Ernest Douwes Dekker, A Nation Inspired

By Tempo Team

Dutch, French, German and Javanese blood coursed through his veins, but Ernest Francois Eugène Dekker possessed a spirit that was Indonesian to the core. The Dutch colonial government branded him a very dangerous man, and the political powerhouse spent a lot of time in exile or imprisoned.

Dekker was the first person to establish a political party in Indonesia. The Indische Partij held a fiercely uncompromising stance in its fight for Indonesia’s independence. As one of the chief initiators of the struggle for independence, Dekker’s political thoughts were far ahead of his time. When translated into propaganda, his ideas inspired Tjokroaminoto to gather up mass support. His ideas on nationalism were key when Sukarno established the Indonesian National Party. He was languishing in exile when the proclamation of the Indonesian independence was declared.

This is a special edition—Tempo’s way of celebrating Indonesia’s independence—on the life of the courageous man who also came to be known as Danudirja Setiabudi.
HE was a political powerhouse ahead of his time. Ernest François Eugène Douwes Dekker was his name. As disappointment grew in some circles with the elitism portrayed by the Boedi Oetomo political society, Dekker came forward with fresh political views. He founded the first political party in Indonesia, which aspired to fight for equal rights for all ethnicities in the Indies.

The founding of the Indische Partij breathed life into a movement to win independence. Its emergence was wildly received. In his book, An Age in Motion: Popular Radicalism in Java, 1912-1926, author Takashi Shiraishi said the propaganda tour spearheaded by Dekker was the first major political gathering of its kind in the Indies. This movement became key in future strategies on the gathering of masses on a large scale by Tjokroaminoto in order to gain public support for Sarekat Islam.

It cannot be denied that the Indische Partij laid an important foundation for nationalism in the Indies. This political organization was far more radical in its methods than Boedi Oetomo. In addition to calling for an overhaul in the field of administrative services, Dekker cried out for tax reform and political reform in agricultural practices. His movements were monitored because he rejected discrimination. He was labeled a dangerous agitator. Dekker was a figure who rocked the Dutch-Indies government.

Short-lived after it was forcibly disbanded by the Dutch, the Indische Partij, nevertheless, was able to foster hope and breathed long life into subsequent movements.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tempo Publishing
• Release date: Aug 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301490486

Book preview

ERNEST DOUWES DEKKER

A NATION INSPIRED

By Tempo Team

Published by Tempo Publishing at Smashwords

Copyrights Tempo 2013

Illustration on Cover: Kendra Paramita

IN his body flowed Dutch, French, German and Javanese blood, yet François Eugène Douwes Dekker’s spirit was nationalism, rooted among the local population. He was the first person to establish a political party in Indonesia, prompting Dutch colonial officials to brand him dangerous, for his capacity to provoke ‘native’ Indonesians into rebelling. Sukarno considered himself a student of Dekker, while Dekker described Bung Karno as Indonesia’s savior.

TEMPO Special Edition, AUGUST 26, 2012

Team Leader: Purwanto Setiadi

Project Head: Yandhrie Arvian

Coordinators: Muchamad Nafi, Anton Aprianto, Pramono

Editors: Amarzan Lubis, Putu Setia, Purwanto Setiadi, Arif Zulkifli, Hermien Y. Kleden, Yandhrie Arvian, Philipus Parera, Idrus F. Shahab, Yos Rizal, L.R. Baskoro, Budi Setyarso, Nugroho Dewanto, Seno Joko Suyono, Qaris Tadjudin, Yosep Suprayogi, Wahyu Dhyatmika, Jajang Jamaluddin, Setri Yasra, Bagja Hidayat, Kurniawan, Y. Tomi Aryanto, Sapto Yunus, Jobpie Sugiharto, Dodi Hidayat.

Writers: Yandhrie Arvian, Muchamad Nafi, Yuliawati, Agung Sedayu, Philipus Parera, Pramono, Anton Aprianto, Widiarsi Agustina, Agoeng Wijaya, Anton Septian, Mustafa Silalahi, Sunudyantoro, Sandy Indra Pratama, Dwi Wiyana, Kurniawan, Akbar Tri Kurniawan, Jobpie Sugiharto, Firman Atmakusumah, Retno Sulistyowati, Reza Maulana, Nurdin Kalim, Febriana Firdaus, Eko Ari Wibowo, Heru Triyono, Eka Utami.

