The 1.4 Trillion Rupiah Project Destroyed Historical Haritage in Aceh

Oh God ik ben getroffen '(Oh God I got hit). The last piece of Kohler's words after his chest was pierced by a bullet from a sniper in Aceh. History records, 45 Dutch soldiers were killed in the attack, eight of them were officers. While 405 others were injured (23 officers). The first Dutch aggression to Aceh failed miserably. Sadly, the last silent witness has now gone, the tree has now been cut down by a development project.

The news about the Glumpang Tree (sterculia foetida) was cut by the contractor spread rapidly in the community and many people discuss this issue in coffee shops. In social media, worldwide people also commented on this issue. Some people argue that, this is the part of historical dissemination in Aceh.

One day after that, the author tried to trace the historic site of Dutch war in Aceh. When the author arrived at the north gate of the mosque, where the tree was originally located, all side of the yard of the mosque has been fenced in zink and impossible to pass. A number of heavy equipment are also visible from the upper side of the barrier in action for the Rp. 1.4 Trillion projects (expansion of Great Mosque)

Clearly visible, no more the historical tree at the location. There is only heavy equipment that rises to the sky to reveal its poles. Chainsaw became a tool that used to knock down the tree on Thursday (19/11/15). This geulumpang tree was not the original tree when Kohler fell down under it, but that tree was re-planting on August 14, 1988, by Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Hasan when he was served a governor of Aceh.

Ibrahim Hasan is a professor in economic field, he was served as rector of Syiah Kuala University, and also chief of Bappeda (Beureau of Development Planning)

Ramly A Dally, ex-staff of Center of Documentation and information Aceh (PDIA), (Sunday, 11/22/2015) in Banda Aceh said, the tree was cut down for the first time on 1942 in Japanese occupation period. “Then Mr. Governor re-plant the tree in order to commemorate the struggle of Acehnese hero in Dutch Colonial period, who was successful beat colonializer in Aceh”

So, how important is the tree of Acehnese people?

^{Het Atjeh Hotel, de "Köhlerboom" en de Baiturrahman moskee in Koetaradja. Generaal J.H.R. Köhler sneuvelde in 1873 bij deze boom tijdens de eerste Atjeh-expeditie. | image source: tropenmuseum}

On 1871, Dutch and British reached a agreemnent known as “Traktat Sumatra” or Sumatra Tractate. Based on this agreement, Dutch colonial was given discretion for expanding their territory in all land of Sumatra, including the Kingdom of Aceh, no one should not be distracting this agreement. Until March 26, 1873, Dutch colonial announced war notice against Aceh.

Before the Dutch colonial did the attack to Aceh, the information about Aceh that was known by the Dutch was still confusing, the Dutch were blind about the strength of Acehnese nation at the time. This is written by Mohammad Saidi in his book titled “Aceh Throughout the Century”, how exactly the situation of Aceh at the time around the end of March 1873, is not known sure by Dutch.

For example, an information mentions that Aceh only has five old cannon shoots from Iskandar Muda era, only three of which are still able to be explored. Instead, other information is conveyed by his own loyal attendant, Moh. Arifin said that Aceh in recent times has succeeded in entering 28,000 rifles with 20,000 ready-to-combat troops.

^{KNIL soldiers under a waringin tree in the bivouac near the tree and the mosque where general Köhler was killed in action during the first Aceh Expedition from 1873, Koetaradja (Aceh) | image source: tropenmuseum}

In short, the planned Dutch Armed Forces invaded Aceh led by General Mayor J.H.R. Kohler, as Supreme War Commander. Kohler as a Dutch war hero who was deemed valiant, by the results he achieved in 1857 when the expedition to Lampung. Together with the aides of Captain Romswinckel and Major Marine Marinkelle.

Dutch fleet is controlled by Sea Captain J.F. Koopman whose power is 6 warships (Djambi, Citadel van Antwerpen, Marnix, Coehoorn, Soerabaja, Soematera), two government sea transport ships (Siak and Bronbeek), 5 barkas, 8 peronda ships, 1 command ship, 6 transport vessels, and 5 sailing ships, each withdrawn by a transporting vessel, 3 for alteleri, cavalry and workers, 1 for ammunition and equipment, and one for the preparation of sick people.

