Manuscript shed light on Buton history
Hasrul, The Jakarta Post/Kendari
"Inside this letter, I wish to express several hopes," states a letter sent to the Netherlands government by Buton Sultan Muhyiuddin Abdul Gafur a few centuries ago.
Excerpts of the letter have been translated by Buton historian Suryadi, who is presenting a paper at the IX International Symposium on Old Archipelagic Manuscripts being held in Buton regency, Southeast Sulawesi.
His paper focuses on the historic manuscripts currently kept in the library of Leiden University, the Netherlands. Most of the manuscripts were written by Muhyiuddin, who ruled Buton between 1791 and 1799.
Among the manuscripts that greatly interested Suryadi were five letters sent by the Buton Sultan to his fellow rulers across the archipelago and to the Netherlands government.
The great number of manuscripts reflects the importance of the Buton Sultanate in the past.
Suryadi, a researcher with Leiden University, said that more extensive research on the manuscripts had to be carried out in order to reveal the full story of Buton history, including political intrigues inside the sultanate, regime changes, economic activities, peace pacts, etc.
"These letters can serve as a key that allows people to find out about the Buton Palace, especially the lives of the aristocracy," he said.
According to Suryadi, his paper discusses five letters sent by Sultan Muhyiuddin to the Netherlands government. The paper also sets out the backgrounds to the five letters.
The paper is one of nine papers to be discussed during the three-day international symposium, which started on Friday. Other papers are by various international researchers, such as E.P. Wieringa of Germany, Jen van der Puten, Singapore, Alexander K. Ogloblia, Russia, Hiroko Yamaguci, Japan, Ding Choo Ming, Malaysia, Awang Asbol bin Haji Mail, Brunei Darussalam, and Thai Hyun, South Korea.
Participants from the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States had also been set to participate in the symposium but canceled their visits at the last minute.
Besides international researchers, the symposium committee has also invited local participants to share their thoughts on the old manuscripts being featured during the symposium. They are Edi Ekadjati from Padjadjaran University in Bandung, Arsanti Wulandari from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta and Muhammad Ali from Airlangga University in Surabaya.
Meanwhile, three speakers at the event come from Baubau town, Buton regency, namely, E.A. Zaidi, a Buton cultural expert, La Ode Siradjuddin Djarudju from Haluoleo University in Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi, and La Ode Manafi of Unidayan University, Baubau.
The symposium is not only being attended by experts from overseas, but also by various local elements such as non- governmental organization activists, politicians, local figures and government officials.
"Besides throwing light on these old Indonesian manuscripts, we expect that the symposium can shed light on Buton manuscripts as well so that it can result in us gaining a more complete picture of Buton history," said Ali Mazi, the governor of Southeast Sulawesi.
The Buton Sultanate, which was at the height of its power between the 13th and 17th centuries, was an important state in what is today Indonesia. At its peak, Buton port was one of the main trading hubs for the archipelagic kingdoms.