A constitutional problem<\/p>\n
I read your article on the Dutch reluctance to recognize Aug.
\n17, 1945, as Indonesia's first day of independence with great
\ninterest (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 8, Dutch treat: Who pays for the
\npain?).<\/p>\n
Like many other Dutch citizens, I fully appreciate that for
\nIndonesians, independence really started on that day, with the
\nproclamation of independence. I lived in Jakarta in 1995 and I
\nhad the Indonesian flag out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of
\nthe country's independence with my Indonesian neighbors.<\/p>\n
The problem is not that the Dutch are ignorant, foolish or
\nstubborn. The problem is constitutional. If the Dutch government
\nrecognizes Aug. 17, 1945, now, it would effectively rewrite
\nhistory and deny the fact that until the handing over of
\nsovereignty, the constitution of the Dutch Empire included the
\nDutch East Indies, as Indonesia was then called. It would also
\nacknowledge that the war of independence was a war between
\nindependent countries, with an aim to destroy the independence of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
This would amount to aggression (Indonesia sees it that way,
\nhence the Indonesian names for what the Dutch call the
\nPolitionele Acties, i.e. Agresi I and Agresi II). I think
\nthat as much as the Dutch would now like to agree with Indonesia,
\nthey simply cannot do so on legal, constitutional grounds.<\/p>\n
Hence the visit by Queen Beatrix a few days after the 50th
\nanniversary (it was meant to show a willingness to share the
\nIndonesian celebration of freedom, rather than to rub it in that
\nthe government disagreed on the date. I was present at a
\nreception by the queen at the residence of the ambassador, and I
\nremember very well that she congratulated the Indonesians present
\non their Independence Day) and now by Bot.<\/p>\n
It's all a matter of formalities, with no implication for the
\nattitude of the Dutch people toward Indonesian independence. What
\nmatters is that no Dutchman or woman disputes Indonesian
\nindependence. My mother lost a brother (my uncle Jan) in 1949.
\nHis grave near Cimahi is very well tended to by Indonesians and I
\ngo there occasionally to pay my respects, sad that a futile war
\n(futile as far as the Dutch were concerned) had to be fought
\nbefore your beautiful country was left alone by an outdated
\nsystem of colonialism.<\/p>\n
May the 60th anniversary of independence be a great success!<\/p>\n
ANTOINE A.H. WONDERS, Surrey, UK<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-constitutional-problem-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }