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Dutch used excessive violence in Indonesian War of Independence, study says

The findings of the review by academics and experts from both countries were published late on Wednesday -- a day before they had been scheduled to be released -- after their main conclusions were leaked to Dutch news organizations.

Reuters
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Thu, February 17, 2022

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Dutch used excessive violence in Indonesian War of Independence, study says In this photograph taken September 15, 2011 a mural depicting the 1947 massacre by Dutch military troops of Indonesians is displayed at the Rawagede memorial in the town of West Java province. The Dutch government will formally apologise to Indonesia for the Dutch army's 1947 executions of scores of people, the foreign ministry in The Hague said December 5, 2011. The Dutch government will formally apologise to Indonesia for the Dutch army's 1947 executions of scores of people, the foreign ministry said Monday. Dutch troops fighting to retain Indonesia as a colony swept into the Javan village of Rawagede and carried out the mass executions. (AFP/Romeo Gacad)

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major historical review has found that the Dutch military engaged in "systematic and widespread use of extreme violence" during Indonesia's 1945-1949 struggle for independence, and the Netherlands' government at the time condoned it.

The findings of the review by academics and experts from both countries were published late on Wednesday -- a day before they had been scheduled to be released -- after their main conclusions were leaked to Dutch news organizations.

The finding that the Netherlands used excessive force as it sought to regain control over its former colony in the period immediately following World War Two does not come as a surprise more than 70 years later. However the Dutch government has never fully acknowledged the scope of its responsibility.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government is expected to respond on Thursday.

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