The integration of Atjeh into the Province of North Sumatra was the process by which the pre-war residency of Atjeh — which had existed as a separate colonial administrative unit and was not part of the Negara Sumatera Timur (N.S.T.) — was incorporated into the new autonomous province of North Sumatra (Propinsi Sumatera Utara) following the dissolution of the N.S.T. on 15 August 1950.
Background
The Negara Sumatera Timur (State of East Sumatra) had been established as a federal state within the United States of Indonesia (R.I.S.) on 25 April 1948, with its capital at Medan. It encompassed the territory of the former East Sumatra residency but not the pre-war residencies of Atjeh and Tapanuli. With the collapse of the federal system and the adoption of the unitary state by the R.I.S. parliament on 15 August 1950, the N.S.T. was dissolved and its territory, together with Atjeh and Tapanuli, was constituted as the autonomous province of North Sumatra.
The agreement of 5 August 1950
On 14 July 1950, the minister Anak Agung Gde Agung established a Committee for Preparation (Comité van Voorbereiding) at Medan, consisting of Sarimin Reksodihardjo, Mr. S. M. Amin, and Mr. M. Joesoef. The committee’s communiqué of 5 August 1950 announced that:
- East Sumatra would become part of the autonomous province of North Sumatra;
- The province would comprise the pre-war residencies of Atjeh, Tapanuli, and East Sumatra;
- Districts (kabupaten) and municipalities would enjoy autonomy within the province;
- The division of North Sumatra into districts and municipalities would be decided by the central government on the proposal of a “Panitia Persiapan Pembentukan Propinsi Sumatera Utara” (Committee for the Preparation of the Formation of the Province of North Sumatra);
- The liquidation of the N.S.T. was to be completed, if possible, before the formation of the unitary state.
Transitional administration
Sarimin Reksodihardjo was appointed acting governor (dd. gouverneur) of North Sumatra. He was assisted by a college of three:
- Tengku M. Daudsjah — acting resident of Atjeh;
- Binanga Siregar — deputy resident of Tapanuli;
- Radja Kaliamsjah Sinaga — former Wakil Wali Negara of the N.S.T.
Atjeh’s oil fields and economic concerns
In the context of the integration, the question of the oil fields at Langsa and in Atjeh was raised. The acting governor noted that if the central government could not resolve the issue of utilising these welfare resources, it should delegate the matter to the province: “Als Djakarta deze zaak niet kan oplossen, delegeer haar dan aan ons, maar doe iets” (“If Djakarta cannot resolve this matter, delegate it to us, but do something”).
Source
Oostkust van Sumatra-Instituut Mededeling No. 37: Deli-Figuren uit de jaren 1950 t/m 1952, compiled by Ir. F. J. J. Dootjes (Amsterdam, 1953).