Snouck Hurgronje Asked The Netherlands To Be Alert To Improved Crime In Batavia In TODAY's History, December 29, 1902

JAKARTA History today, 120 years ago, December 29, 1902, Dutch East Indies Bumiputra Affairs Advisor, Snouck Hurgronje wrote a letter to the Governor-General, Willem Rooseboom. Snouck asked the government to be aware of the increase in the number of crimes in Batavia.

The government must be aware of the presence of other Pitung-Pitung. The name is called Snouck because Pitung and his gang are legendary criminals. Si Pitung's action was present in various mass media. Not a few praised him because Pitung showed the stupidity of the Dutch East Indies police.

Si Pitung is not just a story of the people. He had lived in Batavia in the late 19th century. His name filled the newspapers in Batavia. Instead of being a defender of the truth, Pitung was called a great robber.

All because of his reckless action to rob a wealthy family. From the Dutch family to the Bumiputra. He was not alone in carrying out his actions. His colleagues Abdul Rahman, Moejeran, Merais, Dji-ih, and Gering "are alone to accompany Pitung in action. Pitung and his gang did not even hesitate to use violence to carry out their actions.

Historian Margreet van Till revealed that Pitung's first existence was recorded in the Olanda Indies newspaper in mid-1892. The Malay-language daily begins the introduction of the Pitung figure. It was mentioned that Pitung's name was pronounced with various pronunciations.

Some call him Bitoeng. There are also those who call him Pitang. In the end, all of them simultaneously called the expert playing the blow from Rawa Belong as Pitung. The popularity of his action gained the sympathy of all the bumiputras. because, what he robbed was a wealthy family.

Moreover, the figure of a pintung often makes the police dizzy and humiliates the police in Batavia. Pitung often has the opportunity to be able to escape from the police. Especially in prison.

A month later a search was carried out at their (Pitung) house again. In a hole in his house, 125 guilders were found along with the robbery from two major robberies at the time, namely the burglary of the house of Mrs. de C. and the house of Haji Haji Sapiudin, a Bugis descent from Marunda.

On the night of July 30-31, 1892, Si Pitung and five of his gang (Abdul Rahman, Moedjeran, Merais, Dji-ih, and Gering) armed with a gun infiltrated the hajj house. One of the bandits threatened the owner of the house with a firearm. His colleague fired his shot so that the villagers did not approach, explained Margreet van until in the book Batavia Kala Malam: Police, Bandit, and Firearms (2018).

It may be that Pitung's action in Batavia did not last long. He was able to be paralyzed by Schout Hinne in October 1893. However, the echo of Pitung's popularity was endless. There are many stories from mouth to mouth that mention the greatness of Pitung. He was also hailed as a symbol of resistance to colonialism. Mainly because Pitung's opponent was a Dutch.

The news of the wind related to the greatness of Pitung then disturbed the mind of Snouck Hurgronje. The Dutch East Indies Bumiputra Affairs Advisor hopes that the government will always be aware of the increasing number of crimes.

He did not want other potongs' to disturb government security again. He also revealed this through a letter to the Governor-General, Willem Rooseboom on December 29, 1902.

In Betawi and Matester Cornelis (now: Jatinegera), six to eight years ago the discomfort was much greater than it is now. Resident Von Schmidt lost his mind because he had to have a futile operation against Pitung and his friends, as well as because of the many robbery incidents on the street and the impudent burglary of the house.

The police seem powerless to deal with it. In addition to the increasing poverty that has been mentioned by Brooshoft and is further equipped by Residents with some on the side, Bumiputra employees call the following an important factor that causes reduced security," said Snouck Horgronje in his book Nasnih-Nasnih C. Hurgronje During his tenure in the Dutch East Indies 1889-1936 Volume IV (1991).