The Submission of Habib Abdurrahman on 13 October 1878 at Kota Radja was the surrender of the Arab sayyid Habib Abdurrahman Zahir, since March 1876 the principal leader of the Acehnese resistance in the XXII Moekims of Atjeh, to the governor-commander K. van der Heyden. The submission was the turning point of the first phase of the Atjeh-oorlog, opening the way to the campaign against the XXII Moekims of 1879. On 24 November 1878 the Habib was embarked for Jeddah aboard His Majesty’s steamship Curagao, with a personal annual pension of 12,000 dollars, and assigned Jeddah as his residence.
Background
The Habib had first appeared under the sultanate in Atjeh as a strict Mohammedan jurist, and by his learning, ability and descent had acquired a very great influence, even becoming first rijksbestuurder. At the beginning of the war he was absent on a mission to Constantinople to invoke the help of the Sultan of Turkey; he then returned to Penang. From there he had at once encouraged the war-party, but at the same time opened negotiations with the Dutch government and offered his services in the war for a reward. As these offers were repeatedly rejected because he was distrusted, he decided to appear at the head of the Dutch opponents in Atjeh. From Pulau Penang he went, completely disguised as a matelot, aboard a schooner that took him to Edi Tjoet, whence he reached Great Acheh overland, collecting funds for the war on the way. His arrival in March 1876 gave new life to the resistance.
The Campaigns of 1878
By the spring of 1878 the Habib was once more on the offensive. In the night of 7-8 June 1878 a band dared to attack the dwang-arbeiders hospital at Pantej Perak, where it made a real slaughter. As soon as Van der Heyden had departed for Gedong, news came of the Habib’s intention to make a great attack with 2,000 men in the IV Moekims on the posts at Kroëng Raba, Boekit Seboen and Pakan Badak. On 22 June 1878 Kroëng Raba was attacked by a great multitude of Atjehers, who shot at the garrison until 24 June without venturing a storm. On 23 June the Habib sent an Atjeher with a white flag and a letter inviting the post-commandant “to leave his position and fight with him in the open field,” and on 24 June a second letter offering free withdrawal on condition that the Dutch fortification was destroyed.
The government at Batavia ordered Van der Heyden to make an end of the situation and to drive the Habib and his bands out. Reinforced, he was able to act vigorously. On 23 July 1878 the important campaign in the XXII Moekims began with three columns; on 28 July 1878 the missigit Montassik was taken. Operations continued from 1 August 1878 to 23 March 1879, with constant reconnaissances and patrols, especially in the sawah of Lamkrak west of Montassik. The tuchtiging of 19 August 1878 of the sawah of Lamkrak in particular made an impression on the enemy.
The Negotiations
In August and September 1878 submissions and negotiations began to come in from various sides — on 25 August 1878 the first by the Habib himself, soon followed by others. The result of the negotiations was that the Habib submitted on 13 October 1878. “On the afternoon of that day, about two o’clock, he arrived at Kota Radja, where the governor-commander immediately received him and accepted his submission. The following day Toekoe Moeda Baid, the head of the VII Moekims in the Sagi XXII, was also sworn in and recognised in his dignity. Their example was followed by several other chiefs.”
The Habib’s Conduct after Submission
“The Habib remained some weeks at Kota Radja. With a view to the operations already previously planned in the direction of Tjot Bada and Indrapuri, the very precise data he provided about the region south of Anak Galoeëng were of great value. After his submission he behaved always chivalrously and loyally towards us; in all respects he showed that he wished to contribute to ending the struggle. His letters or envoys to various chiefs, to urge them to submission, however, had little result, as most considered him a traitor to the national cause.”
Exile to Jeddah
“He departed on 24 November [1878] with His Majesty’s steamship Curagao to Arabia, where Jeddah was assigned to him as his residence, with a personal annual pension of 12,000 dollars.” The choice of Jeddah was a political exile, removing him from the Atjeh theatre while honouring his rank as a sayyid by allotting him a residence near the holy places.
Significance
The Habib’s submission was the turning point of the first phase of the Atjeh-oorlog. With his removal, and the subsequent campaign against the XXII Moekims and campaign against the XXVI Moekims of 1879, the first conquest of Great Acheh was completed. The Habib’s role, however, was in some sense taken over by the religious leaders — the ulamas and teungkus — who, financed by the sabil share of the jakeuet or zakat, kept the resistance alive through the period of the concentration scheme.
See Also
- Habib Abdoerrahman
- K. van der Heyden
- Toekoe Moeda Baid
- Capture of Montassik (28 July 1878)
- Campaign against the XXII Moekims (1879)
- Campaign against the XXVI Moekims (July 1879)
- Aceh War
- Kota Radja
- Jeddah
Source
De geschiedenis van Nederland in onzen tijd, by J. A. de Bruyne, Directeur der Hoogere Burgerschool te Zierikzee. Deel IV. 1872-1883. Nieuwe uitgave. Schiedam: J. F. Dupont, 1912, Hoofdstuk I, pp. 97-103.