Teukoe Itam was an Atjèhnese clerk at the central office of the landscape treasuries in Koetaradja — the “rightful heir” of the loyal Datoek Roehoem of Tapa’toean — whom the F-propagandist Said Aboe Bakar installed as son-chó of the Tapa’toean subdistrict after the displacement of the loyal Datoek Roehoem in March 1942. Piekaar’s Atjèh and the War with Japan treats the installation of Teukoe Itam as a representative episode of the F-organisatie’s political reorganisation — the displacement of the loyal Dutch oelèëbalang’s by the F-organisatie’s network of collaborators, and the installation of the new administrative hierarchy under Japanese sponsorship.
The clerk at the central office
Before his installation as son-chó, Teukoe Itam served as a clerk at the central office of the landscape treasuries in Koetaradja. The position — a clerical post in the central financial administration of the Atjèhnese landschap’s — placed him within the colonial administrative apparatus, but at a subordinate level. His identification as the “rightful heir” of the loyal Datoek Roehoem — that is, as the legitimate successor to the oelèëbalang’s position — gave him the traditional claim that the F-organisatie could exploit to legitimise his installation.
The displacement of Datoek Roehoem
The loyal Datoek Roehoem — the oelèëbalang of Tapa’toean from whom the retreating Dutch troops had received much help on their retreat — was, in Piekaar’s account, one of the principal casualties of the F-organisatie’s activation on the West Coast. The administrative commission assembled for the Tapa’toean subdistrict by the F-leader Said Aboe Bakar “had to make way after a short time for a one-man administration, whereby the Tapa’toean trader Marah Hoesin was appointed as ‘gun-chó’.” The loyal Datoek Roehoem “had to make way” — that is, was displaced from his position as oelèëbalang of Tapa’toean.
The installation as son-chó
In place of Datoek Roehoem, the F-organisatie installed “the rightful heir Teukoe Itam, clerk at the central office of the landscape treasuries in Koetaradja,” as son-chó. The son-chó — the Japanese administrative title for the head of a son (subdistrict) — was the lowest level of the Japanese administrative hierarchy, below the gun-chó (the head of a gun, or district). The installation of Teukoe Itam as son-chó of Tapa’toean — under the gun-chó Marah Hoesin — established the new administrative order under Japanese sponsorship, with the F-organisatie’s collaborator in the subordinate position of the rightful heir.
Significance
The installation of Teukoe Itam as son-chó of Tapa’toean was, in Piekaar’s account, a representative episode of the F-organisatie’s political reorganisation. The displacement of the loyal Datoek Roehoem — who had helped the retreating Dutch troops — and the installation of the “rightful heir” Teukoe Itam in his place illustrated the F-organisatie’s strategy of combining traditional legitimacy (the “rightful heir”) with Japanese administrative authority (the son-chó title) to displace the Dutch-aligned rulers. The prisoners of war, Piekaar records, “were evacuated along the route of the road connection Roendéng-Sidikalang” — the new administration’s first concern was the consolidation of its authority, not the welfare of the displaced.
See Also
- [Said Aboe Bakar]
- [Datoek Roehoem]
- [Marah Hoesin]
- [Tapa’toean]
- [Koetaradja]
- [F-organisatie]
- [1942]
Source
Atjèh and the War with Japan, by Dr. A. J. Piekaar, translated from the Dutch original Atjèh en de oorlog met Japan (1949) (‘s-Gravenhage/Bandung: N.V. Uitgeverij W. van Hoeve; English edition), Chapter V, § 4.
Teukoe Itam was an Atjèhnese clerk at the central office of the landscape treasuries in Koetaradja — the “rightful heir” of the loyal Datoek Roehoem of Tapa’toean — whom the F-propagandist Said Aboe Bakar installed as son-chó of the Tapa’toean subdistrict after the displacement of the loyal Datoek Roehoem in March 1942. Piekaar’s Atjèh and the War with Japan treats the installation of Teukoe Itam as a representative episode of the F-organisatie’s political reorganisation — the displacement of the loyal Dutch oelèëbalang’s by the F-organisatie’s network of collaborators, and the installation of the new administrative hierarchy under Japanese sponsorship.
The clerk at the central office
Before his installation as son-chó, Teukoe Itam served as a clerk at the central office of the landscape treasuries in Koetaradja. The position — a clerical post in the central financial administration of the Atjèhnese landschap’s — placed him within the colonial administrative apparatus, but at a subordinate level. His identification as the “rightful heir” of the loyal Datoek Roehoem — that is, as the legitimate successor to the oelèëbalang’s position — gave him the traditional claim that the F-organisatie could exploit to legitimise his installation.
The displacement of Datoek Roehoem
The loyal Datoek Roehoem — the oelèëbalang of Tapa’toean from whom the retreating Dutch troops had received much help on their retreat — was, in Piekaar’s account, one of the principal casualties of the F-organisatie’s activation on the West Coast. The administrative commission assembled for the Tapa’toean subdistrict by the F-leader Said Aboe Bakar “had to make way after a short time for a one-man administration, whereby the Tapa’toean trader Marah Hoesin was appointed as ‘gun-chó’.” The loyal Datoek Roehoem “had to make way” — that is, was displaced from his position as oelèëbalang of Tapa’toean.
The installation as son-chó
In place of Datoek Roehoem, the F-organisatie installed “the rightful heir Teukoe Itam, clerk at the central office of the landscape treasuries in Koetaradja,” as son-chó. The son-chó — the Japanese administrative title for the head of a son (subdistrict) — was the lowest level of the Japanese administrative hierarchy, below the gun-chó (the head of a gun, or district). The installation of Teukoe Itam as son-chó of Tapa’toean — under the gun-chó Marah Hoesin — established the new administrative order under Japanese sponsorship, with the F-organisatie’s collaborator in the subordinate position of the rightful heir.
Significance
The installation of Teukoe Itam as son-chó of Tapa’toean was, in Piekaar’s account, a representative episode of the F-organisatie’s political reorganisation. The displacement of the loyal Datoek Roehoem — who had helped the retreating Dutch troops — and the installation of the “rightful heir” Teukoe Itam in his place illustrated the F-organisatie’s strategy of combining traditional legitimacy (the “rightful heir”) with Japanese administrative authority (the son-chó title) to displace the Dutch-aligned rulers. The prisoners of war, Piekaar records, “were evacuated along the route of the road connection Roendéng-Sidikalang” — the new administration’s first concern was the consolidation of its authority, not the welfare of the displaced.
See Also
- [Said Aboe Bakar]
- [Datoek Roehoem]
- [Marah Hoesin]
- [Tapa’toean]
- [Koetaradja]
- [F-organisatie]
- [1942]
Source
Atjèh and the War with Japan, by Dr. A. J. Piekaar, translated from the Dutch original Atjèh en de oorlog met Japan (1949) (‘s-Gravenhage/Bandung: N.V. Uitgeverij W. van Hoeve; English edition), Chapter V, § 4.