| Brunei revolt | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the beginning ofIndonesia–Malaysia confrontation andFormation of Malaysia | |||||||
 Queen's Own Highlanders on guard in the Seria oilfield. | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
Supported by: Malaya Singapore | Supported by: Indonesia | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
 North Kalimantan National Army | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 2,000–6,000 | 4,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 6 dead | 40 dead 3,400 captured | ||||||
| unknown civilian casualties | |||||||
| This article is part of a series on the |
| History of Brunei |
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See also |
TheBrunei revolt (Malay:Pemberontakan Brunei) or theBrunei rebellion of 1962, was a insurrection in theBritish protectorate ofBrunei by opponents ofits monarchy's proposed inclusion in theFederation of Malaysia. The insurgents were members of the TNKU (North Kalimantan National Army), a militia supplied byIndonesia and linked to the left-wingBrunei People's Party (BPR), which favoured a pro-IndonesianNorth Borneo Federation.
The TNKU began co-ordinated attacks on the oil town ofSeria (targeting theRoyal Dutch Shell oil installations), on police stations, and on government facilities around the protectorate. The revolt began to break down within hours, having failed to achieve key objectives such as the capture ofBrunei Town and SultanOmar Ali Saifuddien III.[1] The revolt influenced the Sultan's decision the following year not to join Malaysia. It is seen as one of the first stages of theIndonesia–Malaysia confrontation.
The northern part of the island of Borneo was composed of three British territories: the colonies ofSarawak andNorth Borneo (to be renamedSabah) and the protectorate of theSultanate of Brunei. Brunei became a British protectorate in 1888, had an area of about 2,226 square miles (5,800 km2) and some 85,000 people. Just over half of the people were Malays, a quarter wereChinese, and the rest wereDayaks, the indigenous people of Borneo. Oil was discovered in 1929 near Seria and theBrunei Shell Petroleum Company concession provided the Sultanate with a huge income. The capital, then called Brunei Town, was on a river some 10 miles (20 km) from the coast.
In 1959, the Sultan,Sir Omar Ali Saifuddin III, established a legislature with half its members nominated and half elected.Elections were held in September 1962 and all of the contested seats were won by theBrunei People's Party.
Between 1959 and 1962, theUnited Kingdom,Malaya,Singapore,North Borneo andSarawak were involved in negotiations to form a newMalaysian Federation. However, thePhilippines and particularlyIndonesia opposed any move toward unification of North Borneo and Sarawak with the new federation. This external opposition toward unification strengthened by widespread anti-Federation sentiment within Sarawak and Brunei itself. The Brunei People's Party was in favour of joining Malaysia on condition of the unification of the three crown colonies of northern Borneo (total about 1.5 million people, half Dayak) with their own sultan. It was thought that the resultant sultanate would be strong enough to resist domination by Malaya or Singapore, Malay administrators or Chinese merchants.[2] Local opposition and sentiments against the Malaysian Federation plan have often been under-represented in historical writings on the Brunei rebellion and the subsequentIndonesia-Malaysia confrontation. In fact, political forces in Sarawak had long anticipated their own national independence as promised (but later aborted) by the lastWhite Rajah of Sarawak,Charles Vyner Brooke, in 1941.
TheNorth Kalimantan (or Kalimantan Utara) proposal was seen as a post-decolonisation alternative by local opposition against the Malaysian Federation plan. Local opposition throughout the Borneo territories was primarily based on economic, political, historical and cultural differences between the Borneo states and the Malayan peninsula, and an unwillingness to be subjected to peninsular political domination.
