South Sulawesi expeditions of 1905

18th century 19th century 20th century The South Sulawesi expeditions of 1905 (Dutch: Zuid-Celebes Expeditie), which included the Third Bone War[1] and the Gowa War (Makassar: Bunduka ri Gowa), were undertaken by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) to force the states of south Sulawesi (Celebes) to sign the Korte Verklaring (Short Statement or Declaration), the standard agreement whereby a native Indonesian ruler agreed to accept Dutch sovereignty.

One Indonesian historian has argued that it was actually strategic: that south Sulawesi was the "key" to controlling the so-called Great East.

B. van Heutsz stated his intention to occupy all of south Sulawesi and compel the local rulers to sign the Short Declaration.

The Dutch demanded that he turn over policing duties in his ports of Bajoe and Pallima to them, and that he accept compensation for giving up his right to tax imports and exports passing through the harbours.

[4] La Pawawoi appointed his son, Baso Abdul Hamid, commander-in-chief of his forces and ordered that a state of war be announced throughout the kingdom.

Bajoe was the centre of Bone resistance, but it fell to a superior force and the king fled first to Passempe, then to Citta and finally to Gunung Awo in the land of the Toraja.

On 21 December, the Dutch besieged the fortress of Alitta, killing all the Gowan soldiers inside, including I Pangsuriseng, and capturing the wounded I Mangimangi.

After fifteen months of resistance, he was convinced by his father-in-law, La Parenrengi Karaeng Tinggimae, to seek peace with the Dutch.

[5] Negotiations were begun through the resident official at Pare-Pare, but before an agreement was reached he was captured and with his followers exiled to Selayang Island.

[5] Gowa and Bone were annexed to the Government of Sulawesi and Subordinate Areas (Gouvernement Celebes en Onderhoorigheden).