The Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Nikolaos van Dam expressed regret Tuesday over the Rawagede massacre 61 years ago in Karawang, West Java, which saw Dutch soldiers execute 431 Indonesians.

"I am here not only because of the willingness of the Dutch Government but also the willingness of the majority of members in the Parliament," he said in Karawang on Tuesday.

"The Dutch Government regrets the actions of Dutch soldiers in Rawagede in 1947. This incident was one of the worst examples of the painful and violent relationship between the Netherlands and Indonesia at that time," he said.

On Dec. 9, 1947, Dutch soldiers executed 431 Rawagede villagers without trial when they did not reveal the whereabouts of an Indonesian military quarter and its leader.

The massacre occurred during the 1945-1950 Dutch military re-occupation to counter the Indonesian Declaration of Independence on Aug. 17, 1945. The declaration was not acknowledged by the Dutch.

Tuesday's commemoration was also marked with the handing over of 5,000 euros (US$6,420) to nine widows and one survivor of the tragedy.

The donation however did not come from the Dutch Government but from a Dutch NGO called Eerlijk Delen. Dutch legal representatives refused to pay compensation to victims last September because of the length of time passed since it occurred.

"The leader of Eerlijk Delen, Henk Kotsier, donated the money when he heard the government had rejected the Rawagede victims' plea for compensation. He gave the money on behalf of the Dutch people," chairman of the Committee of Dutch Honorary Debts, Batara Hutagalung, said.

Van Dam said the compensation demanded by the victims' relatives was still being discussed by several representatives of parliament and the Dutch Foreign Minister.

Batara argued that the case was sensitive and still relevant, so the argument that the case has expired was wrong.

"There was a similar demand for an apology and compensation filed by the Dutch people to Japan in 1992 over the Japanese treatment of 300,000 Dutch citizens during its occupation of Southeast Asia from 1942-1945. It is even older than the Indonesian case and Japan responded positively " he said.

He said the victims would continue demanding the Netherlands accept responsibility for their crimes during the war through the International Criminal Court or the United Nations. (pmf)

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