Daud Beureueh

Teungku Mohammad Daud Beureueh (17 September 1899 – 10 June 1987) was an Indonesian military Governor of Aceh (1945–1953) and leader of the Free Aceh Movement rebellion in the province (1953–1963). Born in the Keumangan chiefdom of Pidie regency, he began in 1930 to champion a more modern form of Islamic school and became a popular reformist preacher. In 1939 he established and led the Persatuan Ulama Seluruh Aceh (PUSA), or All Aceh Islamic Scholars Association. PUSA was not initially anti-Dutch but emerged as the principal critic of the Dutch-supported hierarchy of ulèebalang (aristocrat-officials). Its members contacted the Japanese before their 1942 invasion, in the hope of overturning ulèebalang rule as a reward for their support. As the Japanese saw a greater need for popular support in 1944, they transferred many judicial functions from the ulèebalang to religious courts headed by Daud. After the Japanese surrender, this conflict between religious and secular elites became violent, leading to the eclipse of the ulèebalang and the killing of many in the Cumbok affair of December 1945/January 1946. Daud was thereafter the most influential figure in Aceh, and his support for the Indonesian Republic's struggle against the returning Dutch helped make Aceh a bastion of the Republican cause. He was recognised as Military Governor in 1947, and Governor once independence was won in 1950. His consistency towards the enforcement of Islamic law started from the da'wah in his youth, until the beginning of the revolution. On one occasion with Teuku Nyak Arief, he gave the view that Indonesia should be governed under Islamic law. However, Teuku Nyak Arief refused, explaining the diversity that existed in the forerunner of Indonesia. That determination did not subside until President Sukarno met with Teungku Daud Beureueh in his goodwill in June 1948. He advised that after the...