A study reveals that from 1945 to 1949, Dutch soldiers systematically carried out acts of violence against Indonesians during the country’s fight for independence, including murder, rape, and torture, with complicit tolerance from the Dutch government. This issue is rooted in the colonial context of the conflict.
A recent study conducted by several esteemed institutions including the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV), the Netherlands Institute of Military History (NIMH), and the Institute of War, Holocaust, and Genocide (NIOD) has revealed that Dutch soldiers engaged in widespread violence during the Indonesian struggle for independence from 1945 to 1949. The findings indicate that these soldiers committed extrajudicial executions, murder, rape, and torture, all under a system tolerated by the Dutch government, which failed to investigate such acts adequately. During this period, the Netherlands did not recognize Indonesia’s declared independence on August 17, 1945, and instead attempted to reassert colonial control, leading to violent clashes on the islands of Java and Sumatra. The researchers emphasized that the violence perpetrated by Dutch troops was both systematic and deliberate, resulting in numerous war crimes against the Indonesian civilian population. Jeffry Pondaag, chairman of the Committee of Dutch Honorary Debts (KUKB), noted the lack of any newsworthy acknowledgment from the Netherlands regarding its responsibilities during this tumultuous phase, stating that findings like these should compel a truthful admission of guilt from the Dutch government.
The Indonesian struggle for independence began following World War II, when colonial nations were reconsidering their empires. Despite Indonesia’s declaration of independence in 1945, the Netherlands sought to reestablish its colonial rule, leading to a violent conflict marked by numerous atrocities committed by its soldiers. This historical context shaped the findings of the recent study, linking colonialism, racism, and the exploitation of Indonesian people to the violence suffered during the independence struggle.
The revelations from this comprehensive study underscore the extent of violence tolerated by the Dutch government during the Indonesian independence war. The impunity enjoyed by Dutch soldiers highlights the need for a honest reckoning from the Netherlands regarding its colonial past. Acknowledging historical responsibilities is essential to fostering reconciliation and understanding between the Netherlands and Indonesia.
Original Source: www.aa.com.tr
