The resistance of the Singaparna people of West Java against the Japanese
The struggle of the Singaparna people of West Java against the Japanese in the hopeof colonization was certainly the most difficult period for the Indonesian nation, although the struggle never stopped. This battle is certainly one of the great battles in Indonesia to make efforts to repel the invaders.
During the colonial period, of course, there were various things done by colonizers that made the Indonesian people miserable and tortured. Therefore, various efforts have been made to be able to buy the welfare, as well as the independence of the community, especially in the Area of West Java. This is certainly also done with the support of the various parties within it.
There was an important figure that appeared later in the case of the resistance of the Singaparna people of West Java against the Japanese . With his leadership, more and more people joined forces to party and eradicate the various ugly attitudes of the settlers, in this case it was Japan at that time.
Repel movements that trigger battles
When Japan began to control Indonesian territory, it not only established its power, but its various cultures were brought in to influence the people. Surely you have heard or read about it. One of the cultures that Japan is also trying to instill is to pay homage to its flag.
Not only that, but Japan also tried to force the Indonesian people to sing their national anthem. Including a greeting to face the sun in honor of the Japanese emperor or called seikerei. Basically, in a religion believed by the Japanese people, bending before the sun is a form of respect for the sun god.
This was opposed and rejected by the Indonesian people and became one of the causes of the resistance of the Singaparna people of West Java against the Japanese at that time. It is certain that the existence of this seikera is also opposed by many existing scholars, since it is also similar to the prayer movement. So as to further disturb the warm atmosphere of that time and cause greater problems between Japan and Indonesia.
There have been many major clerical figures who oppose this movement and urge their troops to fight against the opposing army. Of course, this was done to defend independence and did not want to do what the Japanese people believed. However, because it is very emphatic, the invading army will consider that anyone who does not want to do so is a dissident and deserves to be punished.
The resistance of the Singaparna people to Japanese politics
One of the clerics who at that time rejected the seikera’s movement was KH Zainal Mustafa. He and all his students of pesantren Sukamanah clearly refused to do so and triggered the resistance of the Singaparna people of West Java against the Japanese. It also includes saying that for Muslims to make seikerei is an act of shirking and should be avoided.
Of course, KH Zainal Mustafa did not remain silent watching Japan torture anyone who rejected the movement. He began to strategize to increase power so that he could properly rebel against Japanese forces. The troops of the students in the pesantren were deployed to be able to fight the enemy.
Initially, before there was resistance between the people of Singaparna, West Java and the Japanese, the colonialists sent their people to hold talks with KH Zainal Mustafa in order to understand. But it turned out that in the end, the Japanese envoy was actually killed and made the invaders angry, so they decided to use tougher methods.
Until the end, the resistance of the Singaparna people of West Java against the Japanese was no longer inevitable. Although indeed the number of troops is certainly inferior to many, so that the opposing army can master the resistance. There were so many troops in the pesantren that were detained by the Japanese and killed because they were dissidents and did not obey their orders.
Singaparna people who are anti-colonial policies
The people of the Singaparna area themselves are actually people who tend to be religious. So the different policies of the colonizers are really very anti, especially with the different atrocities that have been committed. This is very incompatible with the religious understanding adopted by most people in Singaparna, namely Islam.
One of the obstacles to the resistance of the Singaparna people of West Java against the Japanese was because of the large number of people who died from forced labor at that time. Also, all the Japanese behavior seems inhumane. They have the heart to do everything in their power to punish all those who do not want to submit to what has been ordered and are regarded as a rebel.
In addition, there are more and more policies given by the Japanese side, and there is no reason to reject it. Politics is considered contrary to religious teachings and has a coercive character. For this to make people live miserable lives and not have the freedom to do according to their religious teachings.
The battle between the people of Singaparna, West Java and the Japanese, took place in the village of Sukamanah for about an hour. The troops led by KH Zainal Mustafa carried swords and looked bamboo like his weapons. There is a combination in addition to students, there are also bands from kempetai, Garut and Tasikmalaya. They all united to resist the arbitrariness of Japanese colonization, even if they eventually had to lose.
Get to know the figure of KH Zainal Mustafa
KH Zainal Mustafa or who in childhood was known by the name of Umri or Hudaemi was actually an ordinary person. He studied at gunung pari pesantren and changed many places as a traveling student. This is done in order to acquire deeper religious knowledge from different types of teachers and scholars, of course.
After studying in several Islamic boarding schools in West Java and because of his intelligence, Umri was then appointed assistant to Kyai Muttaqien. Umri has noble aspirations to be able to establish and manage his own pesantrene. Eventually this dream was realized in the Baguer Village area, Singaparna. Of course, this is the story before the resistance of the Singaparna people of West Java against the Japanese.
Umri then changed his name to KH Zainal Mustafa after playing the hajj in 1937. He called for learning Arabic as the main thing to be learned in order to facilitate the understanding of religious sciences. However, in his pesantren, he was also taught material about Indonesian history and the defense of the homeland.
The existence of this material made KH Zainal Mustafa supervised by the intelligence of the Dutch colonizers. Even later it was also closed by the Dutch. Of course, this happened because of his criticism of the policies of the colonizers, which were considered contrary to religious and inhumane teachings at the time.
He continued to do all he could to defend his religion and his people. Oppose every policy from the colonizers to the Japanese coming to Indonesia. His love for the homeland is undeniable. There were many services as a national hero that were carried out and have a great impact on the struggle of the Indonesian people.
The struggle of the people of Singaparna must indeed end in defeat. But in other areas there was also a lot of resistance to complete the policies of colonizers that were not suitable for the well-being of the people. Starting from the resistance of the Singaparna people of West Java against the Japanese, the struggle of the Indonesian people was extraordinary to defend their independence.