Indonesian Invasion of Ambon, and the Limits of Revolution

by Rafi Yahya

The Indonesian Revolution formally concluded in December 1949 with the Dutch recognition of Indonesian independence during the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference. However, not all regions accepted Jakarta's rule immediately, with some viewing the new Republic of Indonesia as another form of colonial dominance. Between 1946 and 1950, the Dutch, in an attempt to maintain influence, created the State of East Indonesia (NIT) with the support of local nobility, allowing areas such as Maluku, Sulawesi, and other eastern islands to remain under Dutch control. Despite this effort, after the conference recognized Indonesia's independence, East Indonesia and other federal states were pressured to integrate into the unitary Republic of Indonesia on August 17, 1950.

This integration left many Ambonese soldiers from the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) disillusioned. These veterans had long been loyal to the Dutch, and with Indonesia's independence, they became anxious about their future in a predominantly Muslim nation. Fearing marginalization and retribution, especially given their cultural and religious differences as Christians, the collapse of Dutch-backed federalism felt like a betrayal. Their livelihoods, once tied to the Dutch military, were now in jeopardy. In response to these grievances, disgruntled KNIL veterans from Ambon, Maluku, declared the independence of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS) in 1950.
This post will explore the causes of the RMS rebellion and the broader political limitations of the Indonesian Revolution.

Map by Willem Blaeu (1630) Early map of the Maluku Islands made during the Age of Discovery, by Willem Blaeu, 1630. North is on the right, with Ternate as the rightmost followed by Tidore, both were known as the Spice Islands (trade secret, outposts of the VOC).

The region of Maluku was governed by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) from the early 17th century, as they sought to dominate the highly profitable spice trade, particularly cloves from Ambon and nutmeg from the Banda Islands. Under Dutch rule, Ambonese soldiers were highly valued for their loyalty and often received privileges such as access to education, housing, and administrative roles. This created a network of Ambonese and Moluccan people who benefited from their close association with the Dutch colonial administration. Furthermore, the Dutch actively spread Christianity in Maluku, especially in southern Ambon, where the Protestant mission was particularly successful. This religious divide deepened tensions between the Christian Ambonese, who were favored by the colonial government, and the Muslim population in northern Maluku, contributing to lasting distrust between the two communities.

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Indonesian Army M3 Stuart tank and troops patrolling in Ambon

Indonesians viewed the declaration of independence by the Republic of South Maluku (RMS), proclaimed on April 25, 1950, as treasonous and a continuation of Dutch colonial influence. The RMS movement, supported by former KNIL (Royal Netherlands East Indies Army) soldiers, was perceived as an attempt by the Dutch to maintain control over native Indonesians. These KNIL veterans, who were closely tied to the Dutch colonial administration, did not want to integrate into the newly independent Indonesia​.
On September 28, 1950, Colonel Alexander Kawilarang led the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in an invasion of northern Ambon to suppress the RMS rebellion. The TNI, still relatively new, encountered fierce resistance from the RMS fighters, many of whom were experienced KNIL veterans. These soldiers were highly trained by the Dutch and well-acquainted with the terrain, making the battle particularly challenging for the TNI​.
By November 1950, the RMS forces had suffered major defeats and retreated to the nearby island of Ceram, where they continued a guerrilla war against the TNI until 1963. Maurice Muir, an Australian War Graves official who was present during the invasion, reported that the TNI shelled the town of Ambon extensively, leaving only four buildings standing by the war’s end. The military campaign was crucial for Indonesia’s efforts to consolidate control over the region and prevent further separatist movements​.
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army, supported by the Imperial Japanese Navy, invaded the Dutch East Indies, including Ambon and Sulawesi, in early 1942. The people of Ambon and the rest of Maluku endured a harsh occupation by the Japanese until August 1945. Resentment grew due to forced labor and mistreatment of civilians, especially under the Imperial Japanese Navy's rule. After the war, many Ambonese, loyal to the Dutch, opposed the Indonesian Revolution, fearing it would lead to further instability

“Appointment of the Head of a free Indonesia”. A headline from an IJN-sponsored state newspaper (Borneo Simbun) based in Balikpapan, Kalimantan dated August 26th, 2605 (1945).

The invasion of Ambon in 1950 marked a critical moment, highlighting the limits of the Indonesian Revolution. While the revolution aimed to unify the former Dutch East Indies under the new Republic of Indonesia, this goal overlooked the complex political, religious, and cultural differences across the archipelago. Despite Indonesia’s claims that all territories, including Ambon, should be integrated into the new state, the Moluccans, many of whom were Protestant and had long been aligned with the Dutch, strongly opposed centralization under a predominantly Muslim and Javanese government. This opposition stemmed from their loyalty to the Dutch, fears of marginalization, and distinct regional identity​.
The TNI's invasion of Ambon in September 1950, led by Colonel Alexander Kawilarang, revealed how difficult it was for Indonesia to assert control over regions that did not share the dominant nationalist sentiments from Java and Sumatra. The initial resistance was fierce, with many RMS soldiers being former KNIL veterans, well-trained by the Dutch. Despite being pacified by November 1950, the RMS leadership fled to the island of Ceram, where they continued guerrilla warfare until 1963.

Today, the government-in-exile of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS) continues to resist Indonesian rule from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, highlighting the unresolved nature of the conflict. While Indonesia maintains control over the Maluku islands, the presence of the RMS in exile underscores the enduring political limitations of the Indonesian Revolution. The revolution may have succeeded in achieving formal independence from Dutch colonialism, but it failed to fully reconcile the diverse regional identities and aspirations within the newly unified state. The alienated Moluccans remain a symbol of those unfulfilled promises, as their distinct identity and historical grievances were largely sidelined in the post-revolutionary period.
The RMS is not the only territory that stands in opposition to the Indonesian Republic. West Papua, which was also integrated into Indonesia in the years following independence, has similarly expressed dissatisfaction with Indonesian rule. However, unlike the relatively passive resistance of the RMS, West Papua has often resorted to violent insurgency and conflict. Papuan nationalist movements have been pushing for independence for decades, criticizing Jakarta for political repression, economic exploitation, and human rights abuses. This comparison between the RMS and West Papuan struggles reveals a broader challenge for Indonesia in managing the diverse and often conflicting interests within its vast and multi-ethnic archipelago.
The ongoing RMS opposition from exile, along with movements like those in West Papua, illustrates the incomplete nature of Indonesia’s post-colonial nation-building project. While the Indonesian Revolution succeeded in establishing a new nation-state, it left unresolved the deep divisions and regional discontent that continue to challenge the unity and cohesion of the Republic of Indonesia today.

Sources:
History Hustle. “The Aceh War”. Youtube, 12 Nov. 2017.  
Stott, D. (2017). Rethinking Japan’s postwar Pacific island policy. The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus, 15(11). Retrieved from https://apjjf.org/2017/11/Stott
Indo Project. “Our Story - the Indo Project.” The Indo Project, 3 May 2023, theindoproject.org/about/history. Web. 
Leiden University. “Europese Woning op Ambon” (European Villa in Ambon). Leiden University Libraries, 1900: North Maluku, http://hdl.handle.net/1887.1/item:810025. 
Leiden University. “Bai Van Ambon” (Bay of Ambon). Leiden University Libraries, 1890: Central Maluku, http://hdl.handle.net/1887.1/item:827251
Oostindie, Gert, and Fridus Steijlen. "Ethnic ‘Ferociousness’ in Colonial Wars: Moluccans in the Dutch Army in Indonesia, 1945–1949". Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia 177.4 (2021): 491-523. https://doi.org/10.1163/22134379-bja10032 Web.
Trove. “INVASION OF AMBON BY INDONESIAN FORCES - the West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) - 5 Oct 1950.” Trove, trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47890496. 

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