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1. Fight Against the Dutch
This era constituted with the period of fighting against the Dutch
in Bali. These years were marked by the out break of various wars
in Bali. The wars could be described as follows:
- Buleleng (1846)
- Jagaraga (1848-1849)
- Kusamba (1849)
- Banjar (1868)
- Puputan Badung (1906)
- Puputan Klungkung (1908)
When the Dutch won all the battles and the Klungkung kingdom fell
down into their hands, Bali as was under the foreign influence.
2. Dutch Colonization Period
When Buleleng fell down into the Dutch's hands, the Dutch government
began to intervene in the management of government in Bali, for
example changing the name of the king as regional head to regent
for Buleleng and Jembrana areas and placing P L Van Bloemen Waanders
as the first controleur in Bali.
The government in Bali remained ingrained in the traditional structure,
ie continuing to activate customary leadership in running the government
in the regions. For Bali, the position of the king constituted the
highest holder of power which during the period of colonial government
was accompanied by a controleur. In the matter of responsibility,
the king reported directly to the Resident of Bali and Lombok which
domiciled in Singaraja. Meanwhile for South Bali, the kings reported
to the Assistant Resident that domiciled in Denpasar.
To meet the need for the administrative personnel, the Dutch government
opened the first elementary school in Singaraja (1875) known as
the Tweede Klasse School. Then another school named Erste Inlandsche
School opened in 1913. Soon it was followed by the opening of another
school named Hollandsche Inlandsche School (HIS) where students
mostly came from the aristocratic and the wealthy families.
The Birth of the Movement Organization
As the result of educational influences, students and some people
who had jobs in Singaraja initiated an organization called Suita
Gama Tirta with the purpose of educating Balinese people in science
through religious teachings. Unfortunately this organization did
not last long. Then several teachers who were still hungering for
religious education, founded an organization named Shanti in 1923.
This organization published a magazine called Shanti Adnyana which
was later changed to Bali Adnyana.
In 1925, an organization named Suryakanta was also founded in Singaraja
and published a magazine called Suryakanta. Like the Shanti organization,
Suryakanta also expected that Balinese would make progress in science
and eliminate traditions which were no longer suited to the progress
of the times.
In the meantime, in Karangasem, an organization called Satya Samudaya
Buadana Bali Lombok was founded. The members were civil servants
and the public. Their purposes were to raise and save money for
study fund.
3. Japanese Occupation Period
After going through several battles, the Japanese army landed on
Sanur Beach on 18 and 19 February 1942. From Sanur, the Japanese
army entered Denpasar without encountering any resistance whatsoever.
Then, from Denpasar Japan controlled Bali entirely. At first, the
party that established Japanese power in Bali was the Japanese Army
(Rikugun). Later, when the
situation was in a stable time, the power of government was handed
over to a civilian government.
During the Japanese occupation, since the situation was in a conflict,
all activity was focused on the war effort. Young people were trained
to become Pembela Tanah Air (Country Defending soldiers), abbreviated
PETA. In 1944 PETA was established where programmes and conditions
of education were formed after the succession of PETA in Java.
4. Independence
On 23 August 1945, following the Proclamation of Independence, Mr
I Gusti Ketut Puja arrived in Bali by bringing the mandate of his
appointment as Governor of Sunda Kecil. It happened since his arrival
in Bali that the Proclamation of Independence in Bali was spread
throughout the villages. It was the time that preparations for the
arrangement of government in Bali were made as the Sunda Kecil with
Singaraja as its capital.
The first attempt to remove weapons from Japanese hands was carried
out on 13 December 1945. However, the effort failed. For this reason,
it was decided to seek assistance and weapons in Java. This was
carried on by I Gusti Ngurah Rai and his people. After Ngurah Rai
returned from Java, the entire struggle in Bali was merged into
one principal force "Dewan Perjuangan Rakyat Indonesia Sunda
Kecil" under the command of Komando Markas Besar Oemoem (MBO).
Since the landing of NICA in Bali, Bali had always been in a fighting
arena. In the battle, the Indonesian forces used the guerilla system.
Therefore, MBO as the mother force was always on the move. In order
to strengthen the defence in Bali, Indonesian Navy assistance was
sent from Java which later joined forces with those in Bali. Because
of the frequent battles, the Dutch sent a letter to Rai to negotiate,
but Balinese fighters refused and continued to strengthen their
defense by involving the people.
To facilitate contact with Java, Rai applied the strategy for removing
the Dutch attention to eastern Bali. On 28 May 1946, Rai sent his
force to the east then it was known as "a Long March".
During this "Long March", the guerilla force was often
ambushed by the Dutch power so that battles frequently occurred.
The battle that brought victory to the winners was the Tanah Arun
battle, ie a battle that broke in a small village at the foot of
Agung Mountain, Karangasem Regency. During the Tanah Arun battle
which broke on 9 July 1946, many Dutch soldiers were killed.
After the battle, Ngurah Rai's force moved to the west and they
arrived in Marga Village (Tabanan). To save the energy because of
limited weapons, some members of the force were ordered to fight
with people altogether.
Puputan Margarana
When MBO staffs were in Marga, Ngurah Rai ordered his force to
take NICA police weapons in Tabanan. The order was carried out on
18 November 1946 (at night) and they made it finally. Several weapons
and ammunition as well were taken and then a Nica police commandant
joined with Ngurah Rai's forces. After that, the force returned
to Marga Village.
On 20 November 1946, by starting the violence at dawn, the Dutch
force began to encircle Marga Village. The battle between Nica force
and Ngurah Rai's had occured for 10.00 hours. In the war, many members
of the Dutch advanced force were killed. Therefore, the Dutch immediately
asked for some helps from all of its forces in Bali and also the
bombers which were sent from Makasar. In the serious battle which
involved all members of Ngurah Rai force, were determined not to
leave the war until the last drop of blood. It was here that Ngurah
Rai force held Puputan so that all 96 members of the force were
killed, including Rai himself.
On the other hand, about 400 members of the Dutch force were killed.
To commemorate the event, a Hero Monument was constructed on the
former battle ground.
Denpasar Conference
The Denpasar Conference took place in Bali Hotel on 18-24 December
1946. The conference was opened by Van Mook with the purpose of
forming the Eastern Indonesia State (NIT) with the capital of Makasar
(Ujung Pandang).
With the formation of the Eastern Indonesia State, the structure
of government in Bali was re-established during the periods of the
kings. The such government was held by the king who was assisted
by patih, punggawa, perbekel and also the lowest government which
was called the kelian. Besides that, there was a council with the
position that the king was one step behind it and it was called
as the council of kings.
Transfer of Sovereignty
The first military aggression against the Indonesian government
forces was carried out by the Dutch on 21 July 1947. The Dutch again
did the second aggression on 18 December 1948. During the second
aggression, continually efforts were being focused on Bali with
the purpose of establishing the more effective guerilla fighting
movements. In connection with this, in July 1948, a fighting organization
called Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia Merdeka (GRIM) was formed. Then,
on 27 November 1949 GRIM merged with the other fighting organizations
called Lanjutan Perjuangan. Then the name was changed again into
"Pemerintah Darurat Republik Indonesia (PDRI) Sunda Kecil.
During the RIS (Republik Indonesia Serikat) period, the East Indonesia
Military Commission tried to settle the problem of freedom fighters
in Bali, especially those who remained in the mountains. The commission
tried to call the members of DPRI who remained in the mountains
to be included in an army force called Arjuna (15 January 1950).
On the other hand, KNIL (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger) was
turned into the Army of the Republik Indonesia Serikat since June
1950. Meanwhile, the Round Table Conference (KMB) which was based
on the agreement between Indonesian-Dutch Union was started at the
end of August 1949. Finally, on 27 December 1949 the Dutch recognized
RIS sovereignty. Then, on 17 August 1950, RIS was changed into the
Republic of Indonesia.
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