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Letter: Claims for the Massacre - 1947 of Rawagede
Gerrit Jan W
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Gerrit Jan W. Pulles, an attorney from the law office of Buhler Franken Koppe Wijngaarden, is acting on behalf of the relatives of the victims from the massacre in Rawagede, West Java, Indonesia. Pulles released a press statement, which I received a copy of, saying that on Sept. 8 a group of 10 Indonesian family members formally held the State of the Netherlands liable for the murder of their husbands and male relatives.
The alleged massacre took place early on the morning of Dec. 9 1947, two years after Aug. 17, 1945, when Indonesia had declared its independence. The Dutch troops attacked the village of Rawagede, even though Dutch soldiers had met no resistance. They allegedly killed hundreds of male villagers. Prisoners were executed and those who tried to flee were shot. Nine of the 10 prisoners who survived are now holding the state liable.
The 10th survivor, namely Saih, was a young man at the time. He was taken prisoner by the Dutch soldiers. Together with other prisoners, including his father and brother, he was lined up and the soldiers proceeded to shoot all of the prisoners in the back. Saih was the only one to survive the execution. Presumed dead by the military, he was left behind unconscious and wounded.
The military responsible for the massacre at Rawagede were never prosecuted. The State of the Netherlands has never apologized or paid any compensation to the survivors. It is the first time that Indonesian victims of the armed conflict between 1945 and 1949 have held the State of the Netherlands liable. The victims claim financial compensation for the deaths of their husbands and relatives, but above all they seek formal apologies and recognition of the suffering that was caused to them by the State (of the Netherlands). Concerning the compensation to the victims of the military aggression, it depends on the ethical discretion of the Dutch government, as the Dutch have made a claim against the Japanese government for their war prisoners and internees (although it is not to be compared).
They are trying to bring about a “peaceful settlement” to the problem and reconciliation, so that the future generations do not hold a “historical grudge”.
MARTIN BASIANG
Jakarta
