The Tumbang Anoi Conference of 1894 – A Turning Point in Dayak History : Part 1

 

A snapshot of the atmosphere at the Tumbang Anoi Meeting in 1894 captures the Dutch East Indies' miscalculated strategy in their attempt to subdue the indigenous Dayak people of Borneo. This misstep exemplifies what is known in the field of study as "unintended consequences." The Dutch employed the "SALT STARVATION" tactic to control the Dayak, a stark contrast to the divide et impera approach successfully used in Java and other regions. Repro: Masri Sareb Putra.

JAKARTA - dayaktoday.com:  In 1894, the Dutch East Indies administration attempted a bold new strategy to dominate the Dayak people of Borneo. This approach marked a sharp departure from the divide et impera (divide and conquer) tactic that had proven so effective on Java. 

The Tumbang Anoi conference was a calculated effort to unite Dayak leaders under the guise of peacebuilding, intending to establish control over their fragmented communities. However, the Dutch underestimated the cultural and social dynamics of the Dayak, leading to unintended consequences that reshaped history.

Background of the Dutch Strategy

In Java, the Dutch successfully leveraged divide et impera by co-opting local rulers. They believed that by controlling the kings and nobility, the people beneath them would naturally fall in line. However, in Borneo, the Dayak people operated within a very different framework:

1. Absence of Centralized Leadership: Each Dayak clan or community, often identified by the rivers they inhabited, had its own autonomous leaders. No singular authority governed all the clans.
2. Inter-Clan Conflict: At the time, the Dayak were engaged in inter-clan feuds known as kayau (headhunting), which further fragmented their society.
3. Local Independence: The Dayak fiercely maintained their autonomy, making it nearly impossible for external powers to impose centralized rule.

The Dutch soon realized that their tried-and-true divide et impera approach was ineffective. Subduing one leader did not result in others submitting. Instead, the Dutch adopted a new tactic: unify before you conquer. This led to the historic three-month meeting in Tumbang Anoi from June to August 1894, where over 150 Dayak clan leaders were gathered.

The Tumbang Anoi Conference: A "Salt Saturation" Strategy

The Tumbang Anoi meeting aimed to achieve two primary goals:

1. Ending Headhunting
   The Dutch framed the gathering as a peace initiative to abolish kayau, which they argued hindered the development of stability and economic access in the region.

2. Consolidating Colonial Power
   By uniting the Dayak clans under a single agreement, the Dutch hoped to create a more centralized and manageable structure of governance, similar to what they had achieved on Java.

This approach was a significant gamble. It involved bringing together leaders from communities that had been feuding for generations—a situation laden with risks. The Dutch dubbed this effort Salt Saturation, symbolizing the delicate balance required to prevent tensions from erupting into violence.

From various sources, including Usop (1992) as a primary reference, it is known that the host (toean roemah) of the Tumbang Anoi Meeting was Damang Batoe. 

Logistics and provisions for the participants' food and drink, aside from what was provided by Damang Batoe, were arranged by the Dutch colonial authorities based in Banjarmasin at the time. Transportation relied on river routes, using large boats where the waterways allowed, smaller canoes, or manual labor where goods were carried on foot to reach the meeting location.

Unintended Consequences of the Tumbang Anoi Strategy

Despite the Dutch's calculated efforts, the outcomes of the Tumbang Anoi conference diverged significantly from their expectations.

1. Unexpected Benefits
   - Collective Identity: For the first time, the Dayak people began to perceive themselves as part of a larger, interconnected community. This newfound sense of solidarity transcended individual clans and sparked the seeds of a unified cultural identity.
   - Peace Among Clans: Although orchestrated with colonial intentions, the conference succeeded in establishing peace among the Dayak clans. This marked the beginning of the end for headhunting practices and laid the groundwork for inter-clan cooperation.

2. Unforeseen Weaknesses
   = Covert Resistance: While some clans embraced the agreements, others harbored deep suspicion toward the Dutch and continued to resist their influence in subtle ways.
   - Challenges of Integration: The diversity and autonomy of Dayak leadership made it difficult for the Dutch to enforce uniform policies, undermining their ability to consolidate control effectively.

3. Perverse Outcomes
   - Strengthened Dayak Unity: Instead of enabling the Dutch to dominate, the Tumbang Anoi meeting inadvertently empowered the Dayak people. Their unity became a foundation for later resistance against colonial exploitation.
   - Backfire on Colonial Goals: The Dutch's attempt to centralize power through unity highlighted their misunderstanding of Dayak culture. Rather than submitting to foreign rule, the Dayak used their newfound solidarity to reinforce their independence and preserve their ancestral lands.

Lessons from Tumbang Anoi and the Unintended Consequences

The Dutch strategy at Tumbang Anoi serves as a powerful example of how a lack of cultural understanding can lead to unintended consequences. Unlike 

Java, where centralized hierarchies could be manipulated, the decentralized and autonomous structure of Dayak society proved resilient to foreign control.

While the Dutch sought to exploit unity as a tool of domination, they inadvertently catalyzed a transformation within Dayak society. The conference marked the first step toward peace and collective identity, which eventually fueled resistance to colonialism and a stronger defense of their lands and traditions.

This case exemplifies the broader concept of Unintended Consequences: even the most carefully planned actions can produce outcomes that deviate from their original intent. It underscores the importance of deep cultural understanding and humility when intervening in complex social systems.

-- Masri Sareb Putra