Dutch acceptance of Indonesia's 'Proklamasi'

Dutch acceptance of Indonesia's 'Proklamasi'

Bernard Bot, Jakarta

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.