies which he found to go against the interests of the Acehnese people; [7] in another speech he said that the Aceh War was far from over. [1] On 27 January 1930, he joined the National Fraction (Fraksi Nasional), led by Mohammad Husni Thamrin. [8] Nyak Arif left the council in 1931. [8]
In 1935 Nyak Arif became the head of the Acehnese Football Association (Acehse Voetbalbond). [4] With the nationalist movement gaining steam and the Dutch occupied with Adolf Hitler's movements in Europe, Nyak Arif delivered a speech at a memorial service for Soetomo in 1938, which ended with the lines "By Allah, with Allah, for Allah. I promise to be faithful to my homeland, people, and religion, and to never betray the struggle." [a] [9] This oath was taken by other attendees as well, including Daud Bereueh. [9]
With Japanese forces approaching, on 8 March 1942 Nyak Arif joined several other Acehnese leaders in demanding self-determination. [10] Three days later, eight of the leaders were arrested by Dutch forces by command of Colonel George Gosenson; Gosenson searched for Nyak Arif, but the latter was able to escape detection. [10] The following day, on 12 March 1942, the Japanese forces landed at Sabang; this was followed on 28 March with the surrender of the Dutch troops. [10] Nyak Arif was chosen by the Acehnese people to lead the Government Committee of Aceh, and reluctantly collaborated with the Japanese forces; he later said of the period, "we had driven out dogs only to have pigs come." [b] [11] He was once arrested on the suspicion of leading an underground resistance force, but later released. [1]
When the Japanese formed their own people's representative council for Aceh, Nyak Arif was chosen as its head. [11] In 1943 he went to Japan with 14 other Sumatran leaders and brought before Emperor of Japan Hirohito; he reportedly refused to bow before the emperor in the Japanese tradition, although he did agree to nod. [11] Upon returning to Aceh, he and Teuku Hasan delivered a speech permeated with subtle sarcasm about the greatness of the Empire of Japan. [12] In 1944 Nyak Arif was chosen to be deputy chief of the People's Representative Council of Sumatra. [12]
After the Japanese surrender to the Allies and Proclamation of Indonesian Independence in 1945, on 3 October Nyak Arif was chosen to be the first resident of Aceh. [13] In this position he oversaw the Japanese withdrawal from Aceh after refusing the Allies the right to do so; [1] despite clashes with some Japanese troops in Bireuën, they were eventually all disarmed and returned to their homeland. [3] On 17 January 1946 he was declared a titular major general while he served as a staff member to the Sumatran military commander. [14]
During the Cumbok Affair—a power struggle between the ulama (religious leaders) and ulèëbalang (feudalists)—Nyak Arif agreed to surrender himself to the ulama to prevent further bloodshed. [6] He died on 4 April of the same year as from complications from diabetes in Takengon [6] and was buried in Lam Nyong family cemetery. [1]
On 9 November 1974 Nyak Arif was declared a National Hero of Indonesia by President Suharto through Presidential Decree 071/TK/1974. [15]
Nyak Arif's first marriage was to the daughter of Teuku Maharaja, the chief of Lhokseumawe; the couple divorced before they had any children. [4] His second marriage was to Jauhari, daughter of a Minang police officer named Yazid. [4] Together they had two sons and a daughter. [4]
Footnotes
Bibliography
Teuku Nyak Arif | |
---|---|
Chief of Sagi XXVII Mukim | |
In office 1911–1946 | |
Preceded by | Teuku Nyak Banta |
Member of the People's Council of Aceh | |
In office 1927–1931 | |
Member of the People's Representative Council of Aceh | |
In office 1942–1945 | |
Member of the People's Representative Council of Sumatra | |
In office 1943–1945 | |
1st Governor of Aceh | |
In office 3 October 1945 – 4 May 1946 | |
Preceded by | Post created |
Succeeded by | Teuku Daud Syah |
Personal details | |
Born | 17 July 1899 Ulèë Lheuë, Koetaradja, Dutch East Indies |
Died | 4 May 1946 Takengon, Aceh, Indonesia | (aged 46)
Resting place | Lam Nyong family cemetery |
Nationality | Indonesian |
Spouse | Tjut Nyak Jauhari (divorced) |
Children | 3 |
Residence | Lamnyong Family Residence |
Nickname | Rencong of Aceh |
Military service | |
Rank | Major General (titular) |
Teungku Nyak Arif (17 July 1899 – 4 May 1946) was an Acehnese nationalist and National Hero of Indonesia. He has been given the nickname Rencong of Aceh, after the traditional Acehnese weapon, for his bravery. [1]
Nyak Arif was born in Ulèë Lheuë, Banda Aceh, Aceh, on 17 July 1899. [2] He was the third of five siblings born to Chief of Sagi XXVII Mukim Teuku Nyak Banta and Cut Nyak Rayeuh; he also had five siblings from his father's two other wives. [2] After graduating from elementary school in Banda Aceh, he moved to Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, to study at the teacher's college (kweekschool) there. [2] In 1911 he was chosen as the new leader of Sagi XXVI Mukim, but due to his age Nyak Arif was represented by his father. [2]
