report with questions and remarks regarding the …...jeffry pondaag: "the netherlands never...

JeffryPondaag:"TheNetherlandsneverhasgoodintentions;theyjustcontinuedwithalltheirknowledgeaboutJanPieterszoonCoen-vanHeutsz-Daendels-Colijn

whobecamePrimeMinister-Colonialism-Slavery-Robbery-JapaneseandGermanoccupation-Holocaust-AnneFrank-between1945and1949theywagedanothercolonialwarwhileRotterdamwasstillruined[afterNazi-Germanybombed

thecityin1940]."

ReportwithquestionsandremarksregardingtheRoundTableDiscussion,January31,2019

Publicationdate:March25,2019

www.historibersama.com

ThereportissenttoboththeDutchandIndonesiangovernmentandpress

Content:Introduction 11:Focusoftheresearch 2-62:Sovereigntyandrestitution 7-93:Apartheid 10-144.Alternativewriterteamsynthesis 15Conclusion 16

JeffryPondaag:"TheNetherlandsneverhasgoodintentions;theyjustcontinuedwithalltheirknowledgeaboutJanPieterszoonCoen-vanHeutsz-Daendels-ColijnwhobecamePrimeMinister-Colonialism-Slavery-Robbery-JapaneseandGermanoccupation-Holocaust-AnneFrank-between1945and1949theywagedanothercolonialwarwhileRotterdamwasstillruined[afterNazi-Germanybombedthecityin1940]."

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Introduction

OnThursday,January31,aroundtablediscussiontookplacebetweenresearchersandresearchdirectorsofthestudy“Independence,decolonization,violenceandwarinIndonesia1945-1950”andtheinitiatorsandsomeofthesignersoftheopenlettercriticizingthestudy.CriticsofthestudywerewelcomedattheofficesoftheDutchInstituteforWar,HolocaustandGenocideStudies(NIOD),locatedinabuildingpaidforwithcolonialslavelabor.ThefounderoftheDeliCompanyhadthebuildingontheHerengrachtconstructedin1880.ThiswaseightyearsaftertheDutchcolonialregimeonSumatrainstatedthesocalled“coolieordinance”(weacknowledgetheword“coolie”asaracialslur;forexample,inSouthAfricathewordconstituteshatespeech).Thosepresentonbehalfofthecritics:2initiatorsoftheopenletter:FranciscaPattipilohy,JeffryPondaag(K.U.K.B.Foundation)10ofthe137signatories:ArmandoEllo,PattyGomes,ArthurGraaff,PerezJongLoy,SashaMahe,EthanMark,RogierMeijerink,LaraNuberg,MarjoleinvanPagee,MichaelvanZeijl2Indonesian(PhD)students:YanceArizona,HadiPurnama,Thosepresentonbehalfoftheresearchprogram:3directors:GertOostindie(KITLV),BenSchoenmaker(NIMH),FrankvanVree,(NIOD),7researchers:EstherCaptain(KITLV),IreenHoogenboom(KITLV)RémyLimpach,(NIMH),PeterRomijn(NIOD),FridusSteijlen(KITLV)MarjonvanderVeen(NIOD),MariëtteWolf(NIOD)


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1.FocusoftheResearch

350yearsofcolonialoppression

FranciscaPattipilohywaswonderingwhy350yearsofcolonialexploitationwasnotthepointofdepartureoftheresearch.EstherCaptainansweredasfollows:wepayattentiontotheperiodbefore1945throughtheuseofliterature.Whatthismeans:thefocusis1945-1950butwekeepthecolonialperiodinthebackofourminds.Thisdoesnotsuffice.Whatmattersisthat350yearsofcolonialoppressionisnotnamedintheresearchdesignandquestions.Thisisthennotananswertooneofthemostimportantquestionsoftheopenletter:thefactthattheproblemofcolonialismisnotcentraltotheresearch.Sincethevarioussub-studiesdonotmentionthiscentralproblem,oronlymentionisasasidenote,referencetoexistingliteratureisnotadequatelyreassuring.Weareconcernedhowthesub-studiesandresearchquestionswerechosenthatdonotmakecolonialismcentraltothestudy.Wewouldattheveryleasthaveexpectedananswertothatconcern.

NIOD-directorVanVreesaid:“wefocuson1945-1950becausethatperiodwasdeniedfor60years,"butthattooisnotaconvincingargument,asdenialandcollectiveforgettingappliestotheentirecolonialperiod.

350yearsofcolonialismshouldbethecentralpointofanalysisforthosewhowanttounderstandthephysicalviolenceof1945-1950.AsFranciscaPattipilohysaidinhervideomessageofSeptember13th,2018:“Theresearchconsiderscolonialismasagiven.TheIllegalityoftheDutchoccupation(thecoreproblem)isnotbeinginvestigated.”1Itisimportanttoemphasizethatthemainmotivationtocolonizeiseconomicgain.Violence,inthatsense,isonlyawaytoenforceaccesstovaluableresources.AsMichaelvanZeijlcitedtheDutchcredo:"LosingtheIndies,bringsdisaster."ItisnotjustaninterestingsidenotethatVanZeijlrevealedthatIndonesiapaidalargepartofthe4.5billionbetween1950-1956andevenpaidforthecostsofthecolonialwarthatwaslaunchedagainstthem.Thesepaymentsoftheoppressedtotheoppressorsillustratethecoreproblem:TheDutcheconomicdependenceonthecolonywasthemainmotivationtosendtroopsanduseviolence.Thepointisthattheoriginalresearchoutlinedoesnotmentiontheeconomicaspectof(de-)colonizationasessentialpart.OnlyafterVanZeijlraisedthisissueduringthemeeting,theresearchteamadmittedthatthepaymentsfromIndonesiatotheNetherlandswereimportant,onlyafterthattheypromisedtoincludethisastopicofresearch.

Therefore,whatdoesitsayaboutthecompetenceoftheDutchresearcherswhentheycannotanswerthesimplequestionwhetherIndonesiahadpaidornot.TheIndonesianpaymentstotheNetherlandsarenotacomplicatedissue.Itseemsthatthisissueisdeliberatelykeptvague,amongothersbyhistorianswhoassistindefendingtheinterestsof

1SeevideomessagebyFranciscaPattipilohy,September13th,2019:https://youtu.be/ylJJqeWS5NM


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theDutchstate.2MichaelvanZeijl,whoisnottrainedasaprofessionalhistorian,foundcompellingevidenceintheDutcharchives.Hediscoveredthatitismuchworsethanpreviouslythought.Namely,Indonesia(withoutthemknowing)partlypaidthecostsoftheso-called‘policeactions.’OnlyaftertheIndonesiangovernmentdiscoveredthisin1956,theystoppedthepayments.TheDutchsourcethatVanZeijlfoundlinksthelatterdiscoverytotheIndonesiandecisiontonationalizeallDutchcompanies.ItisquitetellingthatinalltheseyearsDutchhistorianshavenotsucceededinrevealingandhighlightingthetruthaboutthepayments.Thisisnotamatterofconflictingopinions.Indonesiapaidornot,itcannotbeboth.NeedlesstosaythatitisintheinterestoftheDutchstatethattheIndonesianpaymentsfromthe1950sremainvagueandunclear.

Thequestionthenremains:whyiscolonialismnottheoverarchingandrecurringthemeinallsub-studiesandresearchquestions.Whyistherenoseparateresearchprojectdevotedtothehistoricalbackgroundofcolonialism?MeindertvanderKaaijaddressesthesocietalaftermathintheNetherlandsinhisresearch.Whythennosimilartreatmentofthepriorhistory?

Likewise,itdidnotbecomeclearduringtheroundtablediscussionhowcolonialismisdefined.Whatdefinitionisusedandwhichplacedoesthisdefinitionreceiveinthecurrentresearch?DuringthediscussionKITLVdirectorGertOostindiesaidthatnoneofthemthinksthattheNetherlandshadtherighttocolonize,however,thenotionthattheDutchEastIndieswasillegalisnowheretobefoundonthewebsiteorintheresearchdesign.AccordingtoOostindieitisunnecessarytomaketheillegalityexplicitbecauseitissoobvious.Butisthatreallythecase?WearguethatDutchsocietyasawholehardlyhasanyideawhattookplaceinAsiaandelsewhereintheworld,duringallthosecenturies,letalonethatthereisanunderstandingthattheDutchwealthisbasedonrobbery,slaveryandoppression.Manypeople(andalsohistorians)stillspeakabouttheVOCasifitwasaregulartradingcompany.Theresearchquestionsandthefocusofthisstudyseemtotaketheexistenceofthecolonyasagiven.ThewayresearcherstalkaboutthecolonialwarsuggeststhattheonlythingthattheNetherlandscanbeblamedforistheviolencethatwasusedtorecolonize.

TheparticipatingresearcherstalkasifeverythingwouldhavebeenfineiftheNetherlandshadacknowledgedearlierthatthetimeofcolonizationwasover.Thiswayofthinkingsuggeststhatthecolonialoccupationwaslegitimatebefore1945.Itisthereforenotasolutionwhen,asawaytorespondtoourcriticism,adisclaimerisgoingtobeputonthewebsitetostatethatthecolonywasnotlegitimate.Theproblemisthegeneralpointofdeparture,notnamingthecoreproblem.Thecurrentdesignleavestheimpressionthatthe

2SeeforexampletheDutchgovernmentreport"Toforgetthepastinfavorofapromiseforthefuture"(2004),whichhasbeenwrittenbyhistorianJ.J.P.DeJong.InthisreportitremainsunclearwhetherIndonesiahaspaidthe4.5billionguildersornot.Instead,thereporthighlightsthesecondpaymentsof689millionguildersin1966,whichwasbasedonanagreementbetweentheDutchgovernmentandSoeharto.Thefirst(RTC)agreementof1949wasaboutthecolonialdebts(includingthecostsofthecolonialwar)whilethesecondagreementwasaboutcompensationforthenationalizationofDutchcompanies.See:https://historibersama.com/dutch-government-report/


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researchersonlyfinditproblematicthatDutchsoldierscommittedwarcrimesbetween1945-1950.

Inshort:ourbiggestconcernisthattheresearchprogramnowheremakesitclearthattheentirecolonialperiodisanessentialpartofthetheoreticalframework.Infact,itiscompletelyunclearwhatkindoftheoreticalframeworkisbeingused.Thelackofthisisunacceptableforacademicstandards.Weexpectthattheresearchprogramwillformulatethefollowingquestionclearlyandtransparently:Whatistheacademic,conceptualstructureoftheresearchfromwhichthesub-studiesdepart?

Bersiapaspointofdeparture

Ourissuewith1945asapointofdeparturerelatestothewayinwhichtheanti-colonialviolenceisusedtoderailwiththeframeof“wheretwofight,twoareguilty.”TheDutchliberalparty‘VVD’onlywantedtofinancetheresearchundertheconditionthattheIndonesianviolencewouldbeinvestigatedaswell,clearlywiththeintentiontoalleviatetheDutchresponsibility.3InthiscontextKITLVdirectorGertOostindieoftentalksaboutthe'foundationmyth'oftheRepublic:theBersiapasasensitiveissueofwhichmostIndonesiansdonotwanttoknowaboutbecauseitwouldunderminetheIndonesiannationalnarrative.4ApartfromthequestionhowOostindieknowsthis(sincehedoesnotspeakorreadIndonesian),heseemstothinkthattherelationbetweenoppressorandoppressedbecomesvague,orevendisappears,whenanti-colonialviolenceisincludedastopicofresearch.InFebruary9,2017VanVreewroteinalettertotheDutchHouseofRepresentativesthattheBersiapresearchservesthepurposeof:

MappingthepsychologicalconsequencesforDutchsoldiersandcitizens,andasaninquiryintothemeaningoftheBersiapasanimportantfactorinsubsequentwarfare.

