Generaal H. N. A. Swart was a Governor of Aceh 1908-1918 (Colonel then Lieutenant-General); photo caption page 397 mentioned in Jongejan’s Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu in connection with Aceh. Photo caption: ‘Generaal H.
Role
Governor of Aceh 1908-1918 (Colonel then Lieutenant-General); photo caption page 397
Account from Jongejans
Photo caption: ‘Generaal H. N. A. Swart, Gouverneur van Atjeh van 1908-1918.’ Succeeded Van Daalen. Stayed 10 years as Governor of this gewest. Began by placing the well-known Captain Christoffel as marechaussée-commandant at Pantonlaboe. Pursued oelamas and band leaders with force, but also tried to meet population needs - reconciled feuding oelèëbalang families of Keureutòë, paid out wrongfully retained traktementen and deposited waarborgsommen, supplied padi to populations suffering from failed harvests. ‘Iron hand in velvet gloves.’ Won population’s confidence. On Westkust Teukoe Banta, Teukoe Bin Blang Pidië, and (1910) Radja Batoe van Singkel submitted. Helped resisters financially immediately after submission, sometimes in ‘bedenkelijke vormen’ - many malcontents bought off with large sums, creating ‘bedelzucht’ (mendicancy) still noticeable. From 1909-1913 the colonne Schmidt inflicted sensitive losses on oelama-party in Pidië; sons of the famous Teungkoe Tiro Tjhèh Saman (Teungkoe di Boekit and Teungkoe Tjhi’ Maid) were eliminated. With the death of the Tiro Teungkoes the Aceh war could be considered ended (1910-1913). Governor Swart governed until his appointment to the Raad van Indië on 2 September 1918. Listed among marechaussée men.
Significance
Generaal H. N. A. Swart appears in Jongejan’s account as one of the figures shaping the history of Aceh during the period covered by the book.
See Also
Source
Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu, by J. Jongejans, Oud-Resident van het Gewest Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden, with a foreword by Dr. H. Colijn (Baarn: Hollandia Drukkerij N.V., c. 1938), pp. 397, 403, 404, 405, 406, 413.