The Dutch Collaborator In The Cultivation System Is The Village Head

Preangerstelsel, a form of forced cultivation that existed in Priangan, West Java during the Dutch colonial period. (Leiden University Libraries)

JAKARTA - The Cultivation System (Cultuurstelsel) is the most painful period in the nation's history. The ordinary natives are being squeezed like cash cows. They are drained of energy. So is his property. The Dutch took the advantage. However, the Netherlands does not work alone. The Bumiputra elite were also involved in the success of forced cultivation. The village head, one of them. They took part in extorting the sweat of the people. The spell was successful. Because, without its role, forced cultivation is like a failed project.

Bumi Nusantara has the potential for natural wealth that is second to none. The Netherlands has always looked at it. Moreover, the spice commodity has a high price on the world market. But that was back then, when the Dutch trading airline, VOC still existed. The power of the Dutch East Indies government was different from that of its predecessor.

Those in power actually see the archipelago as a fertile garden ready to be planted with export commodities. This view inspired Governor General Johannes van den Bosch (1830-1833) to launch his fiscal tactics in 1830. The Cultivation System, as it was called. On paper, the leader of the Dutch East Indies said that Cultuurstelsel would bring prosperity to the natives.

Forced cultivation with sugar cane in the Dutch colonial period. (Wikimedia Commons)

The reality is that instead of promoting prosperity, the bumiputras are being deceived. The land tax was indeed abolished by the Dutch, but instead, the bumiputras were forced to grow export commodities. These include sugarcane, coffee, cloves, cinnamon, forestry, hemp, indigo, livestock, nopal, cochineal, pepper, rice, silk, sugar, tea and tobacco.

As predicted, the results of the Cultivation System were brilliant. The Netherlands is like a durian crash. The benefits of the forced cultivation system can turn the Netherlands into a rich country. The Dutch debts were paid off. Also other advantages can help the Netherlands develop the country. The Netherlands built a lot of things. From roads to railways, ports, and industrial centers.

“This income has made the Dutch economy more stable and all debts can be paid off, taxes are lowered, various fortifications are built. Likewise various canals and state railways were built throughout the Netherlands. All of this was done using the profits earned from the extortion of the Javanese peasants' sweat."

“For the Dutch East Indies government, of course, Cuulturstelsel is very profitable, not only from a financial perspective but also from a political stability perspective. The dignitaries and elite of the palace, called the rhymes, also benefited greatly, so that they have now truly submitted to the Dutch and almost no more large-scale rebellions have arisen during that period,” wrote Benny G. Setiono in his Chinese book. in Political Vortex (2008).

The Role of the Village Head

The success of the Dutch in carrying out forced cultivation could not be separated from their desire to invite the Bumiputra elite to collaborate. Bumiputra officials (priyayi) were deliberately involved to lock up the success of forced land. The involvement of the village head is one of the keys.

The role of the village head is so vital. He became the main focus of Dutch intervention to the common people. The appointment was successful. The village head can play a full role in ensuring that farmers carry out their obligations to grow their export crops, according to the Dutch order.

The income of the village head was not kidding. In fact, this income allows the village head to have more than one wife. This is because the income comes from land income and monthly money for serving the Dutch.

People queue to deposit their harvests from forced cultivation in the Dutch colonial era. (Wikimedia Commons)

“However, the increase in export crop yields was not accompanied by an increase in the welfare of the people of the Dutch East Indies. The good goal of Cultuurstelsel which wants to change the economic orientation of pre-capitalism society (from self-fulfillment of needs) to being market-oriented by using sophisticated tools and production management has not been achieved at all.”

“The change in economic orientation is only felt by the regents and village heads. The role of regents and village heads in the Cultuurstelsel structure has changed their economic orientation to become capitalist at the expense of their own people as cash cows," said Cecep Lukmanul Hakim in the book Politics of Open Doors (2018).

In addition, there are other incomes received by the village head class. They will get a bonus when the harvest is abundant. The Dutch colonial government also called it cultuurprocenten.

The presence of the bonus made the village heads dark. They no longer care about the fate of their people. The only thing they thought about was profit. This fact is proof that what the bumiputras used to face was not only Dutch colonialism, but also the greed of irresponsible local elites.

Preangerstelsel, forced cultivation in Priangan, West Java with the type of coffee commodity. (National Museum van Wereldculturen)

“And the salaries of the Bestuurs Beambten (BB) – Dutch nationals – are indeed high. A resident, for example, gets 15 thousand guilders a year in addition to the cost of representation (reception/party) and others. In fact, until 1860 BBs also received cultuurprocenten, namely additional money in accordance with the increase in income from the forced cultivation system (1830-1870) in their area.”

“Cultuurprocenten for BB was abolished in 1860, because modern state officials were deemed inappropriate to carry out their duties just for the sake of extra money. For pangreh praja (indigenous employees), from regents to village heads, this cultuurprocenten is maintained until the forced cultivation system is abolished," concluded historian Ong Hok Ham in the book Wahyu The Lost, Shaking Country (2018).