DUTCH SOLDIERS GRAVES KERKOFF

BANDA ACEH - Aceh is also known as the Veranda of Mecca a story about a persistent struggle against Dutch colonialism. In the battle against the Dutch from 1873 to 1942, Aceh fighters succeeded in killing the commander of the Dutch war, General Kohler. One of the traces of history can be traced in Kerkoff Peucut, Banda Aceh. Kerkoff in the Indonesian language means "grave".

Just arrived in Kerkoff, a typical arched gate of the Dutch are standing firmly and looked ancient. and near the gate you will see beautiful carvings began bearing the names of Dutch soldiers who died during the battle with the people of Aceh.

The names of soldiers who died were engraved neatly on the gate wall reliefs. Every soldier reliefs contains 30 names, their years of combat zones and breathed his last. It happened between the year 1873 to 1910. Among the names are displayed neatly, there are some soldiers who came from Java, Manado, and Ambon. According to the story they had been incorporated in the army Marsose.

Javanese soldiers who were under the leadership of the Netherlands is usually accompanied by identity IF (inlander fuselier) behind his name. Dutch soldiers followed the EF code or F. Art and soldiers from Ambon marked with AMB and soldiers from Manado marked with MND.

Meanwhile, several areas battle, among others: Sigli, Moekim, Tjot Basetoel, Lambari en Teunom, Cage, Toeanko, Lambesoi, Koewala, Tjot Rang - Pajaoe, Lepong Ara, The Coral - Dango, Samalanga and so on.
The place to bury the bodies of Dutch soldiers who died instantly in the fighting in Aceh and other Dutchmen. For those soldiers who died instantly in the battlefield will be accompanied by a description Gesneuveld. Meanwhile, for those who died due to illness will be accompanied by a description overleden.

Meanwhile, on the left side of the gate is written the phrase "in memoriam Generaal - Majoor JHR Kohler, Gesneuveld, 14 April 1873". Sentence is essentially recalled General Kohler, who died instantly in combat in Aceh on 14 April 1873.

According to historical records, in 1873, Dutch soldiers into Aceh to control the area. However, Dutch efforts to control the territory of Aceh can not be accomplished. They have fierce opposition from the heroic fighters of Aceh. In fact, General Kohler, who led the attack should lose his life in 1873 as well. He got hit right in the forehead in front of Masjid Raya Baiturrahman on April 14, 1873.

Control efforts in Aceh are still unable to run smoothly until the year 1942. The Netherlands can only master the urban areas. Meanwhile, in rural areas, the Netherlands can be said to defeat.

As a result of colonization carried out for 59 years, thousands of Dutch soldiers were killed. Soldiers of the Netherlands itself and the forces antigerilya or Marsose the soldiers came from the Java, Ambon and Manado were killed at the end of the typical weapon of Aceh, namely Rencong and rifles.

At first, those killed in combat areas such as Sigli, Samalanga, Meulaboh, Bakongan, Idi, Paya Bakong of Regional Direct-buried in it anyway. However, because of the large or complex Graven scattered graves in Aceh, it made efforts to collect the bodies of these inlanders into one.

Kerkoff had previously been an area of ​​weeds and then be transformed into stables by the Dutch cemetery. Currently, in 2200 Dutch soldiers buried there from the rank of General to rank low. Bodies were collected from these areas.

Interestingly, after Kohler's death, Aceh fighters do not know where his body was buried. Last known location, Kohler was buried in the area of ​​Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. However, because the Tanah Abang area will be built shops, Kohler tomb was exposed to eviction. Thus, as a reminder of history and at the request of the Governor of Aceh Muzakir Walad, Kohler finally buried the bodies back in Kerkoff, Banda Aceh on May 19, 1978. According to the story, re-Kohler in Kerkoff funeral was attended by a platoon of Dutch higher.

Kerkoff itself was not only used as a final resting place for the Dutch soldiers who died in battle, but also because the pain was buried. A number of high officials who had served the Dutch representative in Aceh also bequeath to be buried on the land. For example, Ph A Van Aken, Governor of the Netherlands for the Acehnese who died in Jakarta on 1 April 1936 in his capacity as a member of the Council of the Netherlands Hindian. This figure has a somewhat soft and well-known attitude that attract sympathetic people of Aceh. He was known to have been renovating the dome of Masjid Raya Baiturrahman.

Because it contains a high historical value, attempt to perform maintenance Kerkoff continue. Was Col. Lamie Djeuram Koela Bhee and former commander of the bivouac in Blang Pidie who came back to Aceh in July 1970 and renovate existing Kerkoff since 1880.

Sources of funds are initially private and then performed a fundraising effort Kerkoff care in the Netherlands. The result, formed the Foundation Peucut or later known Stichting Renovatie Peucut.

Posted in: Aceh