During Japanese occupation in Java in World War II, one of their main purposes was the acquisition of stape resources
which would enable them to continue futher military operations and the
maintenance of the conquered area.
West Java, a rice cultivating society annually producing 3 million tons of
paddy in the late Dutch period, was important especially as the supplier of
military provisions. The rice was
taken
from Javanese peasants was not only for consumption in West Java, but also for
military provisions in other parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific.[1]
One of the most important Japanese policies which made a strong impact on rural
life was the forced delivery of paddy. In order to acquire necessary militery
provisions, the Japanese military government made utmost efforts to collect as
much paddy as possible from Javanese
peasants. Since
the production
capacity of paddy in West Java was not very large compare to the the population, and most of the produce had been consumed by for domestic purpose, the policies
were bound to deprive
the peasants of a considerable part of their own food. Each peasant was sold certain quota of paddy to the
government at a very low price.
That led to a greatly degeneration condition such as starving and tremendous
lack of food.
Consequently, the peasants welfare was seriously undermined; and general dissatisfaction and
deterioration of socioeconomic life prevailed.
Being suffered for these policies, the peasant protest
broke in
1942-1945. The first uprising
accurred
in Kaplongan Village in Karangample Sub-ditrict. That protest inspired other peasant to do protest. Like a chain reaction, soon the protest spread to the border
areas of the sub district of Sindang and Lohbener. Likewise, the protest extended to the sub distrik Losarang,
Sliyeg, and Kertasmaya and finally reached the eastern part of Indramayu, namely, Bugis
Village in Anjatan Sub distrik.[2]
The social revolution which occurred after the Japanese
occupation might be seen as the immediate outcome of various ocial changes
during the Japanese occupation. Of course the process of social changes had
already begun during the Dutch period and is not solely a product of the
Japanese occupation. It is true, howeer, that the policies of the Japanese occupation
were crucial in accelerating this process of rural transformation. It is in
this sense that sense that the writer considers this period as the watershed in
modern Indonesia history. This was the beginning of a new era, and the
beginning of a new dynamism in rural society.
Taking the uprisings into the focus of study, we will notice several important arguments. First, the peasant uprisings in
Indramayu in 1942-1945 presens us with various important problem that rural society faced under
Japanese rule in West Java.
Second, the
immerdiete cause of the revolt was
“forced delivery of paddy,
a policy
which ordered peasants to sell
most
of their paddy at low prices.
Third, it led to a seriously food shorteges prevailed all
over Java, and many people suffered from hunger and malnutrition. Fort, Combined with other destructive Japanese policies,
general social welfare deteriorated into the point where a very high death rate was
recorded,
especially in Indramayu, where the peasants were assigned quotas three to four times higher than those
in other areas.
Therefore, this paper will examine
uprisings in Indramayu as a consequence
of the Japanese rice policy. This also a
case study on rural social change during the Japanese occuption. But it can
also be seen as a local history of Indramayu, West Java. [3] So
far not much has been written on Indramayu, not to mention on the uprisings in
1944 and its background.
Focus
Study
Based on arguments above, my research
focus to
study
social protest in Indramayu
during Japenese occupation relates to peasant protest concerning forced delivery
of Paddy in Indramayu 1942-1945. It is also expect to show implication and
model of social
movement in West Java, Indonesia.
Previous study
Many experts have focus on study about sosial
movement in Indonesia
relates to the peasant rebellion and protest. Anderson, The Problem of Rice, discuss local
problem of Indonesia[4].Further,
his book “Forced Delivery of Paddy and
Peasent Uprisings in Indramayu, Indonesia,”give much attention to the
sosial movement of farmer in Indramayu[5].Likewise,
Benda, H.J Japananese Militery
Administration in Indonesia: Selected Documents [6].Meanwhile,
Lucas, A. “Social Revolution in Pemalang,
Central Java, 1945 [7]“,
the social revolution which occurred after the imperialism occupation might be
seen as the immediate outcome of various social changes during the Japanese
occupation.
Instead of studying social movement in Indramayu feature
as well as general model of forced delivery of paddy, it is arguably
interesting for me to study modern model sosial movement in local of Indonesia.
Focusing in forced delivery of paddy in Indramayu 1942-1945, i expect to reveal
detail condition of
movement
in local West Java.
[2]History of Indramayu (Indramayu:
Government of Indramayu Regency), 1960, p:263-275.
[3]Ibid
[4]Anderson,
B., trans.”The Problem of Rice:
Stenographic Note on the Fourth Session af the Sanyo Kaigi, January 8, 2605”
Indonesia, No.2 (October
1966).
[5]Aiko
Kurisawa, “Forced Delivery of Paddy and Peasent
Uprisings in Indramayu, Indonesia,”(Jakarta:Gramedia, 1966).
[6]Benda,
H. J.; Japanese Military Administration
in Indonesia: Selected Documents, Yale University, Southeast Asia Studies,
Traslation Series No. 6 (1965).
[7]
Lucas, A. “Social Revolution in Pemalang, Central Java,
1945,” Indonesia, No. 24 (October 1977),
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