1903 was the year in which the thirty-year Aceh War came to its effective end with the unconditional submission of Panglima Polim. Reported by telegraph in August 1903 and described in the Dutch press as an event of greater significance than the earlier submission of the pretender-sultan, the event confirmed that the core of resistance—the hereditary leadership of the XXII Moekims—had finally been broken.
Key events
- The unconditional submission of Panglima Polim—after more than five years of relentless pursuit by Dutch columns led by Kapitein Colijn and Onderluitenant Christoffel.
- The capture of Polim’s mother and one of his wives by Majoor Van der Maaten, which—together with heavy losses among his bands—provided the final reason to abandon the struggle.
- The refusal by Van Heutsz to accept a conditional submission: the order was to continue pursuit until unconditional surrender, ensuring that victory would not be bought through weak promises.
- Polim’s request for a warship to travel as a grand seigneur to Koeta Radja—a request granted by the governor out of respect for Polim’s energy and honour.
Although some work remained—roads to be built, the Gajoelanden to be administered, and a few remaining hostile bands to be pursued—the fundamental resistance had collapsed. All chiefs of significance had submitted, and the population everywhere recognised Dutch authority.
See Also
- Submission of Panglima Polim (1903)
- Panglima Polim
- Joannes Benedictus van Heutsz
- Dr. C. Snouck Hurgronje
- Kapitein Colijn
- Onderluitenant Christoffel
- Majoor Van der Maaten
- 1898
- 1896
Account from Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu
January: Sultan finally submitted after wandering restlessly through his former kingdom. Sabangbaai ship built at ‘de Schelde’ shipyard in Holland, crossed to NEI under its own power.
Source: J. Jongejans, Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu (Baarn: Hollandia Drukkerij N.V., c. 1938), pp. 41, 47.
Source
Het einde van den Atjeh Oorlog (Overprintken uit de Evening Post van 25, 26 en 27 Augustus 1903, pp. 14-18); Somer, Dr. J. M. Het Atjeh-probleem van 1890-1900 (Overprint uit Journal / Organ van de Netherlands-Indies Officers Association, [1935], pp. 7, 10-11); Damste, H. T. “Atjeh-historie,” Koloniaal Tijdschrift 1916.
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. 41, 47.