Dutch War Crimes

by Colson on Nov. 25, 2008, under indonesia
Comments so far:4

Just some quotes from the International Edition of NRC-Handelsblad 25.11.08:

In an incident during the five years of guerrilla warfare before Indonesia won its independence, Dutch soldiers executed a group of around 431 men and boys in the West Java village of Rawagede on December 9, 1947.

……

In a civil case started against the Dutch state in September, a survivor and nine widows of those killed in Rawagede demanded an official apology and damages but the Dutch attorney general has rejected the claim.

In a letter to their lawyers on Monday, the attorney general said the claim has been rejected because: “the state does not have information about the individual circumstances and the fate of widows and other family members of the clients”. Instead the state has offered to discuss the situation with the claimants.

Executions regretted

The Indonesians’ lawyer is “moderately positive” with this offer and will wait until talks have taken place before deciding whether to continue with legal action.

……

The attorney general told the survivor of the massacre and family members of those killed that the state “very much” regretted the executions.

Update:

Today, 26.11.08,  there was an editorial on the matter with which I sympathize. These are the concluding paragraphs:

“There is no statute of limitations on war crimes. The international community, including the Netherlands, have made a point of abolishing it over the last decades.

It does not matter that the military campaigns in Indonesia was not officially a war, in reality this is exactly what it was. And the fact that Indonesia itself, struggling to come to terms with its own violent post-colonial history, has chosen not to make a big issue out of Rawagede, is not an argument either.

Money can not undo past wrongs. But paying compensation would be a just settlement that would at least deliver moral justice to both victims and perpetrators on both sides of the war. There is no statute of limitations on history“.

The rights of Papuans

by Colson on Nov. 23, 2008, under indonesia, politics
Comments so far:8

papua-1

Prior to the latest edition of  “Inside Indonesia” my knowledge about West Papua was near zero. The facts I was aware of were scarce. I did know about the pretty dirty circumstances the Dutch colonial rule was ended in the early sixties of course, had read about some real nasty and even disastrous environmental developments and had heard some occasional alarming news about the oppression of Papuan attempts to achieve more autonomy. I even noticed the trouble  Indonesian based correspondents of European  newspapers had, to get into that territory. But essentially this part of the world escaped my, and I guess most people’s, attention most of the time.

The odd dozen essays in the October-December issue of the periodical however, show that this attitude is wrong. The present situation is really rather worrying.

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Nagabonar

by Colson on Oct. 30, 2008, under indonesia, movies
Comments so far:4

nagabonar

Last Saturday night we went to visit the Indonesian Film Festival. “We” means a mixed company of six – in a fair distribution of men and women and of native Bahassa speakers and Bahasa illiterates. Actually we choose only one of the many movies. But it was a lucky choice. At least our band of six afterwards was united on the verdict: Nagabonar is a well made movie and pretty good entertainment.

Nagabonar ( 1987) is about a pickpocket who becomes a general during the Indonesian war of independence.  A picaresque movie, like there are picaresque novels about nice rogues or scoundrels who live through funny, amusing, satirical situations. This particular movie reminds of a recent Czech film (“I served the King of England” by Jiri Menzel, 2006) and a Czech classic novel (“The good soldier Svejk“  by Jacoslav Hasek, 1923). In this genre usually gentle little rascals from the  underclasses of society, by their semi innocent foxiness, outwit their superiors and the representatives of elites and middle classes. Or the Dutch colonial oppressors in this Indonesian movie. The best examples of them take on some social abuses, but the main quality they should have is that they are humorous.

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August the 17th: Congratulations!

by Colson on Aug. 16, 2008, under indonesia, politics
Comments so far:8

This very interesting blogger wonders what’s the use of Independence Day, the 17th of August. His doubts are to be understood. His question is correct and his considerations should be taken serious. Yet, I think looking to the past is necessary to understand the present. Which in it’s turn is a requirement to make a better future.

The goals set for the Indonesian society by Sukarno & Hatta c.a., are about the same as those of this blogger and quite a few others of his generation. Therefore it’s worthwhile to take some time every year to remember what Independence was about. So I take the liberty to let President Sukarno say again what he said so well in ’45:

Congratulations on the 63rd anniversary of Indonesians Independence! May the country prosper.

1998 – 2008

by Colson on May. 13, 2008, under indonesia, politics
Comments so far:2

oost-indischhuis-amsterda

Next week it will be all about Indonesia in this building. A rather formidable line up of international brainpower will discuss “Indonesia ten years after (1998 – 2008)”. Suharto fell, the dictator was deposed, this month ten years ago. On may 22nd and 23rd scholars* from Indonesia, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Norway, Germany and The Netherlands will try to pinpoint the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the young democracy. The conference will be organized by Inside Indonesia, ASiA and KITLV.

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