Human rights

Millions of Indonesians were killed during the Portuguese, British, Dutch and Japanese bloody 450-year occupation. Fortunately, Soekarno and his compatriot Hatta ended the era when he declared national independence in his home on Aug. 17, 1945. The occupation was the symbol of colonial barbarism where principles of human rights were ignored.

After 49 years, none of those former colonial powers have formally asked for national forgiveness for inflicting great suffering on the people of Indonesia.

Ironically, they always stress and teach human rights values on Indonesia, but shamelessly refuse and forget the crimes that they committed during the inhuman era in the archipelago.

IWAN SATYANEGARA

Jakarta