The administrative division of Atjeh of 1908 was the reorganisation of Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden carried out by H. N. A. Swart on assuming the governorship, and the framework within which the progressive substitution of civil for military administrators took place between 1909 and 1918.
The division of 1908
Five afdeelingen were formed, each under an Assistant Resident:
- Groot Atjeh;
- the Noordkust;
- the Oostkust;
- the Westkust;
- Bambél, comprising the Gajò Loeös, the Alaslanden and Singkel.
In afdeelingen where it already proved possible, a controleur conducted the administration — among others at Idi and Singkel. Sabang came under a “burgerlijken” civil authority.
The change of 1909
The following year already brought a change; the following sub-divisions could then be placed under civil administrators: the sagi of the XXII Moekims, Tamiang, Serbödjadi, Poelò Raja, Tapa’ Toean and the separately administered territory of the VII Moekims Pidië — “that is to say, Groot Atjeh had by then reached the point where civil administration could be introduced there everywhere.”
The change of 1910
In 1910 the afdeeling Bambél was abolished; Singkel was joined to the Westkust, while the Gajò Loeös and the Alaslanden became independent afdeelingen, each under an officer-gezaghebber.
Progressive de-militarisation
The substitution continued through the governorship. In July 1911 the controleur G. J. van Dongen took over the administration of the sub-division Pidië from the civil authority, the marechaussée captain W. A. Herold; by 1912 the garrison of Pidië could be reduced by two companies. Lho’ Seumawè had likewise been under a controleur for a considerable time.
I. Feenstra summarised the whole process at Swart’s departure: “Slowly but surely the corps of administrative officials of Atjeh has been reshaped. The lieutenants and captains who served as controleurs returned to the ranks and were replaced by civil officials; the majors who acted as heads of divisions gave way to assistant residents.”
Completion
The process was completed only long after Swart. On 7 March 1936 Governor Van Aken, handing over to Resident J. Jongejans, declared that he considered the sub-divisions Alaslanden, Lam Meulò, Meulaboh and Tapa’ Toean — the last still governed by officers — “made entirely ripe … for civil administration,” and that only considerations of economy had restrained him from proposing it. Du Croo called that “the keystone of the pacification — eighteen years after Swart’s retirement.”
See Also
- H. N. A. Swart
- Gouvernement Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden
- Van Militair naar Civiel Bestuur
- Groot Atjeh
- Gajò Loeös
- Van Aken
- 1908
Source
Generaal Swart, Pacificator van Atjeh (“General Swart, Pacifier of Atjeh”), by M. H. du Croo, Colonel K.N.I.L. (retired), with the collaboration of H. J. Schmidt, Titular Colonel K.N.I.L. (retired), with a foreword by His Excellency Lieutenant-General K.N.I.L. (retired) G. K. Dijkstra (Maastricht: N.V. Leiter-Nypels, 1943), Chapter XIII, p. 136; Chapter XI, p. 109; Chapter XVI, pp. 154, 157; Chapter XVII, p. 164.