After Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces at the end of the World War II, on 17 August 1945, people of the former Dutch colony in South East Asia declared the independence of the Republic of Indonesia.
In spite of this fact, the Dutch Armed Forces wanted to re-conquer said former colony, for which purpose they tried every efforts, including mass murder of hundreds even thousands of Indonesian people.
One of the bloodiest massacre took place on 9 December 1947 in Rawagede (now called Balongsari) a village located between Karawang and Bekasi, West Java, where the Dutch killed 431 innocent people.
In the past I would think that the Rawagede Massacre would remain a mystery, and those responsible would not be touched by the laws, just like the Westerling Massacre in Sulawesi, or victims of Nazi massacre in Europe. Especially that the Indonesian government doesn't seem to support this action.
That's why I was pessimistic when I read that 10 widows of the victims of the Rawagede Massacre initiated legal action against the Netherlands on 10 September 2008.
But thank God, I was very happy when I read on The Jakarta Globe and the blog of Dutch blogger Colson that last Wednesday, 14 September, a Dutch Court has ruled that the Netherlands must pay compensation to seven of the widows (the other three widows died while waiting for the verdict).
I hope this success would inspire the families of victims of other mysterious killings, such as people who died after the 30 September 1965 tragedy, and/or Trisakti University students and others who were killed after the Reformasi on May 1998, and/or the killing of Munir, to initiate legal actions against anyone allegedly responsible for those killings.
Of course it would not be easy considering that it has been very long time, therefore witnesses and/or evidences might not be available anymore, but who knows ?
13 comments:
semoga perjuangan rakyat rawagede didukung serius oleh pemerintah
@Attayaya,
Setuju, pemerintah RI harus bantu agar kompensasi benar2 diberikan secara layak oleh keluarga para korban.
I think that the victims might be categorized as heroes. What is your opinion, mas Harry ?
let forget the past, and welcome our future! But if they have a good willing to give compensation, it's perfect! ..First, our Government have to collect data who victims of that tragedy!
You will not be amazed I absolutely and totally agree with you :).
@ Jasmine: Looking to and preparing for the future is a golden guideline for life indeed. Yet I'm convinced we individually as well as a nation can't know who we are if we don't know where we came from. So, let's study the past.
Hi Harry, thats a very interesting article, it is a shame that it is so difficult to find out more about the Dutch and British occupation after the second world war.
It is also good news that there is acknowledgement of a crime, by the dutch, even if it is only now done. I suspect however, we will be waiting a long time for the admittance of guilt from recent tragedies from the Indonesian government.
Semoga mereka mendapatkan hak mereka agar di hari tua tidak hanya hidup dengan kenangan pahit tetapi juga bisa sedikit berbahagia, meski saya tahu kenangan pahit itu tidak akan terhapuskan meski dengan uang beberapapun
@Utomo,
Yes they should be given hero status, I am not sure whether it has been done.
@Jasmine,
I agree that the best thing is to forget about the past provided that justice has been done.
The Indonesian government should make sure that the compensation would be paid accordingly.
@Colson,
There is a saying that we can only live peacefully in the future if we have settled with the past.
@Luke,
I am not sure that tragedies after Indonesia's independence would ever be re-open for investigation.
@Munir Ardi,
Putusan pengadilan Belanda ini bisa dikatakan memberikan penghormatan atas pengorbanan para korban.
More way to get some justice. Even no witnesses or evidences we've to try reach it. Just like what we've seen and happened to 10 widows of the victims of the Rawagede Massacre whom got some compensations to them...nice post and happy blogging!
semoga pengadilan indonesia berani membuat terobosan seperti pengadilan Belanda, yakni keputusan yg adil bagi korban (rakyat)
semestinya pemerintah serius dalam hal membantu konpensasi untuk rakyat rawagede. jangan menimbun penyakit terlalu banyak. sebab nanti kalau meledak bareng. yang rugi seluruh bangsa ini ,bukan hanya pejabat yang bisa kabur seenak perut buncitnya.
saya malah salut ama pihak luar yang mampu berbesar hati dan berjiwa besar terhadap rakyat kita
@Iskaruji,
I agree that we must try our best to demand what is right for us.
@R10,
Semoga pengadilan dinegara kita juga selalu memutuskan sesuai kepentingan rakyat.
@Vira,
Oke terima kasih. Saya akan link blog anda.
@Wisata Murah,
Semoga pengadilan dinegara kita akan selalu memihak rakyat.
@TUKANG CoLoNG,
Semoga keadaannya akan membaik.
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