Westerling's Indonesia

In fine morning of January 1950, in the earliest days of United States (of Indonesia), a former Dutch commando named Raymond "Turk" Westerling sent an ultimatum to Indonesian government, demanding for the entrenchment of federal system by establishing state army. If not, his Army of Just King will overthrow the republic.

Naturally, the overwhelmingly pro-unionist federal government (and one that know Westerling's track record in Sulawesi) refused this and angrily sending sharply written letters to Dutch consulate in Indonesia, demanding for them to take care of the rogue general.

Westerling, that madlad, actually followed through. He seized Bandung in January 22, dawn. He intended to capture Jakarta the next day

(Un)fortunately, the plan failed. The ever-trustworthy Wikipe-tan said that the failure to plant ammunition depot in Jakarta at Jan 22, night is to blame, because of the meddling KNIL officer. The next day, the putschist arrive in Jakarta empty handed, and quickly lose momentum

The Westerling affair quickly accelerate the downfall of the federal system. Pasundan, the state where Westerling demanded to be able to have APRA as state's army, was dissolved in March 11th. Other follows

The relation between Netherland and Indonesia, which legally under Union with Netherland, soured. The Dutch was blamed for not actively preventing the coup

Say that APRA succeded in plainting ammo depot that night. Or say the Dutch secretely back APRA, instead of sending stringly-worded letter against it. Either way, the coup was a success. How would it develop?

From various source I gathered, there was only 2 person in USI cabinet that was pro-federalist: Sultan Hamid II from West Kalimantan and Ide Anak Agung from East Indonesia. Similary, in the wider Indonesja, most of parliamentarians were in favor of unitary state, even in East Indonesia. How would they deal with the federalist coup?

In OTL, the major groups supported federalism: KNIL vets, Ambonese (and Minahasan), and traditional aristocrat. Are these enough to uphold the federalism?

Sultan Hamid, in OTL, was offered collaboration by Westerling, which he accept. Three person was on APRA hitlist: Hamengkubuwono IX, Ali Budiarjo, and T.B Simatumpang, all connected to Defense Ministry. If all three was killed, Sultan Hamid would be the new minister of defense. How would the rest of cabinet respond to this? Sukarno would certainly be mad

Among political parties, none overtly support federalism. PNI and Murba Party are the loudest in support for unionism. Masyumi is cautious, but ultimately unitarianist. PKI is silent, they're still rebuilding. Can Westerling court Masyumi to his side. Or God forbid, PKI?

In 1950's, several rebellions and independent armed forces were active in the republic, the most notorious was Kartosuwiryo's Darul Islam, but also relatively loyal group like Kebaktian Rakyat Indonesia Sulawesi. How would Westerling deal with them? Can they be a good source for backing?

If you're still reading this, congratulations and thank you. Please discuss below, if you like
 
The unionist / federalist dispute is an obvious stand in for substantive cultural and economic disputes about nationalism and the composition of the politicians of the ruling class; yes?

So why isn't the result a few more shootings, a few more newspaper inches, and republican government with a larger antifederalist foundation myth? One mad Dutch general won't reverse the fundamental balance of forces.
 

HJ Tulp

Donor
I read Westerlings book ages ago. In that he mentions the lack of funds as the big stumbling block of the coup, because that made the attack on the ammunition depot necessary. He also mentions that when he arrived in Indonesia in 1945 - as part of the teams that secured internment camps - he personally supervised bonfires in which huge amounts of Japanese occupation-currency were burned. Not realising that the government would make them legal tender shortly afterwards. So what if Westerling has a bit of foresight (or more of a criminal instead of cruel streak) and buries a significant amount somewhere? With that it becomes easy to buy arms and fund his army. There were lots of corrupt officers that might be of service.
 
The unionist / federalist dispute is an obvious stand in for substantive cultural and economic disputes about nationalism and the composition of the politicians of the ruling class; yes?

So why isn't the result a few more shootings, a few more newspaper inches, and republican government with a larger antifederalist foundation myth? One mad Dutch general won't reverse the fundamental balance of forces.
So you think there will be a counter coup? I suppose there might be some general that are willing to do that, tho IIRC in early republic the civilian politician really curbs military influence

Also IIRC there's no substansial dispute about cultural representation in federal politics. Out of 3 pre-1950's Prime Minister, only one is Javanese (Hatta). The other two are Batak (Amir Sjariffudin) and Minang (Sjahrir). The ruling cabinet during Westerling coup have non-Javan deputy (Sjarifuddin Prawiranwgara)