Upon finishing his studies in Bukittinggi, Nyak Arif went to the leadership school for native Indonesians (Opleiding School Voor Inlandsche Ambtenaren) in Banten on the island of Java. [2] While at school, he demonstrated a dislike of the Dutch colonial government and their programs, at times disobeying commands from his teachers and refusing to take the f 10 allowance allocated to every Acehnese student outside of Aceh. [2] After graduating in 1915, he returned to Aceh. [3]
Nyak Arif became active in politics beginning in 1919, when he joined the Nationaal Indische Party, a continuation of the original Indische Party founded by Ernest Douwes Dekker, Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo, and Ki Hajar Dewantara; he became the party's head in Aceh. [4] He also founded the Acehnese Society (Aceh Vereniging) and led the Aceh branches of the Islamic Youth Group (Jong Islamietan Bond) and Sumatran Youth Group (Jong Sumatranen Bond). [5] Beginning in this period he became an ardent supporter of the Taman Siswa and Muhammadiyah social organisations, which continued until his death. [6]
On 16 May 1927, Nyak Arif was selected to join the People's Council of Aceh (Volksraad Aceh) in addition to his duties as Chief of Sagi XXVII Mukim. [7] As a member of the council he would consistently criticise Dutch policies which he found to go against the interests of the Acehnese people; [7] in another speech he said that the Aceh War was far from over. [1] On 27 January 1930, he joined the National Fraction (Fraksi Nasional), led by Mohammad Husni Thamrin. [8] Nyak Arif left the council in 1931. [8]
In 1935 Nyak Arif became the head of the Acehnese Football Association (Acehse Voetbalbond). [4] With the nationalist movement gaining steam and the Dutch occupied with Adolf Hitler's movements in Europe, Nyak Arif delivered a speech at a memorial service for Soetomo in 1938, which ended with the lines "By Allah, with Allah, for Allah. I promise to be faithful to my homeland, people, and religion, and to never betray the struggle." [a] [9] This oath was taken by other attendees as well, including Daud Bereueh. [9]
With Japanese forces approaching, on 8 March 1942 Nyak Arif joined several other Acehnese leaders in demanding self-determination. [10] Three days later, eight of the leaders were arrested by Dutch forces by command of Colonel George Gosenson; Gosenson searched for Nyak Arif, but the latter was able to escape detection. [10] The following day, on 12 March 1942, the Japanese forces landed at Sabang; this was followed on 28 March with the surrender of the Dutch troops. [10] Nyak Arif was chosen by the Acehnese people to lead the Government Committee of Aceh, and reluctantly collaborated with the Japanese forces; he later said of the period, "we had driven out dogs only to have pigs come." [b] [11] He was once arrested on the suspicion of leading an underground resistance force, but later released. [1]
When the Japanese formed their own people's representative council for Aceh, Nyak Arif was chosen as its head. [11] In 1943 he went to Japan with 14 other Sumatran leaders and brought before Emperor of Japan Hirohito; he reportedly refused to bow before the emperor in the Japanese tradition, although he did agree to nod. [11] Upon returning to Aceh, he and Teuku Hasan delivered a speech permeated with subtle sarcasm about the greatness of the Empire of Japan. [12] In 1944 Nyak Arif was chosen to be deputy chief of the People's Representative Council of Sumatra. [12]
After the Japanese surrender to the Allies and Proclamation of Indonesian Independence in 1945, on 3 October Nyak Arif was chosen to be the first resident of Aceh. [13] In this position he oversaw the Japanese withdrawal from Aceh after refusing the Allies the right to do so; [1] despite clashes with some Japanese troops in Bireuën, they were eventually all disarmed and returned to their homeland. [3] On 17 January 1946 he was declared a titular major general while he served as a staff member to the Sumatran military commander. [14]
During the Cumbok Affair—a power struggle between the ulama (religious leaders) and ulèëbalang (feudalists)—Nyak Arif agreed to surrender himself to the ulama to prevent further bloodshed. [6] He died on 4 April of the same year as from complications from diabetes in Takengon [6] and was buried in Lam Nyong family cemetery. [1]
On 9 November 1974 Nyak Arif was declared a National Hero of Indonesia by President Suharto through Presidential Decree 071/TK/1974. [15]
Nyak Arif's first marriage was to the daughter of Teuku Maharaja, the chief of Lhokseumawe; the couple divorced before they had any children. [4] His second marriage was to Jauhari, daughter of a Minang police officer named Yazid. [4] Together they had two sons and a daughter. [4]
Footnotes
Bibliography