1917 Dutch East Indies Volksraad election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Elections to the Volksraad were held in the Dutch East Indies on 16 October 1917.[1] The result was a victory for the Dutch Indies Freethinkers Association, who defeated the Protestant Christian Ethical Party and the Catholic Indian Catholic Party.[2]

Background[edit]

The Volksraad was created by a law passed on 16 December 1916 in order to further the possibility of self-government.[3] It had a total of 38 members, half of which were to be elected and half appointed.[4] Seats were also assigned to ethnic groups, with 20 for the Dutch population (nine elected, eleven appointed), 15 for the native population (ten elected, five appointed) and three for the Chinese population (all of which were appointed).[4]

Results[edit]

PartySeats
Moderate right-wing12
Moderate left-wing10
Left-wing8
Right-wing8
Total38
Source: Schmutzer[4]

Volksraad members[edit]

The subsequent membership of the Volksraad included:[5]

Position Member Notes
President Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger
Appointed members Schumann Independent
Carel Victor Gerritsen De Javasche Bank
H. s'Jacob Batavia merchant
Karel Albert Rudolf Bosscha Manager of tea plantation in Parahyangan
Kettner Head representative of plantations, Sumatra East Coast
Stibbe Government resident (official)
Van der Jagt Assistant resident
Whitlau Assistant resident
Labberton Theosophist, Indië Weerbaar propagandist and Home Ruler
A.L. Waworoentoe Representative of the people of Manado
Atmodirono Javanese
A. Kamil Muslim
Sastro Widjono Javanese
Radjiman Wediodiningrat Javanese, former leader of Budi Utomo
Achmad Djajadiningrat Regent of Serang
Koesoemo Oetojo Regent of Djapara
Koesoemo Joeso Regent of Patjitan, formerly an official
Abdoel Moeis Muslim, member of Sarekat Islam
Abdoel Rifai Muslim, member of the Insulinde party
Elected members Major Pabst
Josef Ignaz Julius Maria Schmutzer Roman Catholic, leader of the Indian Catholic Party
Bergmeijer Anti-revolutionary "christian"
O. van Voorhout Head of an iron firm
Koning Head representative of the Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij
Birnie Administrator of a tobacco estate in Besoeki
Stokvis Inspector of Secondary Education
Hok Hoei Kan Chinese
Lim Pat Chinese. "Major" of Chinese miners in Bangka Island
Soeselise Representative of the Ambonese
Frits Laoh Representative of the Manadoese
Charles Guillaume Cramer Member of the Indies Social Democratic Association
J.J.E. Teeuwen Member of the Insulinde party
Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo Member of the Insulinde party
Prangwedono Head of Mangkoenegoro
Tengkoe Mohammad Tajib Muslim, representative of Aceh
Muhammad Ismail Muslim, representative of the Arabs
Dwidjosewojo Javanese
Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto Muslim, President of Sarekat Islam

References[edit]

  1. ^ Karel Steenbrink (2007) The spectacular growth of a self confident minority, 1903 - 1942 KITLV Press, p44
  2. ^ Geert Arend van Klinken (2003) Minorities, modernity and the emerging nation: Christians in Indonesia, a biographical approach KITLV Press, p37
  3. ^ Eduard J. M. Schmutzer (1977) Dutch colonial policy and the search for identity in Indonesia 1920-1931 Brill Archive, p57
  4. ^ a b c Schmutzer, Eduard J. M. (1977). Dutch colonial policy and the search for identity in Indonesia 1920-1931. The Netherlands: Brill. p. 68. ISBN 9789004054011.
  5. ^ General Staff, War Office (1919). Military Report on the Netherlands' Possessions in the East Indies 1919 (PDF). London: Great Britain War Office. pp. 41–42.