TANAM PAKSA, KEKUASAAN BELANDA DI INDONESIA | Sejarah Indonesia

Summary

This historical video script delves into the Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia, starting from 1816. It explains the implementation of the 'culture system' or forced cultivation system, introduced by Johanes Van den Bosch in 1829 to overcome economic crises. The system exploited indigenous people, forcing them to grow export crops like coffee, tobacco, sugarcane, and indigo. Despite the wealth it generated for the Dutch, it violated human rights and led to suffering among the native population. The script also touches on the political debate between liberal and conservative elites regarding the system, the influential books 'Suiker' and 'Max Havelaar' that criticized forced cultivation, and the eventual shift to a private enterprise system, which continued to inflict suffering on the Indonesian people through forced labor and taxes.

Takeaways

• 🇳🇱 The Dutch colonial power in Indonesia began after the British were defeated in 1816, leading to the establishment of Dutch rule.
• 🌾 The 'culture system' or forced cultivation system was introduced by Johanes Van den Bosch in 1829 to improve the Dutch economy by exploiting the colonies' resources.
• 👨‍🌾 Indigenous farmers were required to cultivate export crops such as coffee, tobacco, sugar cane, and indigo on a portion of their land, which was then taxed by the Dutch government.
• 📜 The forced cultivation system was regulated through the 'staatsprond' or state decree, specifically Staad.pro Hoon 1834 Number 22.
• 🏆 Indigenous rulers were incentivized with 'culture percentages' to encourage the production and delivery of agricultural goods to the Dutch government.
• 🔄 The implementation of the forced cultivation system often exceeded the legal limits, with more than 1/5 of farmers' land being used for the system.
• 😔 The system violated basic human rights, causing suffering among the native people while the Dutch profited immensely from the exploitation of Indonesian resources.
• 💰 From 1831 to 1877, the Dutch amassed a wealth of 832 million guilders, which allowed them to pay off debts and rebuild fortifications.
• 📚 Two influential books, 'Suiker' by Fransen van der Pot and 'Max Havelaar' by Multatuli, criticized the forced cultivation system, leading to its gradual abolition.
• 🌐 The transition to a liberal economic system, where private enterprise took over economic activities in the colonies, still resulted in the suffering of the Indonesian people due to continued forced labor.
• 🛣️ The Dutch continued to enforce labor on the population for infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, railways, irrigation systems, and forts, despite the shift to a private enterprise system.

Q & A

What significant event took place in 1816 that marked the beginning of Dutch colonial power in Indonesia?

In 1816, the Dutch successfully defeated the British forces in the region of Tuntang, Salatiga, marking the beginning of Dutch colonial power in Indonesia.

What economic crisis did the Dutch face at the onset of their rule in Indonesia, and how did they plan to resolve it?

The Dutch faced an economic crisis due to the high costs of waging war and maintaining the government. They sought to resolve this by exploiting their colonies for profit.

Who was Johanes Van den Bosch, and what proposal did he make to the Dutch king in 1829?

Johanes Van den Bosch was a figure who proposed a political and economic system to the Dutch king in 1829. His proposal, known as the 'culture system,' aimed to improve the Dutch economy by cultivating cash crops for the world market.

What is the meaning of 'culture stelsel' and how was it implemented?

'Culture stelsel,' meaning 'cultivation system' or 'forced cultivation,' was implemented by exploiting the native population through forced labor, compelling them to grow export crops like coffee, tobacco, sugarcane, and indigo.

What were the specific regulations of the forced cultivation system as outlined in the 'Staatsblad' of 1834?

The 'Staatsblad' of 1834 stipulated that native farmers had to provide 1/5 of their land for forced cultivation, were exempt from taxes on the harvest, and had to surrender the produce to the Dutch government. The native rulers played a crucial role in enforcing these regulations.

How did the native rulers benefit from the forced cultivation system, and what was the term for their bonus?

The native rulers benefited from the forced cultivation system through a bonus known as 'culture procenten,' which was a percentage of the agricultural produce they delivered to the Dutch government. The larger the delivery, the greater their bonus.

What were the consequences of the forced cultivation system for the native people of Indonesia?

The forced cultivation system violated the basic human rights of the native people, causing suffering as they were compelled to grow crops for the benefit of the Dutch at the expense of their own well-being.

How did the Dutch benefit financially from the forced cultivation system between 1831 and 1877?

Between 1831 and 1877, the Dutch amassed a wealth of 832 million guilders from the forced cultivation system, allowing them to pay off debts of the VOC and rebuild fortifications.

What were the two books published in 1860 that criticized the forced cultivation system and led to its gradual abolition?

The two books were 'Suiker' by Fransen van der Pot and 'Max Havelaar' by Edward Douwes Dekker, known by his pen name Multatuli, which heavily criticized the system and contributed to its eventual replacement with a liberal economic system.

What was the 'private enterprise system' that replaced the forced cultivation system, and how did it affect the people of Indonesia?

The 'private enterprise system' replaced the forced cultivation system by allowing private entities to manage economic activities in the colonies. However, it still involved forced labor and the exploitation of the Indonesian people for the benefit of the Dutch economy.

What additional burdens did the Indonesian people face under the Dutch rule apart from the forced labor?

Apart from forced labor, the Indonesian people also had to pay taxes and contribute to the construction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, railways, irrigation systems, and forts, which further exacerbated their suffering.