--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IBRAHIM ISA'S - FOCUS ON INDONESIAN-DUTCH RELATION --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Dutch acceptance of Indonesia's 'Proklamasi' -- Dutch govt expresses regrets over killings in RI -- Better too late than never --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dutch acceptance of Indonesia's 'Proklamasi', Dutch Foreign Min. Bernard Bot, Jakarta (Jakarta Post, 18 August 05) This is the first time since Indonesia declared its independence that a member of the Dutch government will attend the celebrations. Through my presence the Dutch government expresses its political and moral acceptance of the Proklamasi, the date the Republic of Indonesia declared independence. Only when someone is standing on the summit of the mountain can he see what would have been the simplest and shortest way up. This applies equally to the people on the Dutch side who were involved in the decisions taken from 1945 onwards. Only in hindsight does it become clear that the separation between Indonesia and the Netherlands was marked by more violence and lasted longer than was necessary. If a society wants to face the future with its eyes open, it must also have the courage to confront its own history. This applies to every country, including the Netherlands and the Republic of Indonesia. Within the context of Aug. 17, this means that we Dutch must admit to ourselves, and to you the Indonesians, that during the colonial period and especially its final phase harm was done to the interests and dignity of the Indonesian people -- even if the intentions of individual Dutch people may not always have been bad. The end of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia did not bring an end to the suffering of the Indonesian people nor to that of the Dutch community in Indonesia. The Japanese occupation and the period directly after the Proklamasi were followed by an extremely painful, violent parting of the ways between our countries and communities. In retrospect, it is clear that its large-scale deployment of military forces in 1947 put the Netherlands on the wrong side of history. The fact that military action was taken and that many people on both sides lost their lives or were wounded is a harsh and bitter reality especially for you, the people of the Republic of Indonesia. A large number of your people are estimated to have died as a result of the action taken by the Netherlands. On behalf of the Dutch government, I wish to express my profound regret for all that suffering. Although painful memories never go away, they must not be allowed to stand in the way of honest reconciliation. The Indonesian and Dutch veterans who fought one another at that time have been setting a good example for many years by commemorating victims of both sides together. Ali Boediardjo, the former Secretary of the Republic's negotiating delegation, was speaking about reconciliation in 1990 when he said: "We have one basic principle in common, that is humanism, which means that one can understand his fellow-man and can forgive the evil he has done". This is also an important moment for me personally. The country where I was born, Indonesia, and the Netherlands, my motherland, are reaching out to one another and opening a new chapter in their relations. Let us apply ourselves to deepening our friendship with dedication and in harmony. And may our friendship serve the interests of the common challenges all of us will have to meet in the twenty-first century. Let us work together for peace, justice and prosperity. The Republic of Indonesia is an important partner for the Netherlands. Your country is a driving force behind regional integration in Southeast Asia and dialogue with the European Union. And your country is assuming a prominent position in the dialogue of cultures. The secular Republic of Indonesia not only has more Muslims than any other country in the world, it is also a faithful guardian of centuries-old Buddhist, Hindu and Christian traditions. Dutch society too is rich in traditions, cultures and religions. So let us carry the Indonesian motto Bhineka Tunggal Ika - unity in diversity, which is also the motto of the European Union, in our hearts, as a permanent goal to strive for. Let Indonesia and the Netherlands, each from in its own unique position and drawing on our historical ties, make a positive contribution to understanding and respect between countries and peoples. Bernard Bot is Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The article is an excerpt of his speech delivered during a reception at the Indonesian Foreign Ministry in Jakarta on Aug. 16. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Better too late than never , Jkt Post, 18 August 05 The Netherlands gave Indonesia a special gift for our 60th independence anniversary: A long overdue recognition of Aug. 17, 1945 as the day Indonesia reclaimed its sovereignty, rather than Dec. 27, 1949, when the Dutch formally handed it to the young republican leaders. Visiting foreign minister Bernard Bot, the first ever Dutch government representative to come for our Independence Day celebrations, expressed "profound regret" for the military violence that took place between those two dates, when the Dutch forces tried to reimpose their rule in Indonesia after the end of World War II. As a civil nation and a good host, we Indonesians should graciously accept the gesture. Not that the issue still matters to most Indonesians. Every year for the past 59 years, we have celebrated our national day on Aug. 17, which is the day in 1945 when Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta jointly proclaimed our independence. We have marked it as the day we became an independent nation. As for the military violence, for most of us it belongs to the history books. It is probably still important for the few remaining Indonesians who lived through those years. But since the expression of regret is limited to that period in the late 1940s, it raises the question about the three-and-half centuries