On Dutch colonialism

Talk about unfounded allegations and false accusations! I refer to the letter from Chichi Marti in The Jakarta Post on March 25, 2000. Chichi Marti first denounces another writer for simplifying Dutch colonialism in Indonesia but then simplifies an almost 350-year period into a single sentence.

Referring to the local inhabitants of those days as Indonesians and the different factions of colonialists from the "Lowlands" as the Dutch, shows historical incompetence. Also, comparing Aboeprijadi Santoso with neo-Nazi groups shows a gross misunderstanding of the vileness of such groups. Shame on you! Chichi Marti!

Perhaps Chichi should study the colonial history of the Indonesian archipelago more carefully to understand the "Dutch" were not the only active party then. I'm not referring to the other colonial powers in those days, but to the local potentates who were willing adversaries. Did Chichi ever wonder why a nation a third the size of Java was able to "control" growing parts of the archipelago with little more than fortified trading posts for the first 250 years? Even without regard of the heavy competition of those days, this cannot be explained by "Dutch" superiority only.

I certainly don't condone my ancestors' actions in the Indonesian archipelago, but I do wonder to what extent they can be held responsible for it. The only way to do that is to hypothesize what would have happened to the archipelago if there was no colonialism. And no doubt the local potentates would have had little problem with "robbing, killing, discriminating against, denying an education to and exploiting the Indonesian people to enrich themselves" (the least of all in waging war on other kingdoms in the archipelago). Perhaps a study of Indonesian potentates during the last 50 years can give us an indication?

In an earlier letter to the editor of the Post, Chichi Marti indicates the Post should consider "the Indonesian side of Dutch colonial history, not just the Dutch side". Perhaps Chichi Marti can start by giving a less subjective view on that period?

BART VAN ASSEN

Bogor, West Java