Sharp bamboo, this traditional Indonesian weapon is a weapon that was properly used by freedom fighters against the invaders. In the midst of the invaders’ attacks using modern weapons, this weapon made of bamboo became one of the realistic weapons one could expect at that time.
The sharp bamboo has some interesting facts from the previous war for independence.
1 . Sharp Bamboo is a weapon that the Netherlands troops fear.
Sharp bamboo is actually not a deadly weapon like a firearm which when fired will immediately kill the enemy or can be immediately treated. However, the Netherlands troops apparently had their own fears when they had to face these armed bamboo spiked troops.
An enemy who is hit by a sharp bamboo stab will not die right away, his death can be days later, even months. This is precisely what the Dutch soldiers were afraid of. Because if they didn’t die right away, they would have to be forced to feel excruciating pain from the stabbing of the sharp bamboo before their death. Things like this would be more painful than having to die on the spot. Moreover, if the wound is infected with germs or poison that is deliberately attached to the tip of the sharp bamboo, of course it will be very painful.
2. Japan Utilized Sharp Bamboo To Face Allied Soldiers
During the Japanese occupation in Indonesia, bamboo spikes were developed as a weapon to block enemy umbrellas that jumped from the air. At that time this weapon was known as the takeyari. Native men and women were trained directly by the Japanese soldiers to use this takeyari which has the characteristics of being accompanied by loud screams and screams of anger. This training was getting more intense, especially when Japan was increasingly pressed by the allied forces.
At the end of the Japanese colonial period, bamboo spikes seemed to be a boomerang for the Japanese army because it was with this sharp bamboo that the freedom fighters would fight against the Japanese army and eventually succeed in expelling the Japanese from their colonies.
3. Sharp bamboo has many advantages over other modern weapons
Even though it is a traditional weapon, bamboo spikes have advantages that other modern weapons do not have. Sharp bamboo is a weapon made from a stick of bamboo so it cannot be detected by metal detectors. Of course this is very beneficial for the movement of troops who will approach the opponent. With the nature of the material that is light and easy to hide, sharp bamboo is more perfect when facing enemies.
In addition, sharp bamboo also has no sound when used. This will be very beneficial for guerrilla war tactics. If using a firearm, the sound could pull other enemy troops towards where the sound came from. This can be very dangerous because it can lead to a major war. However, if you used sharp bamboo, killing a hundred enemy troops would not be discovered by the other troops easily. So, using that spiky bamboo can be very profitable.
Taken from :
5 Fakta Bambu Runcing, Senjata yang Identik dengan Perang Kemerdekaan
