Westerling not a Turk

I followed the series of letters published in your newspaper from the end of September 1994, on Dutch colonialism and on a certain Captain "De Turk" Westerling with great interest. The literary shootout started with a letter from Captain R.W. De Jong on Sept. 29, 1994 and continued on Nov. 2, 1994 (Nanny Djali A.), on Nov. 5, 1994 (Bert de Kort), Nov. 8, 1994 (Frank Richardson and Ria Gondowarsito), Nov. 9, 1994 (Yuniar Sutan Rangkayo Basya).

I waited for other letters on the subject, which, in fact did not directly involve Turkey. I am writing to you to clarify one specific point.

While referring to atrocities committed by Captain Westerling against Indonesian freedom fighters, his name was preceded by the nickname "De Turk."

It is understood that Captain Westerling was born in Istanbul on Aug. 31, 1919, during the Ottoman rule. His father was Dutch and his mother Greek. He did not have any Turkish descent or a single drop of Turkish blood, let alone Turkish citizenship. As for the decision of the Dutch Government not to hand over Captain Westerling to Indonesia to be put on trial for his war crimes "because he was a Turkish Citizen," then the Dutch Government should have proved that Captain Westerling was a Turkish citizen -- which is strongly doubtful.

I don't mind anyone having the nickname "The Turk" simply because they were born in Istanbul. However, it is rather unfortunate that a controversial person like Westerling received the name, and that the word "Turk" is being used in a debate concerning the sinister pages of history.

Two articles were published about Captain "The Turk" Westerling in a magazine and the daily Kompas in December 1987 on the occasion of his death, and as Ms. Ria Gondowarsito pointed out, the Turkish Ambassador at that time wrote a letter to the editors declaring that Westerling was not a "Turk".

Besides, should any real Turk have been involved in any such struggle, it would have been on the side of his Indonesian brothers against the colonizers. Turks have fought them ever since the 16th Century when they first came to the help of the Acehnese against the Portuguese colonialists.

SEVINC DALYANOGLU

Turkish Ambassador

Jakarta

Note: We are closing this informative discussion on colonial times with this letter.

-- Editor