The Dutch naval fleet led by General Kohler began attacking Aceh by Ceureumen beach at Ulee Lheue on 5 April 1873.

As the Dutch troops threw anchor to the shore, the Acehnese troops immediately greeted him with a great onslaught that came and went.

Even H.C. Zentgraf depicts the courage of the Acehnese troops on the battlefield. He mentions the Acehnese at war as a vicious lion (vechten als leeuwen) and will never be subservient to the Dutch government, so it is no exaggeration, if van den Berg and his friends write that "in the love of the homeland no less Acehnese with any nation in this world who upholds the independence of the nation and its nations ".

"The gunfire of the Dutch ships caused the Acehnese forces to retreat until the Grand Mosque which they then defend with persistence," writes Kamal A. Arif in his book Ragam Citra Kota Banda Aceh.

The strength of the Aceh defense at that time in the mosque area made the Dutch conduct a great attack, the Dutch suspect that therein lies the palace sultan (In) which became the core defense of the Kingdom of Aceh.

Portret van Generaal-Majoor J.H.R. Köhler | image source: tropenmuseum

Failing to penetrate Aceh's defenses, General Kohler ordered to burn the mosque with a roofed roof and some of the wooden walls (before being rebuilt by the Dutch). The mosque was occupied by the Dutch until April 14, 1873, while the forces of Atjeh were concentrated to defend the palace of Sultan Mahmoud Shah (1870-1874 AD).

The success of the Dutch troops captured the mosque of the people of Aceh, it was induced to loosen the spirit of combat troops Aceh. Rather it adds motivation to continue to fight against the Dutch colonialism. When Köhler gave his troops the opportunity to rest, Aceh's troops led by Teuku Imuem Lueng Bata again saw his courage and persistence pounding Dutch troops around the mosque.

Rencong shots and blasts, as well as swords coloring this battle along with Takbir "Allahu Akbar". Off the Dutch, the Baiturrahman mosque was recaptured in the battle of April 14, 1873 and their most secretive General Kohler himself was killed by the bullets of Aceh soldiers.

image source

In fact, when looking at the palace from the front of the Grand Mosque, General Kohler collapsed his death through a bullet from Sniper Aceh, Teuku Njak Radja Leung Bata.

It is also be evident that the arms of Aceh were already advanced, and were not predicted by the Dutch. Teuku Njak Radja Leung Bata one of Aceh's snipers was the student from Tgk Chik Lueng Bata (One of the mujahid ulama who defends the town of Lueng Bata).

Teuku Njak Radja Lueng Bata hiding not far from the distance General Johan Harmen Rudolf Köhler fired one shot (sniper) and the shot was right about the lens of keker being held by General Johan Harmen Rudolf Köhler, then blew his chest. General Rudolf Köhler was killed. 'Oh God ik ben getroffen' (Oh God I hit).

"General Kohler this morning was killed, fierce resistance, persistent foe, with a huge cannon of the palace remained remarkable. From all corners of our army we are attacked. "Quotation of a wire mail sent by Commissioner Niauwenhuijzen to the Governor-General in Bogor on 14 April 1873 after Kohler was killed.

Kohler's death left the Dutch troops in a panic. In mentally, they fell after his commander was killed. The opportunity was used by Aceh troops to continue attacking the Dutch with jihad fi sabilillah.

Finally the desire of the Dutch to control Aceh was fail. Three days after Kohler was gone, the Dutch prepared all the equipment to retreat to the coast. After obtaining permission from the Dutch Indies Government in Batavia, on 29 April 1873 the Dutch army left Aceh in an angry state of grief.

The policy of the local government or the project implementer who cuts down and removes the Kohler inscription, symbolizing the stubborn struggle of the Acehnese nation, disappeared instantly, a number of parties regretted it. Because the tree that the Dutch call the 'Kohler Tree' is actually historical evidence that Aceh once defeated the Dutch. Although the loggers promised to re-seed the tree later, but for the 21st century, no one can guarantee the promise will be realized. The last Kohler was uprooted.