Bot's planned visit reflects changing Dutch attitude<\/p>\n
Aboeprijadi Santoso, Amsterdam<\/p>\n
It seems as if World War II has just ended for the Dutch. Six
\ndecades on, few of the legacies of the war and the independence
\nof its former colony linger on. At the same time, the
\nrelationship between the Netherlands and Indonesia, at the
\ndiplomatic level and between the two civil societies, has never
\nbeen better.<\/p>\n
Why, then, is Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot's plan to
\nattend Indonesia's commemoration of the 60th anniversary of
\ndeclaration of independence on Aug. 17, 1945 -- thus, the first
\nofficial recognition by the Netherlands of Indonesia's
\nindependence date -- being prepared so discreetly?<\/p>\n
The impact of Indonesia's independence struggle has indeed
\ntaken a long time to recede in the Netherlands -- just as, for
\nexample, it took the French great pains to resolve the crises
\nfollowing Algerian independence. However, while it is not unusual
\nfor independence struggles to cause enduring consequences on the
\npart of the loser at home, there appear to be peculiar changes in
\nthe Dutch government's approach to its problems.<\/p>\n
The Dutch postwar problems mainly arose from the fact that the
\nNetherlands simultaneously faced the consequences of the war in
\nEurope and in Asia. Whilst Dutch successive administrations have
\nbeen preoccupied with the first, they grossly neglected the
\nsecond. War victims in Europe (Dutch Jewish victims were
\nproportionally the greatest in Europe) were honored and
\nremembered much earlier and more conspicuously than any of the
\nsimilar groups from the former Dutch East Indies. Only very
\nrecently, the government paid tribute and offered mea culpa to
\nformer Dutch prisoners of Japan and ex-soldiers, who had fought
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Among the most painful experience for the latter groups were a
\nseries of publications in the late 1970s, including official
\npapers and government sponsored books on World War II, which
\naccused the Dutch royal troops, the KL, of war crimes in Java in
\nthe 1940s (ironically, similar acts by the colonial troops, the
\nKNIL, were not discussed). The author, Prof. L. de Jong, a
\nhistorian sympathetic to the Indonesian cause, had apparently
\nbeen intimidated so that he would change the text and remove the
\nterm \"war crime\" following a gulf of strong protests from groups
\nof these ex-soldiers -- known as the Indie veterans.<\/p>\n
In other words: Put in the European context, to charge the
\nIndie veterans with being aggressors, who committed war crimes,
\nwould have put them on the same moral footing as the hated Nazi-
\nGermans -- an unacceptable situation for soldiers who fought the
\nwar in the name of the Dutch Queen.<\/p>\n
What is more, de Jong's books have actually became a standard-
\nbearer. Although only two of its 12 parts deal with Indonesia,
\nthe Indie veterans' anger was great. When they were finally
\noffered financial compensation for their sufferings in Japan-
\noccupied Indonesia, it was far too little and too late, compared
\nto what Nazi victims received. But, \"truly, our objection,\" some
\nof them told this writer in 1987, \"is that de Jong's stories
\nbecame official\".<\/p>\n
It was this hurt esprit de corps and great sensitivity among
\nthe Indie veterans that the Dutch government has had to carefully
\nconsider ever since dealing with its past in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
For, these veterans had meanwhile found consolation,
\nprotection and political strength in the liberal-conservative
\nparty VVD and, in particular, in the person of Prince Bernhard,
\nQueen Beatrix's father, who was also a general and World War II
\nhero. The 1980s and 1990s were thus their heydays. Even Queen
\nBeatrix's wish to visit Jakarta on the very anniversary of
\nIndonesia's independence on August 17, 1995, was heavily
\nresisted. Her state visit only took place four days later.
\nSimilarly, the idea of then Minister Jan Pronk, the enfant
\nterrible of Dutch politics, to recognize Aug. 17 as Indonesia's
\nindependence day -- instead of Dec. 27, 1949 -- has never met
\nwith any success.<\/p>\n
So, why is Foreign Minister Bernard Bot now trying to do just
\nthat -- albeit more cautiously and prudently?<\/p>\n
The obvious answer is that the Indie veterans have now become
\nolder, their number smaller, and are much less active. Crucially,
\nwith the death of Prince Bernhard on Dec. 1, 2004, they have lost
\ntheir great patron.<\/p>\n
Other factors include Bernard Bot's personal aspects. Born in
\nBatavia (now Jakarta), he went through the Japanese prison camp
\nin Cideng -- a factor the Indie veterans must consider before
\nanything else. Bot, who has got along well with the present day
\nJakarta leaders, seems well equipped to start a course toward
\nrectifying the historic Dutch mistake. Presumably, he has the
\nfull support of Prime Minister J.P. Balkenende, who is also his
\nparty colleague. Since Balkenende, the first post-war born Dutch
\nPM, is free from any wartime issues, he and Bot are viewed as a
\ngood duo to accomplish the mission of a former colonial master.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Indie veterans' sensitivity still has to be
\nreckoned with. Just hours before he flies to Jakarta on Monday
\nAug. 15, Ben Bot, accompanying the Queen and the Prime Minister,
\nwill attend the commemoration of Dutch servicemen and families,
\nwho died during the war in Indonesia. In doing so, he will thus
\npay his respects to the Indie veterans while paving the way for
\nhis mission in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Next, what could be a better moment for such a mission than
\nnow with Indonesia's new democracy and its first directly elected
\npresident? And in keeping with its tradition as a salesman, the
\nNetherlands is likely to be interested in improving its
\ninvestment here while looking at new business.<\/p>\n
Finally, perhaps the most significant in terms of its domestic
\npolitics, for the first time there appears to be a willingness
\namong the broad spectrum of political parties, including the
\nformer patron of the Indie veterans, the VVD, to officially
\nrecognize Aug. 17, 1945 as the day Indonesia gained independence.<\/p>\n
At least five parties, including the major ones, have
\nspecifically told the Indonesian Section of Radio Netherlands
\nthat they are willing to support if the Dutch government is to
\nembark on such a course. Which indicates that, for them, too, the
\nwar is indeed really over.<\/p>\n
Minister Bot is expected to take the first significant step.
\nMore should follow.<\/p>\n
The writer is a journalist with Radio Netherlands.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bots-planned-visit-reflects-changing-dutch-attitude-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }