The Renewal on Government System of Dutch Indies Colonial under Daendels Government

(1808-1811) wikipedia.org

After VOC went bankrupt and did not take authority over Indonesia anymore, colonial government took over the authority. Colonial government in Indonesia was run by a governor general. Each governor general had their own policies.

The arrival of Daendels in Indonesia as governor general had a main task to defend Java Island from British attack. Besides that, he had to fix the colony, Indonesia. Daendels took the following steps to defend Java Island from British attack.

1. he strengthened his army with Indonesian members;
2. he built a weapon factory in Semarang and Surabaya;
3. he built Navy base in Merak and Ujung Kulon;
4. he built some fortress;
5. he made the main street from Anyer (West Java) to Panarukan (East Java).

His effort to defend Java Island needed much fund. Meanwhile, Daendels did not get aid from Netherlands government. Therefore, Daendels took the following ways.

1. Selling wide lands to the private (Dutchman and Chinese). The lands were for example in Pamanukan, Ciasem, and Probolinggo.
2. Applying tax to the people by giving some of their crop (contingenten).
3. Maintaining the rules of forced selling for crops to the government with price determined by the government (verplichte leverentie).
4. Applying obligatory working (verplichte diensten) because he thought it gave big benefit to Netherlands government.
5. Escalating coffee plants.

Despite the effort in military aspect, Daendels also tried to fix government system, such as by

1. increasing officer salary, removing corruption, and also giving hard punishment for dishonest officers;
2. dividing Java Island into nine residence;
3. promoting all regent in Java Island as Netherlands government officers;
4. making justice institutions which task to judge Indonesian according to their customs;
5. determining Batavia as the central of government;
6. making simple all custom ceremony processions in all places/

Daendels policy in Indonesia made all people in suffering. Beside of their properties was taken, people were also squeezed their power by cruel way. The making of Anyer-Panarukan street vy obligatory working system caused thousands people died. So did the making of navy base in Merak and Ujung Kulon, there were many people died.

Daendels did everything what he want. His action made people hate him. Besides that, he made big mistake by selling government land to the private entrepreneurs in Bogor and Probolinggo. For his mistake, Daendels was commanded to be back to the Netherlands in 1811. Then, Louis Napoleon promoted Janssens as a successor of Daendels.

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