that the Dutch ruled the people of this archipelago, which it then called the East Indies, and ruthlessly too according to history lessons we took at school. Shouldn't they apologize for this too? But Indonesians are a forgiving, if not forgetting lot. Mr. Bot's message, as noble and genuine as it sounds, will not likely draw much attention, let alone a passionate public debate here. The passage of time has removed most emotional ties -- good and bad, love and hate -- that lingered on after the war was over. Those who fought the Dutch or lived through the violent years have either died or are too old to be in a position of power to have any influence. Few Indonesians use or learn the Dutch language, and English-speaking countries are the preferred choice for Indonesians studying abroad. For most present-day Indonesians, the Netherlands is just another small European country, with some great soccer stars playing for English or Spanish teams. Mr. Bot's expression of regret is more relevant for the Netherlands than for Indonesia. Setting history straight is important, and 60 years seems like a good time to review and even rewrite one's own national history, with less emotional and political baggage. You come to terms with the tragic reality of history only when you feel comfortable. The loss of a colony was a tragic event for the Netherlands. Relations between the two countries have long gone past that level where our emotions were still governed by what happened in the 1940s. Nowadays, Indonesia and the Netherlands interact as two equals on the basis of mutual respect. The intensity of our relations are determined more by how much benefit each will get out of it, and not by history or by emotional ties. That's the way it should be with any relations. For what it's worth, the Dutch acceptance of our independence date and expression of regret has given closure over that tragic war between our two peoples. Let's move on. ---------------------------------------------------- Dutch govt expresses regrets over killings in RI Veeramalla Anjaiah and Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In a bid to close the black chapter in the history of relations between the Netherlands and Indonesia forever, the Dutch government finally expressed its regret for its "police actions" which led to massive carnage and suffering in Indonesia during the late 1940s. The admission of past mistakes came from the visiting Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot on Tuesday during a reception to mark 60 years of Indonesia's independence and the 60th anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta. Bot was the chief guest at the reception hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda. "In retrospect it is clear that its large-scale deployment of military forces in 1947 put the Netherlands on the wrong side of history. The fact that military action was taken and that many people on both sides lost their lives or were wounded is a harsh and bitter reality especially for you, the people of the Republic of Indonesia," Bot, who was born in Batavia (the name for Jakarta during Dutch rule), told the gathering. "On behalf of the Dutch government I wish to express my profound regret for all that suffering," said Bot, who arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday and became the first Dutch minister on Wednesday to attend Independence Day celebrations in Indonesia. Bot said on Monday that the Dutch government had decided to accept Aug. 17, 1945 as Indonesia's independence date instead of Dec. 27, 1949, the day the Netherlands formally transferred its sovereignty to Indonesia. Indonesia proclaimed its independence on Aug. 17, 1945. Indonesia welcomed Bot's remarks on Dutch's recognition of Indonesia's independence date and expression of regret for the lives lost and the suffering brought upon Indonesia. "We should not look to the past but look forward, although there are several points in the past that we should learn from. It is a good signal and kindness on the part of our friends in the Netherlands that they are willing to revise it," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said after a ceremony commemorating the country's independence on Wednesday. Hassan echoed Susilo's view. "We happily welcome this (Dutch acceptance). We take it as recognition that we Indonesians became independent because we decided to be independent and proclaimed it so," Hassan said. Indonesia, according to Hassan, suffered more than 100,000 casualties, mostly young people. Thousands of Dutch soldiers also perished in battle. While responding to questions on a formal Dutch apology, Susilo only said that he did not want to request such things as it was too painful. "I don't want to comment on that (apology). But for sure, the decision shows the goodness of the Dutch to be willing to revise history," he said. Hassan said Indonesia had never asked for an apology. "This is a matter that we have always left to their own conscience." As an adept diplomat, Bot evaded the issue of a formal apology and said his expression of "profound regret" was accepted by Indonesia. "The Dutch government has morally and politically accepted Indonesia. I also expressed regret for the violence. We should not go into semantics. What is important is that we delivered a message that has been very clearly received in this country and has come straight from the heart," Bot said during the press conference, which was held after the reception. Due to the strong lobby of former Dutch soldiers, who lost 6,000 members during the war in Indonesia, the Dutch government had been reluctant to change its stance on Indonesia. On the question of compensation for the suffering of Indonesian people, Bot said the Dutch government would not give compensation. "In place of compensation, The Netherlands has been helping in Indonesia's development. We have been very active in participating in developmental programs in Indonesia. We will continue to do that in the future," Bot said. * * *
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