Makassar War in the Perspective of the Indonesian Total War

Abstract

The purpose of writing this article is to take a lesson from history and then make a comparison in order to find the strengths and weaknesses of a nation in implementing a defense system, and it is stipulated in a state document in the form of law if we look at events that occurred in the past, the location of the port Somba Opu is located in a very strategic area, which is located between Malacca and Maluku which makes the VOC (Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie) or the East Indies Trade Association intending to implement monopolistic practices; therefore Makassar port must be controlled and must be under VOC control. In addition, the VOC did its best to provide spices to the European market by monopolizing the spice trade in the archipelago. While also wanting the divine government to be under VOC control, this was a threat to the interests of trade and shipping on the island of Maluku for the Makassar Sultanate since the arrival of the VOC. Because of that, there was trade competition between the Kingdom of Gowa and the VOC, and it was inevitable that there would be friction which resulted in the emergence of social conflict between the Sultanate of Makassar and the VOC, which at its peak broke out in a war between the two sides known as the Makassar War in the XVII century. The conflict continued after the Bongaya agreement on November 18, 1668, which led to major changes in the Bugis-Makassar Kingdom. The VOC obtained a trade monopoly in Makassar, and all non-Dutch Europeans were forced to leave Makassar. The conflict in Makassar resulted in an unstable security situation. The universal defense system, as stated in the Republic of Indonesia Law (RI Law) Number 3 of 2002 concerning national defense, has stipulated that the Indonesian defense system is SISHANKAMRATA, where the contribution of the people in it is an important part).