The Proclamation of Lt. Gen. Vetter to the heads and people of the three sagi of Groot-Atjeh — dated from KOTA-RADJA on 27 April 1896 and reproduced as Annex VII of Kruisheer’s ATJEH ‘96 — was the second of the two proclamations issued by Lt.-Gen. Vetter as Regeeringscommissaris to the Acehnese population, and the formal announcement of the commencement of military operations against Teuku Umar — now designated by his post-dismissal name T. Oemar Melaboch — and his followers. The proclamation distinguished Umar and his personal followers from the population of the VI and IV Moekims (who would not be attacked if not hostile), reminded the population of the prosperity enjoyed under Dutch protection and of the conquests of Lombok (where Mataram was “done away from the earth” and Tjakra Negara was subdued), warned of renewed war, and promised no harm where no resistance was met but destruction where resistance was offered. The proclamation was signed VETTER.
Background
The proclamation was issued the day after Teuku Umar was formally dismissed from both his government offices by the 11, which had been authorised by the Government Telegram No. 409 of the same day. The previous two weeks had seen the Regeeringscommissaris preside over the progressive abandonment of the buitenlinie — Biloel and Lamkoenjit on 12 April 1896, Anak-Galoeng, Lam-Barih, Lam-Soet and Senelop on 17 April 1896, and Kroeng Gloempang, Tjot Rang and Toengkoeb on 20 April 1896 — and over the final exchange of letters with Umar (the Second of 12 April 1896 and the Third of 23 April 1896).
By 26 April 1896 the diplomatic phase was over. Umar’s morning reply requesting a three-day extension had been denied; the Resolution dismissing him had been issued; the Regeeringscommissaris had issued a same-day proclamation explaining why he was forced to commence hostilities. The following morning, 27 April 1896, the Bombardment of Lampisang began at 5:45 a.m., and the Proclamation to the three *sagi* was issued from KOTA-RADJA.
Content
The proclamation is addressed to the hoofden en bevolking der 3 sagi’s van Groot-Atjeh — the heads and population of the three federations of Groot-Atjeh: the XXV, XXII, and XXVI Moekims. The substantive content is structured around four themes.
First, the proclamation announces military operations against T. Oemar Melaboch, who has betrayed the Government, and his followers. The use of the post-dismissal name the Toekoe Melaboeh of the master list, equivalent to “the fallen Umar” or “Umar who has brought himself low” is the symbolic counterpart to the Resolution of 26 April stipulating that Umar be designated in official documents by his old name Toekoe Oemar.
Second, the proclamation states that Umar demanded money to fight all of Atjeh — a reference to his Second Letter’s demand for ƒ150,000 per month — and refuses to deal with him. This is the formal closure of the diplomatic channel.
Third, the proclamation carefully distinguishes Umar and his personal followers from the population of the VI and IV Moekims: those populations would not be attacked if they were not hostile. This is a deliberate attempt to fracture Umar’s coalition by sparing the populations of his base mukims.
Fourth, the proclamation reminds the population of the prosperity enjoyed under Dutch protection and of the conquests of Lombok — where, the text states, Mataram was “done away from the earth” (van de aarde verdwenen) and Tjakra Negara was subdued. The reference to the 1873 conquest of the kraton of Aceh is implicit: the Dutch have conquered before, and will conquer again. The proclamation warns of renewed war, promises no harm where no resistance is met but destruction where resistance is offered, and is signed VETTER.
Reception and Aftermath
The proclamation was the public opening of the Bombardment of Lampisang and of the conventional military phase of the war against Umar. From 27 April 1896 to 23 May 1896 Dutch batteries at Lamdjamoe bombarded Umar’s stellingen at Lampisang and the VI Moekims with some 7,996 projectiles — to “zeer gering” (very meagre) effect. The three-day Dutch offensive of 23–25 May 1896 then broke the stelling, captured Umar’s house at Lam-Pisang, and drove him into retreat to Lepong. The subsequent tuchtiging of Lam-Krak Moekims, tuchtiging of V Moekims Montassik, and Ladoeng Landing continued the pattern of operations the proclamation had announced.
Significance
The Proclamation of 27 April 1896 is the formal declaration of war against Umar and the foundational political document of the conventional military phase of the Atjeh-oorlog of 1896. Its careful distinction between Umar and his personal followers on one hand, and the populations of the VI and IV Moekims on the other, is a revealing instance of colonial divide and rule strategy. Its reference to the conquests of Lombok — the most recent Dutch colonial victory, in 1894 — places the Aceh War within a wider imperial frame. As a historical document, the proclamation is preserved as Bijlage VII of ATJEH ‘96 and is one of the key documents of the Regeeringscommissaris phase of the war.
See Also
- Luitenant-Generaal Vetter
- Regeeringscommissaris
- Teuku Umar
- 11 (Bijlage VI)
- Government Telegram of 26 April 1896, No. 409
- Proclamation of the Regeeringscommissaris (12 April 1896)
- Bombardment of Lampisang (27 April – 23 May 1896)
- Three-day Dutch offensive of 23–25 May 1896
- 1873 (Conquest of the Kraton)
- Sagi der XXV Moekims
- Sagi der XXII Moekims
- Sagi der XXVI Moekims
- 1896
Source
ATJEH ‘96, door A. Kruisheer, Kapitein der Infanterie O.I.L., met 2 kaarten en 4 portretten (Weltevreden: N.V. Boekhandel Visser & Co, 1913). Instituut Kern, Leiden. OCR-filename: 20260715_163243_DLP-89-Atjeh_96_Met_2_kaarten_en4_DOORA_KRUISHEER_Kapiteinder_Infanterie_nemoretriever-ocr-v1_OCR.txt, pp. 13 (TOC), 14, 142, 339–340, 348.