The History of West Celebes

THE HISTORY OF WEST SULAWESI

Starting from "Allamungan Batu in Luyo" spirit that tie Mandar in "Pitu Ba'bana Binanga and Pitu Ulunna Salu" confederation in a delivering diet result "Sipamandar" (be strengthen each other) to cooperate in building Mandar. From this spirit, hence about 1960 by the Manda elite figures in Makassar that is: H. A. Depu, Abd. Rahman Tamma, Amir Captain, H. A. Malik, Baharuddin Lopa, SH. and Abd. Rauf trigger establishment idea of Mandar Province located in Captain Amir house, and after South-east Sulawesi cut loose from the main Province, which that moment called South Sulawesi Province and Southeast Sulawesi Province.

The forming idea of Mandar Province turned into West Sulawesi Province forming plan and emerge it in H. A. Depu house at Sawerigading Street 2, Makassar, about 1961, declared in Istana Theatre (Public square), Sultan Hasanuddin Street, Makassar and the struggle was remain to continued till come up the new period the struggle still run but always at a dead lock. Finally, this struggle would be frozen till the Reformation period come up, then this struggle return to strived by Mandar elite figure as the struggle continuer generation that being the initial originator only H. A. Malik who still life, but have passed away on the struggle way and in last 2000 that declared in 'Taman Makan Pahlawan Korban 40.000 men' in Galung Lombok, then continued with West Sulawesi Congress I, which its execution is performed in Majene by getting approval and support from the regent and the DPRD head of Mamuju regency, Majene regency and Polmas regency.

The demand to cut loose from South Sulawesi as has started by public in ex Afdeling Mandar region since before Indonesia had independence. After reform era and ratify of LAW number 22 in 1999 then inflame again the struggle of three regencies public, namely Polewali Mamasa, Majene, and Mamuju to be a province.

Since 2005, three regencies (Majene, Mamuju and Polewali-Mamasa) formal separated from South Sulawesi Province become West Sulawesi Province, with provincial capital in Mamuju town. Hereinafter, Polewali-Mamasa regencies are also bloomed becomes two separate regencies (Polewali Regency and Mamasa Regency).

For the sufficiently long duration, this area had become one of isolate area or 'forgetfully' in South Sulawesi. There are some causes of it, all-important:

The distance that is enough far from the provincial capital (Makassar); the mountainous geographical condition with not good road infrastructure; it resident majority (Mandar ethnical, and some group of other small sub-ethnic), which more egalitarian, so that often differ in position with majority ethnical group and dominance (Bugis and Makassar) which more hierarchies (or even feudal). In the early of 1960, a group of young intellectual Mandar leader Baharuddin Lopa late (The Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General during President Abdurrahman Wahid government, 1999-2000, and have time become 'national icon' anti corruption movement because the famous sincerity) float 'Democracy Brochure' express their disagreement to some policies of Jakarta and Makassar politics; and
Fact history of this area have time to become main basis 'traitor army' (Battalion 310 leaders Colonel Andi Selle), in 1950-60an, disappointed to some governmental policies and then make against is armed to Indonesia National Military (TNI); besides as area Mount and forest rush to obtain contraband weapon through Makassar Strait by Darul Islam (DI) guerrilla led Kahar Muzakkar that being main based in Luwu Regency and Enrekang Regency in it eastside.