Boven Digul and tourism

Boven Digul and tourism

From Merdeka

On Jan. 27, 1995 TVRI was airing a program which looked very
similar to the Nazi's Concentration Camp in Poland during World
War II, full of traces of atrocities and cruelties unknown to
humanity before. On this date, the Dutch concentration camp in
Boven Digul or Tanah Merah in Irian Jaya was 68 years old. It was
in this camp the Dutch colonial government detained the
Indonesian freedom fighters.

The concentration camp was built by the Dutch colonial
government on Jan. 27, 1927 under the command of Capt. L Th
Becking. The historical records are as follows;

1. Through the Decision of the Governor General of the Dutch
Indies dated Dec. 10, 1926, Boven Digul administrative region was
established.

2. Following the decision, Capt. Becking was ordered to make
some preparations by opening forest areas. On Jan. 27, 1927,
Capt. Becking completed the construction of Boven Digul
concentration camp or prison which consisted of three units:
military complex, government complex and exile complex in which
barracks were built. It was in these barracks Hatta and Syahrir
were detained.

3. In addition, Wilhelmina hospital and an airdrome were
built.

The German Nazi concentration camp in Poland is now preserved
as a museum and tourist attraction. In this relation I appeal to
the Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications to make
Boven Digul concentration camp a tourist attraction, in the
context of welcoming the 50th anniversary of Indonesian
Independence. Also Boven Digul can be "christened" Pioneer Town
of Independence. Because it was as the sun rose in the eastern
sky, free Indonesia was born on Aug. 17, 1945 as proclaimed by
Sukarno and Hatta.

B WIBOWO

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