Contributors: Luky Setyarini (Kiel, Zurich, Den Haag), Asbari Nurpatria Krisna (Hilversum, Amsterdam), Pudyo Samekto (Los Angeles), Anwar Siswadi (Bandung), Ahmad Rafiq (Solo), Abdi Purmono (Malang), David Priyasidharta (Probolinggo), Addi Mawahibun Idhom dan Pito Agustin Rudiana (Yogyakarta).

Photo Research: Ratih Purnama Ningsih

Photo: Luky Setyarini (Kiel, Zurich, Den Haag), Asbari Nurpatria Krisna (Hilversum, Amsterdam), Prima Mulia (Bandung), Andry Prasetyo (Solo), Abdi Purmono (Malang), David Priyasidharta (Probolinggo).

Photo Processor: Agustyawan Pradito

Language Editors: Iyan Bastian, Sapto Nugroho, Uu Suhardi

Design: Eko Punto Pambudi, Kendra H. Paramita, Djunaedi, Aji Yuliarto, Rizky Lazuardi.

Layout: Agus Darmawan Setiadi, Tri Watno Widodo..

***

THE SPARK TO A FLAME

Dutch, French, German and Javanese blood coursed through his veins, but Ernest Francois Eugène Dekker possessed a spirit that was Indonesian to the core. The Dutch colonial government branded him a very dangerous man, and the political powerhouse spent a lot of time in exile or imprisoned.

Dekker was the first person to establish a political party in Indonesia. The Indische Partij held a fiercely uncompromising stance in its fight for Indonesia’s independence. As one of the chief initiators of the struggle for independence, Dekker’s political thoughts were far ahead of his time. When translated into propaganda, his ideas inspired Tjokroaminoto to gather up mass support. His ideas on nationalism were key when Sukarno established the Indonesian National Party. He was languishing in exile when the proclamation of the Indonesian independence was declared.

This is a special edition—Tempo’s way of celebrating Indonesia’s independence—on the life of the courageous man who also came to be known as Danudirja Setiabudi.

HE was a political powerhouse ahead of his time. Ernest François Eugène Douwes Dekker was his name. As disappointment grew in some circles with the elitism portrayed by the Boedi Oetomo political society, Dekker came forward with fresh political views. He founded the first political party in Indonesia, which aspired to fight for equal rights for all ethnicities in the Indies.

The founding of the Indische Partij breathed life into a movement to win independence. Its emergence was wildly received. In his book, An Age in Motion: Popular Radicalism in Java, 1912-1926, author Takashi Shiraishi said the propaganda tour spearheaded by Dekker was the first major political gathering of its kind in the Indies. This movement became key in future strategies on the gathering of masses on a large scale by Tjokroaminoto in order to gain public support for Sarekat Islam.

It cannot be denied that the Indische Partij laid an important foundation for nationalism in the Indies. This political organization was far more radical in its methods than Boedi Oetomo. In addition to calling for an overhaul in the field of administrative services, Dekker cried out for tax reform and political reform in agricultural practices. His movements were monitored because he rejected discrimination. He was labeled a dangerous agitator. Dekker was a figure who rocked the Dutch-Indies government.

Short-lived after it was forcibly disbanded by the Dutch, the Indische Partij, nevertheless, was able to foster hope and breathed long life into subsequent movements.

* * *

Born in Pasuruan, East Java, Dekker initially directed his nationalistic views at students of the STOVIA medical school. He was sociable and became an example for other activist movements. Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo and Soewardi Soerjaningrat, two close advisors who joined him in the struggle, were not the only ones to follow him. Sukarno referred to Dekker as a political mentor who had roused his awareness of nationalism.

Emile Schwidder, a researcher at the Internationaal Instituut voor Sociaal Geschiedenis in Amsterdam, portrays Dekker as a figure who was able to move masses with advanced political thinking. Dekker genuinely cared about what happened to others. He was also firm when it came to organizing movements.

Kees van Dijk, a researcher at KITLV in Leiden, portrays Dekker as an interesting, passionate character who was never dull. He insisted on absolute change and was skilled at building networks. His novel, entitled Simaan de Javaan, published in 1908, exposed the injustices of the Dutch-Indies government. This was the only novel of those times which portrayed the Dutch as the bad guys, said Kees van Dijk.

Dekker dedicated nearly his entire life to the independence of Indonesia. A direct relative of Eduard Dekker—author of the book Max Havelaar who went by the pen name Multatuli— Ernest Dekker called for the people of the Indies to unite, build on their strengths and create

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