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Biography Pattimura English
Biography Pattimura English
Born on the island of Saparua, Pattimura joined the British army after they
took the Maluku islands from the Dutch colonials. When the islands were
returned to the Dutch in 1816, he was dismissed. Concerned that the Dutch
would implement programs that limited his people, Pattimura led an armed
rebellion that captured Fort Duurstede on 16 May 1817. Killing the inhabitants of
the fortress and fighting off Dutch reinforcements, on 29 May he was declared
the leader of the Maluku people. After being betrayed by the King of Booi Pati
Akoon, he was captured by Dutch forces on 11 November and hanged the next
month.
After the signing of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty on 13 August 1814, in 1816 the
Maluku islands were returned to the Dutch; Pattimura attended the ceremony.
Afterwards, in violation of the treaty, he and his fellow soldiers were discharged
to their hometowns. However, Pattimura refused to accept the restoration of
Dutch power. He felt that they would stop paying native Christian teachers, as
they had done in 1810, and was concerned that a proposed switch to paper
currency would leave the Maluku people unable to give alms only coins were
considered valid and thus lead to churches being unable to help the poor.
Due to betrayal from Booi's king, Pati Akoon, and Tuwanakotta, Pattimura
was arrested on 11 November 1817 while he was in Siri Sori. He and his fellows
were sentenced to death. On 16 December 1817, Pattimura together with
Anthony Reebook, Philip Latumahina, and Said Parintah were hanged in front of
Fort Nieuw Victoria in Ambon.
Pattimura and his war have been used as symbols for both Maluku
independence, such as with the short-lived Republic of South Maluku, and
Indonesian patriotism. The first president of Indonesia, Sukarno, considered
Pattimura a great patriot.