Dutch treat: Who pays for the pain?
Dutch treat: Who pays for the pain?
Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post
A fifth-grader in Jakarta looked confused when she heard her
father commenting on a radio report that the Netherlands,
Indonesia's colonial master for 350 years, refused to recognize
the independence date of her country on Aug. 17, 1945. According
to the report, the Dutch government still insists that
Indonesia's independence was "given" to Indonesia on Dec. 27,
1949. "Didn't the Dutch learn in schools that Indonesia became
independent on Aug. 17, 1945?" the girl asked her uncle later.
For obedient and ordinary Indonesian citizens, who are obliged
by the state to learn the country's history in their schools --
albeit often manipulated to glorify the leaders -- reading the
Thursday's report of the Associated Press from the Netherlands,
which the radio apparently quoted, may seriously wound their
pride as citizens.
On the other hand, the report might have strengthened their
pride by showing how forgiving their nation is.
How come the Netherlands, which had colonized Indonesia for
the better part of 350 years, is still reluctant to recognize
Indonesia's official independence date, even after 60 years,
while the victims of the colonialism have acted in a much more
mature way?
Indonesians -- who have been able to bury the past bitterness
-- warmly greeted the then-Dutch queen Juliana and Prince
Bernhard on Aug. 26, 1971 during their visit here. The same
hospitable reception was given to Queen Beatrix in 1995. Due to
strong domestic opposition in her country, Beatrix chose not to
attend Indonesia's 50th anniversary, but instead arrived in
Jakarta for an 11-day visit on Aug. 21, four days after the
event.
No less important: Many Indonesians are strong supporters of
the Dutch national soccer team and Dutch current and former star
players, like Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Ruud van Nistelrooy,
and Dennis Bergkamp.
What about the Dutch side? According to the Associated Press
news service's report, "Of all the anniversaries marking the end
of World War II, one of the most difficult for the Netherlands is
the ragged conclusion of the war in Indonesia, the former Dutch
colony that declared itself a sovereign nation 60 years ago this
month."
It added that for the first time, the Dutch government would
send a Cabinet-level official, Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, to
Jakarta to partake in the Aug. 17 Independence Day celebrations
-- a deliberate, yet grudging, move maybe meant to paper over the
cracks of a longstanding historical dispute.
"The Dutch have maintained that the former Dutch East Indies
remained under its colonial umbrella until (Dec. 27) 1949, when
Holland yielded sovereignty following years of negotiations and
"police actions" against what they called revolutionaries," AP
reported.
In Indonesian history, two days after Japan -- which had
occupied the country nearly 3.5 years -- surrendered to the
Allies, founding fathers Sukarno and Muhammad Hatta declared
independence of the new nation on Aug. 17, 1945.
Someone must be playing the fool here if indeed we were only
really free in 1949.
In any case, a look at our TV soap operas and sitcoms as
independence celebrations approach is also a bit confusing if one
takes them seriously. If indeed the Dutch soldiers were all as
cowardly and silly as our TV shows portray them, while native
freedom fighters were all brave and resourceful, then surely they
would not have been able to rule us for more than three
centuries?
One friend has reached a ridiculous conclusion about the
former colonizers' reluctance to let go. He visited the
Netherlands once and expressed his surprise that despite the 350-
year occupation, Indonesia, like Britain, uses right-hand drive
vehicles, while the Netherlands uses the opposite.
"Perhaps the Dutch never wanted us to be able to drive
ourselves to our destination of independence," he said.
So what notable legacy did we get from colonialism? So far,
perhaps learning the Dutch language only attracts those studying
law; while oppressive laws themselves are blamed on the colonial
legacy.
Maybe just a few Indonesians will pay attention to whether
Minister Ben Bot will attend the 60th anniversary events next
week or whether he should officially express an apology for his
country's past deeds.
Local people here are just too busy preparing themselves for
the celebrations in their neighborhoods.
According to what some Betawi people (indigenous Jakartans)
say, Minta maaf urusan Lebaran -- "Save your apologies for Idul
Fitri", the celebration after the fasting month, not during
independence day.
The writer can be contacted at purba@thejakartapost.com