On Dutch colonialism
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