I happened to read a great book about Vietnam War against United States. Trust me, I love history books more than any book, I have huge collection of World War II books, and I can spend all night to share and discuss about historical events, especially about historic wars. Now, let me share with you a bit about Vietnam. Vietnam is one country whose economic growth is among the highest in the world since few years back. Vietnam now enjoys global confidence in its efficiency and steady economic condition. For a nation which was hardly smashed with wars (note the ‘s’), this is really really an outstanding achievement. Do you know their secret?
Well, this might not be the only recipe behind their great performance abovementioned. This is a true story; there was a family with 7 children, and faced difficulty in sending their children to schools and university. In times like that, you’d never find the head of the family complained or despondent. You’d simply get this answer :”We kicked out the French, Americans, Chinese, and the Khmer Rouge, so this is a tiny problem.”
“No, this is not a problem”, say Vietnamese
In March 1954, the Vietnamese guerrillas defeated France army in Dien Bhin Phu, and ended French colonial rule in the whole Indochina region. In January 1973, the Vietcongs humiliated US army/navy/air force, by defeating them in all fronts, and this was one of the bloodiest war on earth. In 1979, Vietnamese army repulsed Chinese army in a short border war. Also in 1979, the Vietnamese expelled the Khmer Rouge monsters from Phnom Penh and ended the suffering of the Cambodian under 3-year of the rule of heartless Khmer Rouge.
Got the point?
So, what is the Good News?
The Aceh soldiers, true warriors
Not so many Indonesians know that Indonesia also has remarkable stories in terms of getting our invaders bloody-noses. The Acehnese repeatedly defeated the Dutch invaders in their bid to rule the west tip of Sumatra Island, since 1873. Many thousands of Dutch soldiers killed or captured. The Minangese in West Sumatra, the Jogjanese in Yogyakarta, as well as those in the Mollucas Islands, Makassar, Bali, and Banjarmasin. Countless victories. Not many Malaysian, as well as Indonesians, know that in 1521, Adipati Unus a Javanese warrior from Demak (Central Java) sent troops to Malaka and dog-fought with Portuguese navy. Fatahillah from Batavia (now Jakarta), was finally the one who expelled the Portuguese for good.
The bloody battle in Surabaya, where the Surabayans defeated the Allied forces in 1945
Not only the Dutch and Portuguese, Indonesia also managed to send the Spaniards and the Allied forces home!
So, I only say, Indonesians have all the reason to be highly motivated as the Vietnamese. I am really proud of being Indonesian. Are you?
Popularity: 7% [?]
Dear Akhyari…
Really? You love reading history books? Wow, we all know that history about Indonesia is always interesting. I’ve just read an article written by J. Satrio (Indonesian notary lives in Purwokerto, one of greatest law academician too) about Netherland’s government denial on their colonializm thousand years ago. A fun fact revealed after, when a Dutch doctoral degree student write about Nederland’s economy fall during industrialism era (beaten by Germany and England), their financial capability were about to drop then there was a good idea to suck some money from Java island (Indonesia today). They got the money, we got the sh*t.
That’s only my wrath hehe. J. Satrio tried to boost Indonesian people’s self-confident, we were hero for Nederland, a land that almost drowned swallowed by the ocean. They came to us just like villain wanted to rob and destruct our land…just like grasshopper or other animal, after the mommy delivered her baby then the baby killed her mom in order to survive…sorry no offense, it’s fun fact for Indonesian who has been underestimated as poor and retarded country by Nederland all this time.
Sorry there was a mistake…it wasn’t written by J. Satrio but by Satjipto Rahardjo – Guru Besar Emeritus Sosiologi Hukum Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang.
The complete story : http://cetak.kompas.com/read/xml/2009/04/18/0525108/masa.lalu.indonesia-belanda
Thank you so much for this link. Sooooo very sorry for the delay in replying. so sorry
should be understood initially there was no intention for the Dutch to make the government in indonesia, just build trading outposts purposes only for economic benefit. That is why VOC establish, imperialism conducted by dutch in Indonesia is not focus on military strength but using commercial cooperation (sometimes with force) with native rulers so that local ruler maintain their business interests. As the kickback, local ruler given recognation, economic advantage and military aid. therefore they colonializatin most success compared with other occupation (such portugese, spain, french and other). British then folow the model. They are all as hard as it can to avoid military contact with local.
Regarding Aceh, Dutch have an agreement with British under Anglo-Dutch treaty signed in 1824, that Dutch given bengkulu in trade with singapore, and Aceh still neutral cause british need them , but with reason that dutch trade convoy occasionally raid in aceh teritorry so they decide to declared war with aceh. British didnt do anything cause i think because Aceh try to establish a trade contact with ottoman empire.
If you see our current situation in indonesia, do you still see we were independent?