However, before the Brunei People's Party electoral success, a military wing had emerged, the North Kalimantan National Army saw itself as an anti-colonialist liberation party. Its sympathies lay with Indonesia which was seen as having better 'liberationist' credentials than Malaya and Singapore. Its 34-year-old leaderA.M. Azahari had lived in Indonesia and was in touch with Indonesian intelligence agents. In his capacity as the spokesperson for Bruneian politics, he made clear that the uprising was really against British colonialism and the Malaysia plan, with the goal of creating aUnitary State of North Borneo led by himself as prime minister and the Sultan as a constitutional monarch.[3][4][5] While in Manila, he declared the formation of his government'swar cabinet for Kalimantan Utara, or North Kalimantan.[6] He had recruited several officers who had been trained in clandestine warfare in Indonesia. By late 1962, they could muster about 4000 men, a few modern weapons and about 1000 shotguns.[2]
Hints of brewing trouble came in early November 1962 when the Resident for the 5th Division of Sarawak, Richard Morris (an Australian), who was based in Limbang (sandwiched between the two parts of Brunei) received information.Special Branch police from Kuching visited Limbang but only found some illegal uniforms with TNKU badges. Later in November, Morris heard that an insurrection was planned for Brunei, but not before 19 December.Claude Fenner, the Inspector General of theMalayan Police flew to Sarawak to investigate but found no evidence. However, the Chief of Staff in theBritish Far East Headquarters in Singapore did review and update the contingency plan, PALE ALE, for Brunei. However, the risk was assessed as low and the British Far East Land, Sea and Air Commanders-in-Chief were away from Singapore as was the operational commander of land forces, Major GeneralWalter Walker.[7]
On 6 December, Morris heard the rebellion would start on the 8th. The next day similar information reached John Fisher, the resident of the 4th Division of Sarawak, who was based in Miri some 20 miles (30 km) west of Brunei. As a result, police were put on full alert through Brunei, North Borneo and Sarawak, and Police Field Force reinforcements were flown from Kuching to Miri.[8]
Yassin Affandi had been elected in August 1962 to the position of District Councillor. He was the "Overall Commander" of TNKU. On 8 December 1962 he readKalimantan Utara's proclamation of independence, marking the start of the Brunei revolt.[9]
The rebellion broke out at 2:00 am on 8 December. Signals from Brunei to British Far East Headquarters reported rebel attacks on police stations, the Sultan's Istana (Istana Darul Hana), the Chief Minister's house (Rumah Jerambak) and the power station, and that another rebel force was approaching the capital by water. Far East Headquarters ordered ALE YELLOW, which placed a force of two Gurkha infantry companies on 48 hours notice to move.[8]
Most of the attacks in Brunei town were repulsed although the electricity supply was cut off. At this stage it was not known that rebels had attacked police stations throughout Brunei, in the 5th Division of Sarawak and on the western edge of North Borneo. Miri was still in government hands but Limbang had been taken by the rebels. The situation was most serious in Seria where the rebels had captured the police station and were dominating the oilfields.[8]
Nine hours after ALE YELLOW, ALE RED was ordered and two companies of 1st Battalion,2nd Gurkha Rifles, of 99th Infantry Brigade, moved to the RAF airfields atChangi andSeletar in Singapore to fly toLabuan Island inBrunei Bay. The Gurkhas' embarkation went slowly because the RAF was unprepared and following normal peacetime procedures. The troops were in aBristol Britannia ofNo. 99 Squadron and threeBlackburn Beverleys from theNo. 32 Squadron, and the latter were diverted in flight from Labuan toBrunei Airfield when it was learned that this was not in rebel hands.[10]
The Beverleys landed at about 10:00 pm and the Gurkhas advanced into Brunei. They fought a series of actions, suffering six casualties, two fatal. A small group of Gurkhas led by CaptainDigby Willoughby rescued the Sultan and took him to police headquarters. An advance to Seria met strong opposition and returned to Brunei to counter a rebel threat to its centre and the airfield.[11]
On 9 December, John Fisher called on the Dayak tribes for help by sending a boat with the traditional Red Feather of War up the Baram River.Tom Harrisson, the Curator of theSarawak Museum in Kuching and leader of resistance to the Japanese in the Second World War also arrived in Brunei. He summoned theKelabits from the highlands aroundBario in the 5th Division, the centre of his wartime resistance. Hundreds of Dayaks responded, and formed into companies led by British civilians all commanded by Harrisson. This force reached some 2,000 strong, and with excellent knowledge of the tracks through the interior (there were no roads), helped contain the rebels and cut off their escape route to Indonesia.[11]
Meanwhile, reinforcements flowed into Labuan. The 2nd Gurkhas were brought up to battalion strength. On 10 December, the Far East 'spearhead battalion', theQueen's Own Highlanders began arriving in Brunei. BrigadierArthur Patterson, commander 99th Gurkha Infantry Brigade arrived to take overall command from Brigadier Pat Glennie, normally the Brigadier General Staff at Far East HQ. Both reported to Lieutenant General SirNigel Poett, the Far East Land Forces Commander in Singapore. Seria and Limbang remained in rebel hands. Further reinforcements arrived in the following days.[12] These enabled Seria and Limbang to be recaptured.
