One by One They Fell: The Story of Acehnese Ulama Who Led the Resistance Against Colonialism

In the midst of the Dutch military onslaught in the early 20th century, the ulama of Aceh emerged as the main driving force of resistance through the ‘perang sabil’ (holy war). One by one they fell as martyrs in battle, yet the spirit of jihad against the colonialists never faded for more than a decade thereafter.

In the early 20th century, the people of Aceh were still fighting against Dutch colonial rule. At the same time, however, the Acehnese had also begun to be introduced to elements of Western culture, namely modern education, which brought about various changes in Acehnese society.

At the beginning of 1900, resistance against the Dutch was still ongoing, led among others by Sultan Muhammad Daud Syah, Teuku Panglima Polem Raja Daud, Teungku Di Matale, Teungku Di Barat (Pasai, North Aceh), Tengku Cot Plieng, Teungku Alue Keutapang, Teungku Di Reubee, Tengku Di Beureueh, Teungku Di Lam Gut (Pidie), Teuku Ben Peukan Meureudu, Teungku Di Krueng Sinagen, Teuku Ben Blang Pidie, Habib Meulaboh, and the teungku-teungku from Tiro such as Teungku Chik Mayet and Teungku Di Buket.

Although the Sultan of Aceh, Muhammad Daud Syah, was forced to surrender in January 1903, the war against the Dutch continued. Teungku Cot Plieng and his followers carried out continuous attacks against the Dutch.

Likewise in North Aceh, the ‘perang sabil’ continued under the leadership of Teungku Di Barat and Teungku Di Matale, together with other traditional leaders, namely Teungku Chik Di Tunong, Pang Nanggroe, and Cut Meutia, as reported in the book ‘Tokoh Agama Dalam Perjuangan Kemerdekaan 1945-1950 di Aceh’ by Rusdi Sufi, Muhammad Nasir, and Zulfan, published by the Department of Education and Culture in 1997.

The war against the Dutch colonialists also took place in Gayo Alas. To subdue the region, the Dutch East Indies colonial government dispatched Lieutenant Colonel Van Daalen to establish political relations with the local rulers. In the Gayo region, Van Daalen encountered fierce resistance.

The Gayo people—men and women alike, and even children—bravely defended every inch of their ancestral land from the onslaught of Dutch soldiers.