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Pao An Tui

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Pao An Tui
Also known asPoh An Tui, Po An Tui, Poh An Tuy, Po An Tuy
LeadersLoa Sek Hie (Chairman)
Oey Kim Sen (Deputy Chairman)
Khouw Joe Tjan (Secretary)
Cong Fai-kim (Treasurer)
Dates of operation1946-1949
HeadquartersBatavia, Dutch East Indies
Active regionsParts of Java, Sumatra, Borneo
Allies
Opponents
Pao An Tui
Traditional Chinese保安隊
Simplified Chinese保安队
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinBǎo'ān duì
Wade–GilesPao3-an1 tui4
IPA[pàʊ ân.twêɪ]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJPó-an-tūi

Pao An Tui (Chinese: 保安隊; pinyin: Bǎo'ān duì; Wade–Giles: Pao3-an1-tui4; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Pó-an-tūi; lit. 'public security corps') sometimes spelt Po An Tui or Poh An Tui from the Hokkien pronunciation, were self-defense forces of the Chinese-Indonesian community during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to 1949.[2][1] The group has been accused by Indonesian nationalists of harbouring pro-Dutch sympathies during the Revolution, especially during the police actions,[3] though it received arms and support from both sides of the conflict.[4][5] Pao An Tui was disbanded in 1949 with the cessation of violence and the conclusion of the revolution in Indonesian Independence.[1]

History

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Following the end of the Second World War in Asia in 1945, separate units of Pao An Tui were formed by groups of Chinese-Indonesians, whom many Indonesian revolutionaries accused of siding with the Dutch.[1] Units were created in Medan, North Sumatra in 1946, then in Java in 1947.[2][1]

In order to address the disorder and violence against and by Chinese-Indonesians, the important community organization "Chung Hua Tsung Hui" hosted a conference in Batavia, the capital of colonial Indonesia, from August 24 until August 26, 1947.[6] The conference resulted, on August 29, in the official formation of Pao An Tui, headquartered in Batavia.[6][5] The Central Committee consisted of Loa Sek Hie (Chairman), Oey Kim Sen (Deputy Chairman), Khouw Joe Tjan (Secretary) and Cong Fai-kim (Treasurer), and claimed jurisdiction over all Pao An Tui units.[5]

The force claimed neutrality during the revolution, receiving support for its establishment from both Sutan Sjahrir, first Prime Minister of revolutionary Indonesia, and arms from the pro-Dutch Allied forces.[5] The Pao An Tui were disbanded in 1949 with the conclusion of the revolution in Indonesian Independence.[1][2]

Controversy and criticism

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The neutrality of Pao An Tui in the struggle for Indonesia's independence has been challenged on a number of occasions.[1][3] The Indonesian revolutionary government, suspecting the force of pro-Dutch sympathies, refused to extend its formal recognition until 1948.[1] A minority of left-wing Chinese-Indonesians at the time also strongly resisted the force due to its close ties to the right-wing Chinese-Indonesian colonial elite and the Kuomintang in China.[1]

In early 2016, a media furore was caused by the supposed unveiling of a monument to Pao An Tui at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah by the interior minister Tjahjo Kumolo.[6] Rizieq Shihab, the Islamist leader of the Islamic Defenders Front, was one of the fiercest critics of the Indonesian government's apparent support for Pao An Tui.[7] In fact, the monument in question was dedicated to an earlier Chinese militia, formed in the aftermath of the Chinese Massacre of 1740 in Batavia, that fought with the Javanese against the Dutch East India Company.[6]

Various conspiracy theories continue to be associated with the putative specter of the Pao An Tui.[6][3] For instance, in an opinion piece of May 2017, the writer and political commentator Batara Hutagalung accuses descendants of the Pao An Tui of conspiring with the Dutch government, supporters of Indonesian federalism and the defunct Indonesian Communist Party of destabilizing Indonesia by attempting to establish control over its resources, consumer market, as well as its geo-political and geo-strategic position as a form of 'historic revenge'.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Willmott, Donald E (2009). The national status of the Chinese in Indonesia 1900–1958 (First Equinox ed.). Jakarta: Equinox Publishing. ISBN 9786028397285. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Tong, Chee Kiong (2010). Identity and ethnic relations in Southeast Asia racializing Chineseness. Dordrecht: Springer. ISBN 9789048189090. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Subarkah, Muhammad (28 February 2016). "Pao An Tui, Sisi Kelam Masyarakat Cina di Indonesia". Republika Online (in Indonesian). Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Chee Kiong Tong (2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d Setiono, Benny G. (2003). Tionghoa dalam pusaran politik. Jakarta: Elkasa. ISBN 9799688744. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e Supriyatna, Agus (1 March 2016). "Berita Po An Tui yang Menyesatkan - Analisis - www.indonesiana.id". Indonesiana. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  7. ^ Saleh, Ummi Hadyah (1 June 2016). "Takut Ada PKI, FPI akan Jihad Segel Patung-patung Bau Komunis". suara.com (in Indonesian). Suara.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  8. ^ Hutagalung, Batara (15 May 2017). "Pembentukan Citra Negatif Indonesia Di Luar Negeri". rmol.co. Rakyat Merdeka Online. Rakyat Merdeka Online. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
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