By 17 December, the rebellion had been held and broken. Some 40 rebels were dead and 3,400 captured. The remainder had fled and were assumed to be trying to reach Indonesia. Of the leaders, Azahari was in the Philippines andYassin Affandi was with the fugitives.
The road route to Seria was judged too vulnerable to ambush and there were no naval resources for a move by sea. Reconnaissance by an Army Air CorpsBeaver revealed rebel flags over the Shell complex, and the 6 miles (10 km) of coast seemed in rebel hands. However, there appeared to be a potential landing site for light aircraft west of Seria and east of the town – the runway atAnduki Airfield had been cleared by a small group of western civilians who had managed to escape the rebels. One escapee, Hugh McDonald, a Shell contractor and WWII veteran, made contact with Singapore installations to confirm a safe landing.[13] On 10 December, a company of the Queen's Own Highlanders boarded fiveTwin Pioneers and aBeverley at Brunei. The Twin Pioneers landed west of Seria and the Beverley at Anduki. A police station 2 miles (3 km) from the western landing was recaptured and so was the Telecommunications Centre after a brief fight. Anduki airfield was quickly recaptured. However, the main Seria police station, with 48 hostages, most Shell expatriates, was not secured until the 12th.[13]
Anduki Airfield is today a grass airstrip with a concrete ramp used almost exclusively by Brunei Shell Petroleum aircraft and helicopters servicing Brunei's extensive offshore petroleum production installations. TheSultan of Brunei and members of the royal family sometimes use it in their helicopters when they wish to visit Seria, especially on State occasions. Regarded as strategically important because of its proximity to the oil town of Seria, its history in the Brunei Revolt and the paucity of other Brunei airstrips usable by fixed-wing military aircraft, Anduki and the adjacent highway toBandar Seri Begawan is one of the first areas to be secured byGurkha and Brunei Army troops when they deploy on contemporary war exercises.
On 8 December 1962, from two till five in the morning, shots could be heard near police stations all over Brunei. According to news received fromTemburong, theDistrict Officer Pengiran Haji Besar bin Pengiran Haji Kula and a few others from Brunei security forces and a number of civilians were executed for refusing to join in the rebellion.
By five in the morning, TNKU controlledPekan Besar. News came that a number of civil servants at Brunei Town had managed to escape capture. Around an hour later at downtown, theDeputy Chief Minister Pengiran Ali was granted an audience by the Sultan. After the meeting, the Sultan made a radio declaration condemning TNKU, the armed wing of the Brunei People's Party, fortreason.
In Limbang, rebels attacked the local police station, killing five local policemen. The rebels then obtained the surrender of British official R.H. Morris, his wife, four other Europeans and an AmericanPeace Corps worker, and took the remaining police officers hostage. On the first night of their captivity, they were crowded into the police cells, the second night they were moved to the local hospital where they overheard the rebels planning their hangings the following day.
