Balinese history has been largely influenced by outsiders. One group of outsiders, who have a history of violence and destruction, wherever they went were the Europeans. One of the bloodiest events in Balinese history occurred in Denpasar on September 20th, 1906, when the raja of Badung (the southern regency in Bali), Gusti Gede Ngurah came to the conclusion, that his court could no longer suffer under Dutch rule and ordered a mass suicide, the ritual puputan.
The source of the problem was the plundering of a ship, the Sri Kumala, which had floundered on Sanur reef. Locals had relieved it of copper and silver coins, but the Chinese owner was not happy. Complaining to the ruling Dutch, he convinced them a blockage on Badung was necessary, demanding the raja come up with compensation. This tactic was followed by military threats and a troop landing in Sanur. On September 20th, 1906, the Dutch troops reached Denpasar and the raja knew the time was up. A westerner might think the 2 options would be fight or flee, but Balinese tradition provided a 3rd option, which the raja chose. An account by Dr. Van Weede, a Dutch observer, details the scene that took place.
Other puputans occurred in Pamecutan the same day and Klungkung in 1908.
