Brooke Rebels or Iban Nationalists? Revisiting Iban Anti-Brooke Struggles

From the historiography of the period of Brooke rule in Sarawak, the names of Rentap, Bantin, Asun represented the oustanding examples of Iban2 resistance to the White Rajahs. These Iban firebrands were variously depicted as recalcitrant opponents who persisted in refusing to accept Brooke rule despite efforts made to bring them within the orbit of authority. They were, therefore, labelled as “rebels” by the Brooke government, and expeditionary forces were launched to destroy them and their followers. The question that I wish to raise is to what extent did the so-called Brooke court historians justified in labelling Iban warriors such as Rentap, Bantin, and Asun as “rebels”.3 At the same instance, examining this matter from the Sarawak-centric perspectiveas opposed to the European viewpoint, can we consider these three personalities as national leaders and their opposition as nationalistic struggles against Brooke imperialism and subjugation? I shall present a brief sketch of the main events of each Iban opposition. The causal issues that spurred Rentap, Bantin, and Asun in raising the spear of war against White Rajah rule shall be appraised. Likewise, what these warriors set out to accomplish, their aims and objectives, shall also be examined to uncover clues about their individual struggles. A brief introduction of Sarawak under the Brookes, the Iban, and Brooke-Iban relations will provide the background setting for this discussion.