Eighty-nine Marines of42 Commando had arrived in Brunei on 11 December, led by CaptainJeremy Moore (who later commanded the British Forces during theFalklands War). After acquiring two landing craft, the Marines were transported to Limbang byRoyal Navy crews led by CaptainJeremy Black (who later commandedHMS Invincible (R05) during theFalklands War) and staged their arrival at dawn, 13 December. The landing craft had manually operated ramps which took too long to lower and the senior officer took the decision that the Marines would vault over the sides or over the ramps under covering fire fromVickers machine guns mounted on the bridges. One landing craft's bridge was raked withBren gun fire, disabling the crew, and the craft rammed into the river bank and quay.
The only map they had was 10 years old at the time.[citation needed] The Marines lost the element of surprise due to the loud noise of their boats, but succeeded nevertheless in suppressing the rebels' machine guns and landed.
The attackers started their search for the hostages who, on hearing shots, began singing the American song "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain", allowing the first rescue party to quickly locate them. The first rescue party was attacked and two of the three Marines were killed. A second rescue party fought off the rebels from around the hospital and freed the hostages. About 300 rebels, who had little if any military training and a paltry assortment of weapons (about a dozenBren light machine guns andLee–Enfield rifles, but mainlyshotguns,muskets anddaggers), tried to resist, but were beaten back.
Five Marines were killed and eight wounded in the attack. British sources do not list rebel losses in this incident, but Clodfelter estimates losses in the Brunei Rebellion as 40 rebels and six Marines.
There is a memorial to all the dead in Limbang. The leader of the Limbang rebels was caught and tried and received an eleven-year prison sentence. He lives (2007) on the outskirts of Limbang.[14][page needed]
By 17 December 42 Commando was complete in Brunei and1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) had landed from the cruiserHMS Tiger (C20) in Miri. 40 Commando aboard the commando carrierHMS Albion (R07) was diverted from Miri to Kuching. On 14 December, most of the unit reinforced the artillery battery sent there as infantry on 12 December to pre-empt trouble from the Chinese of the Clandestine Communist Organisation (CCO) who were openly sympathetic to the Brunei rebels. The last company of 40 Commando landed near Seria. HMSAlbion also provided helicopters from the embarked Naval Air Commando squadrons.[15]
Major GeneralWalter Walker took over as COMBRITBOR andDirector of Operations (DOBOPS) on 19 December with command of all land, sea and air forces assigned to Borneo and reporting directly to the Commander-in-Chief Far East Forces, Admiral SirDavid Luce. Three weeks after the rebellion started, 99th Gurkha Infantry Brigade had 5 infantry battalions and HQ 3rd Command Brigade was in Kuching. This force was supported by theBrunei Malay Regiment, theSarawak Rangers, police of the three territories including paramilitary Police Field Force, and Harrisson's force of now 4,000 Dayaks. Suitable coastal patrol naval vessels were lacking (the Royal Navy didn't have any) so minesweepers were used. The RAF had medium and short range transport aircraft. In January, the Queen's Own Highlanders and 1/2 Gurkhas were replaced by theKing's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and1/7 Gurkhas and special forces troops had also arrived.
Mopping up operations, by this time including a commando artillery battery with their guns, continued until May 1963. On 18 May, a patrol of 1/7 Gurkhas were guided by an informer to a camp in the mangrove. They flushed a party of rebels towards an ambush. Ten rebels were killed or captured. They were the remnants of TNKU headquarters and one of the wounded was Yassin Affandi.[16]
However, on 12 April, the police station at Tebedu in the 1st Division of Sarawak was attacked and captured. The attackers had come from Kalimantan. This marked the beginning of confrontation.[17]
The failed rebellion destroyed any goals for democratic progress and ended Azahari's plan to establish the Unitary State of North Borneo. The revolt reinforced royal rule in Brunei, which instead opted for the path of a neo-traditional Malay monarchy. Four days into the rebellion, the government imposed astate of emergency, which has not been lifted since. Furthermore, when Britain granted Brunei independence on 1 January 1984, it did so without any safeguards for arepresentative form of government.[5][18] The rebellion also played a role in SultanOmar Ali Saifuddien III's subsequent decision for Brunei to not join the federation ofMalaysia.[19]
The following units, or significant elements of them, deployed to Borneo in response to the rebellion before May 1963:
