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Dutch military used ‘extreme, widespread violence’ in Indonesia – report

Panel releases findings of historical review into actions of the Netherlands during the Asian nation’s war of independence

RT | February 17, 2022

An historical review has found that the Dutch military “used extreme violence” condoned by the government during the Indonesian struggle for independence in the 1940s, the panel of experts involved in the research said on Thursday.

The Dutch state and military’s behavior throughout the 1945-49 war as Indonesians fought for independence from the colonial power was laid out in a major review that has been conducted over the past few years. Carried out by a panel of academics and experts, the review was funded by the Dutch government in 2017.

Releasing a summary of the findings, the panel said it found that the Dutch military had behaved in a manner that was rooted in a “colonial mentality,” and noted: “It is evident that at every level, the Dutch unquestioningly applied different standards to… colonial ‘subjects’.”

“Dutch armed forces used extreme violence on a frequent and structural basis, in the form of extrajudicial executions, ill-treatment and torture, detention under inhumane conditions,” it stated.

Among the review’s summary findings, the military was accused of “torching” buildings and whole villages, as well as conducting “mass arrests and mass internment” and “disproportionate air raids and artillery shelling.”

The Dutch government had not previously conducted a full assessment of its country’s actions; in 1969 the then-government found that its forces had as a whole behaved correctly in Indonesia – something the new review said was an untenable position to hold.

The Netherlands agreed in 2020 to provide €5,000 ($5,600) in compensation to the descendants of Indonesians who were killed during the independence war, following a 2013 deal with some of the widows of the military’s victims.

Also in 2020, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands offered an apology for the Dutch military’s “excessive violence” during the conflict. “In line with earlier statements by my government, I would like to express my regret and apologize for excessive violence on the part of the Dutch in those years,” the monarch said at the time.

“The past cannot be erased, and will have to be acknowledged by each generation in turn.”

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government is set to respond to the review later on Thursday.

February 17, 2022 - Posted by | Illegal Occupation, Timeless or most popular, War Crimes | , ,

3 Comments »

  1. It is always interesting to see how a king (or any other ruler) can atone for the crimes of the past (with tax payers’ money) while killing of its own population in the present time.

    During a photo session in 2020 with the Dutch king and two of his daughters, one of his daughters asked: “Shouldn’t we keep distance?” The king replied with: “Dat is fake news!” He couldn’t stop laughing.

    Shortly after Indonesia gained its ‘freedom’ it was subjugated to a right wing dictatorship for twenty years, followed by twenty years of communism and today teeming with jihadism.

    Suriname almost had a similar fate. Shortly after their independence there was an insurgency of ‘rebels.’ One always wonders how they get their weapons, training and money. Their attempts where foiled by Desi Bouterse and the Dutch have never forgiven him for his role in this.

    The Dutch Antillen, on the other hand, are still not independent. Their location is a too handy opportunity to invade Venezuela that the Americans don’t want to live without.

    Did I say “Americans?”

    This does of course not mean that The Netherlands were innocent, it just adds some historical perspective.

    Not long before 1940 the Dutch were treated as slaves forced to work 16 hours a day while living in rabbit boxes and eating industrial garbage. Protests were met with brutal violence. When a labourer raised his fist it was chopped off with a sabre by mounted police.

    It is not a surprise that the Indonesians were treated even worse than that.

    Like

    Balthasar Gerards's avatar Comment by Balthasar Gerards | February 18, 2022 | Reply

    • “… treated as slaves forced to work 16 hours a day while living in rabbit boxes and eating industrial garbage.”

      Sounds like NYC or SF.

      “Protests were met with brutal violence.”

      Sounds like Paris,

      Like

      aletho's avatar Comment by aletho | February 18, 2022 | Reply

  2. My mother thought me about this. She told me that’s not what you learn in schoolbooks. One thing that stood out was that the Dutch military took pregnant women into a forrest put sweet stuff (honey or other), put that all over the women and put them near an (fire?)ants nest and leave them tight up for the night. I can’t imagine the suffering they must have had. Im glad she told me, so I knew this for all my life.

    Like

    flashyflasch's avatar Comment by flashyflasch | February 18, 2022 | Reply


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