I read Westerlings book ages ago. In that he mentions the lack of funds as the big stumbling block of the coup, because that made the attack on the ammunition depot necessary. He also mentions that when he arrived in Indonesia in 1945 - as part of the teams that secured internment camps - he personally supervised bonfires in which huge amounts of Japanese occupation-currency were burned. Not realising that the government would make them legal tender shortly afterwards. So what if Westerling has a bit of foresight (or more of a criminal instead of cruel streak) and buries a significant amount somewhere? With that it becomes easy to buy arms and fund his army. There were lots of corrupt officers that might be of service.
1945 is abit early, dont ya think? Westerling hasn't even set foot in Celebes yet, neverthless that he would be reprimanded and leading a coup in 1950. But I suppose that if he can stash some money he can convince some TNI/KNIL officer to give their weapon (might be hard due to his reputation). Or even better, bribe DI/TII to attack Jakarta together (Wiki said that Westerling attack was coordinated with Darul Islam, but they failed to appear)
 

HJ Tulp

Donor
1945 is abit early, dont ya think? Westerling hasn't even set foot in Celebes yet, neverthless that he would be reprimanded and leading a coup in 1950. But I suppose that if he can stash some money he can convince some TNI/KNIL officer to give their weapon (might be hard due to his reputation). Or even better, bribe DI/TII to attack Jakarta together (Wiki said that Westerling attack was coordinated with Darul Islam, but they failed to appear

I do agree with you that Westerling will not have that foresight. He and most Dutch thought that in a short while Indonesia would be the Dutch East Indies again. Him just taking the money is quite uncharacteristic. The man was lot's of things but not corrupt. Unlike other Dutch soldiers and officers I must add, it could very well have gotten Spoor killed as a matter of fact.

Anyway, if everything else stays the same I really doubt that his influence will last long. The PNI and PKI have all the momentum. If the POD is that the Dutch have some foresight and try to actively undermine and balkanise Indonesia that changes alot. In that case it may very well lead to the Netherlands keeping significant influence in a number of spots in the archipelago. They could demobilize the Ambonese KNIL on Ambon for example.
 
Anyway, if everything else stays the same I really doubt that his influence will last long. The PNI and PKI have all the momentum. If the POD is that the Dutch have some foresight and try to actively undermine and balkanise Indonesia that changes alot. In that case it may very well lead to the Netherlands keeping significant influence in a number of spots in the archipelago. They could demobilize the Ambonese KNIL on Ambon for example.
Ehhh, PKI is regrouping after 1948 fiasco that is Madiun Affair. PNI is strong, yes, but Masyumi is bigger in number, through more decentralized. Masyumi is rather hesitant in the question about unification, so a coup might, might change their mind

I do agree that Westerling's coup would led to more Dutch influence. But would they dismantle KNIL? Seens counterproductive to me IMO
 

HJ Tulp

Donor
Ehhh, PKI is regrouping after 1948 fiasco that is Madiun Affair. PNI is strong, yes, but Masyumi is bigger in number, through more decentralized. Masyumi is rather hesitant in the question about unification, so a coup might, might change their mind.

Could very well be! My knowledge of the Indonesian side is far less extensive as yours :)

I do agree that Westerling's coup would led to more Dutch influence. But would they dismantle KNIL? Seens counterproductive to me IMO

There are two ways for the coup to lead to more Dutch influence.
1. The coup weakens the unitarians and federalization continues. This weakens the Indonesian state and makes it more likely that Dutch economic power stays strong and influential.
2. The coup works because the Dutch government makes it work. In this case it is a symptom of a different Dutch strategy.

You see by the time of Westerlings coup the Dutch government had decided that it was going to bet on the Netherlands-Indonesian Union. Sure there were people who disagreed and tried to help for example the RMS, but official and unofficial policy was in support of the Federal Indonesian government. The disbandment of the KNIL was already happening at the time of the coup.
 
Hum, what is the Dutch policy on Indonesia during that time? Are the public and government willing to support another potential fiasco?
 

HJ Tulp

Donor
Hum, what is the Dutch policy on Indonesia during that time? Are the public and government willing to support another potential fiasco?

Dutch policy at the time OTL was to fully get behind the Netherlands-Indonesian Union. They suspected (with good reason) that for the Union to last, a federal Indonesia in which pro-Dutch or at least anti-Republican/Javanese had influence was necessary. However, given the lack of American support for (or even American opposition to) Dutch influence in the archipelago the government was not willing to do what was needed to get that result. Otherwise they would have supported Westerling for starters. Don't forget that it was a KNIL officer who stopped the move of ammunitions to the coup-units in Jakarta. They could also have demobilised the Ambonese on Ambon or in any other anti-Republican stronghold. Instead, the remnants of the KNIl ended up in Westerbork, a former Nazi-concentrationcamp. The only support that was given to RMS was done by private agents such as the organization Door de eeuwen Trouw and others. Pretty ineffectual.

Now I doubt that the Dutch public or government will support another surge of Dutch troops into Indonesia. That ship had, quite literally, sailed by than. A low-cost, cloak-and-dagger approach to keep the federation alive could very well be possible though.
 
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