Thecommentexemplifiestheomissionof350yearsofcolonialoppression.Theyreversethesituation,positioninganti-colonialviolencefirst(asopposedtolong,priorcolonialviolence)andthenfocusingontheeffectsofthisviolenceonDutchsoldiers.TheonlyanswertoMrs.Pattipilohy’squestionhowtheresearchersseetheBersiapviolenceinrelationtotheprecedingperiodwas:"becausetheBersiapwasoneoftheperiodstounderstand”.Again,thisisnotreallyananswertothequestion.Because,whatdoeshethinktounderstandoftheBersiapwhenhepositionsanti-colonialviolencefirst,asbeing

3“Hennis,theDutchMinisterofDefense,wantstoavoidthatDutchveteransfeelinsultedbytheinvestigation.Therefore,notonlytheactionsoftheDutchwillbeexamined,buttheresearcherswillalsoexaminetheso-called‘Bersiapperiod’.ThisisaviolentperiodintheDutchEastIndies[led]byIndonesianfreedomfightersaftertheJapanesecapitulated.Theright-wingliberalVVDpartyinsistentlyrequestedthistopreventthataninvestigationwillnotfocusonDutchviolenceonly.”See:https://historibersama.com/new-research-rtl-nieuws/4Oostindie:“BecausetheIndonesiangovernmentisnotverywillingtosupportinvestigationthatcanunderminetheir‘foundingmyth’ofaheroic,unitedliberationstruggle.”See:DirkVlasblom‘Reizenmeteensteenindeschoen,’NRC(December2,2016).https://historibersama.com/pebble-in-your-shoe-nrc/


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oneofthetriggersfortheDutchsoldierstocommitwarcrimes?Further,PattipilohydidnotreceiveareactionwhatsoevertohercommentthattheBersiaponlydevelopedaftertheBritishtroopslanded.

Besidesthat,whoexactlyisVanVreereferencingwiththeterm“citizen”/”civilians”?IshetalkingaboutthosewithEuropeanstatusonly?LegallyintheNetherlands,allpeopleinthearchipelagowerecolonialsubjectsuntilDecember27,1949.Whetherinthemeaningof“Dutchcitizen”(inwhichcaseVanVreefurtherscolonialapartheidbyexcludingthevastmajorityofcolonialsubjectsinthearchipelago)orinthemeaningofallcivilianhumanbeingsinthearchipelago,thefocalimportanceofBersiapviolence(ratherthantheviolenceofthecolonialoppressor)doesnotholdforthevastmajorityoflivesinvolved.Theimprecisionofthesetypesofstatementsistroublesomeandfostersastrongsenseofexclusion.(Seepage6whereweexplaintheconsequencesoflegallyacknowledging1945.)

Whenitcomestothepsychologicaleffectonhumanbeings,itisimportantthattheimpactofcenturiesofcolonialoppression,exploitation,racism,sexismandthedivideandruletacticsoftheDutchcolonialregimeonthelocalindigenouspopulationisbeinginvestigated.ItispreciselyinthecontextoftheBersiapthatthepsychologicalimpactof350yearsofcolonialoppressioncannotsimplyremainasidenote.WhenPresidentSukarnoproclaimedtheindependencein1945,mutualsolidaritywasanimportantgoalpromotedbythenewRepublicasawaytodealwiththedisastrousimpactofcolonialdivideandrule.ForcenturiestheDutchcolonialregimepittedvariousindigenousgroupsagainsteachother.Themajorityofthelocalpopulationwasforcedtoliveinanapartheidsystemwheretheywereclassifiedatthebottomoftheracistlegalsystemonthebasisofraceandclass.Ifthisaspectisnotexplicitlystudiedandanalyzed,theDutchresearchteamwillneverbeabletounderstandtheBersiap.CertainlynotaslongasprojectleaderandNIODdirectorVanVreereversestheproblemwhenhewritesthattheresearchontheBersiapmainlyservestoinvestigatethepsychologicaleffectonDutchmilitaryand(presumablyEuropean)citizens.

Istheresearchteamfamiliarwiththeofficialstatementof1945inwhichtheIndonesiangovernmentwrotethattheydidnotharboranyhostilitiestowardsIndo-Europeans,MoluccansorMenadonese,becausetheybelongedtotheIndonesianpopulationaswell?ThisisinstarkcontrastwiththecontinuityofdivideandrulethattheNetherlandsappliedafter1945.DuringtheIndonesianWarofIndependence,DutchGovernorGeneralVanMookusedanactivefederalizationpolicyinwhichhepromisedareasoutsideofJavaindependence,ofcourseundertheDutchcrown.ItneedstobeclearthattheNetherlandswasdoingeverythingtobreaktheunityoftheRepublic.

AccordingtoEstherCaptain,theBersiapisanimportantfocusforpeoplewithIndo-EuropeandescentintheNetherlands.DoesthismeanthattheBersiapsub-studyisspecificallydesignedtofacilitatethisminoritygroup?JudgingbythecompositionoftheSocialResonanceGroup,thisseemstobethecase,asitcurrentlyonlyconsistsof‘Dutch-Indies’andDutchveteranorganizations.ItisalsonotclearwhyEstherCaptaincomparedtheviolenceduringtheJapaneseoccupationwiththeIndonesianBersiapviolencethatshe


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thoughtwasmuchworse.Whatisthepurposeofthiscomparison?Thefactthatviolentoutburstsarehorrificandunwantedisevident,whatmattersistracingthecause.

FromourpointofviewtheNetherlandsis100%responsiblefortheconflict,includingtheBersiap,becausetheyweretheoccupiers.AssuchtheBersiapvictimsarevictimsofDutchcolonialismaswell.(Apartfromthequestionaboutwhothepeoplewerethatusedanti-colonialviolence:werethey‘Indonesians’orDutch‘subjects’,sincetheDutchstatedoesnotlegallyrecognize17Augustuntiltoday.)Inanycase,whenanti-colonialviolenceisresearcheditshouldexplicitlyconcernthefollowingthreefactors:

1.)Theinfluenceoftheperiodpriorto1945:350yearsofcolonialexploitationandracism2.)Theinfluencethatthedevelopmentof1945had:theDutchrefusaltotaketheproclamationseriously,thefactthattheBersiapviolencebrokeoutafterBritishcolonialtroopshadlanded,thefactthatthespiralofviolencewasnotone-sided,thinkforexampleoftheBritishbombingonSurabayawheretensofthousandsofIndonesianciviliansperished.3.)Finally,theBersiapwasnotmerelyaboutfeelingsofrevenge;itwasalsoabouttherealisticfearthattheNetherlandswouldreturnascolonizer.Thisfearturnedouttobecorrect.Astudythataimstoexplainanti-colonialviolenceshouldalsoinclude‘realisticthreat’asareasonfortheviolencecommitted.TheNetherlandskeptviolatingsovereigntyuntil1949afterall.


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2.SovereigntyandRestitutionLegalrecognition1945Duringtheroundtablediscussion,bothRémyLimpachandPeterRomijnsaidthattheysee1945asanimportant'historicalfact'.However,thisisnotwhatthediscussionisabout.EventheDutchstateadmitsthat1945isahistoricalfact.NaturallyitisahistoricalfactthatSukarnodeclaredtheindependenceon17August1945.Noonecandenythat.YettheissuethatweareraisingrelatestotherefusaloftheDutchstatetolegallyrecognize1945.FromourviewDutchhistorianshavetheresponsibilitytoexplainthatthelawof1949hasneverchanged.After2005whenDutchMinisterofForeignAffairsBenBotattendedtheIndonesianIndependenceDayandspokeof‘regret’,nothingchanged.InthelawsuitsthattheK.U.K.B.foundationlaunchedonbehalfofIndonesianvictimsofDutchwarcrimes,thecourtinTheHaguealsospeaksabout‘Dutchsubjects.’Inshort:verballyacknowledging1945asahistoricalfactissuperficialandignoresthereality,asRogierMeijerinksaidduringtheroundtablediscussion.AslongasDutchhistoriansdonotexplainthattheirgovernmentstillrefersto1949,theycannotusetheterm'Indonesia'fortheperiod1945-1949,onlyoutofpoliticalcorrectmotivations.Inourviewiftheyspeakof‘Indonesia’withoutexplainingit,itishistoryfalsification,acamouflageofreality.Yet,iftheresearcherslegallyrecognizeAugust17,1945andexplaineverything,itisrightthattheyusethetermIndonesians.Theconsequenceofthisis,however,thatthearrivaloftheBritishandlatertheDutchArmyinIndonesiamustberegardedasanattackofaforeignnationonasovereignstate,whichisawarcrime.Thelegalconsequencesofthisshouldbestudiedandincluded.

WhatisstrikingisthattheDutchresearchersdistancethemselvesfromanylegaland/orpoliticalconsequencesoftheirworkashistorians.5Thisisanuntenableposition.Thesubjectandresultsofthisresearcharepoliticalandwillbeusedassuch.TheDutchgovernmentalreadyusestheresearchprograminitscorrespondencewithK.U.K.B.toavoidquestions.TheDutchstatelikestoupholdtheimpressionthattheytooksufficientresponsibilitybyfundingthisresearch.InseveraloccasionstheDutchgovernmentstatesthatonlyafterfouryearsitwillbeclearhowtodealwiththishistory.MeanwhilecontinuouslyrejectinglegalclaimsbroughtinbyelderlyIndonesiansvictimsofDutchwarcrimeswhomayhavepassedawayafterfouryears.

RemarkablytheDutchresearchersacknowledgetheinfluenceofpoliticalinterestswhenitcomestotheso-called‘ListofExcesses’thatwascompiledin1969.However,nowtheyarethemselvesparticipatinginagovernment-fundedstudy,theysimply'dotheirjob'

5InthiscontextFridusSteijlenoncewrote:“Idonotseeus,Dutchscholars,asrepresentativesoftheDutchgovernment.Meandmycolleagueshaveacknowledged17AugustforalongtimealreadyasthedateonwhichtheRepublikIndonesiawasproclaimed.ThattheDutchgovernmentfundsourresearchdoesnotchangemyreadingofthishistoricaldate!”See:https://www.ind45-50.org/en/meeting-ppi-belanda-report


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andclaimthattheyhavenothingtodowithpolitics.InresponsetothequestionsfromArthurGraaff,Oostindieliterallysaid:"WearenotaboutDutchlawmaking."Butisthatso?IfDutchhistoriansacknowledgethedateofAugust17,1945,itmeansthattheybelievethattheNetherlandshasattackedasovereignnation,whichisawarcrime.Subsequentlyitisuptothemtoexplainthatthey,ashistorians,haveadifferentopinionthantheDutchstateandtheDutchcourtinTheHague,whosepointofdepartureisthatIndonesianswere'subjects'underDutchauthorityuntil1949.Bykeepingthisissuevague,andmeanwhileignoringthediscussionaboutlegalrecognition,theresearchersactuallyfacilitatetheDutchstate’srepeatedframingofformerForeignMinisterBenBot'spresenceattheIndonesianIndependenceDayin2005astheendofadiscussion.LimpachandRomijnmayseetheproclamationof1945asanimportanthistoricalfact,itremainsunclearfromwhatperspectivetheywilldescribethecolonialwar:wasitanattackofaforeignpoweronasovereignstateorwasitanattackofacolonialregimeonpeoplewhotheDutchstillregardastheir‘subjects’?FromanIndonesianperspectivetheJapaneseoccupationputanendtotheDutchdominationanyway:astheDutchcolonialregimecapitulatedinMarch1942.Inanycasewestillexpectaclearanswertotheaforementionedquestionsregardingthelegalrecognitionof1945.

Restitutions

Duringtheroundtablediscussion,JeffryPondaagshoweddocumentsfromthecourt

casesinwhichtheNIMHismentionedtwelvetimes.ForhispartNIMHdirectorBenSchoenmakerdidnotdenythathisinstituteindeedsupportstheDutchgovernmentinthecourtcases.However,hedeniedthatthismeantthathisinstituterepresentstheperpetratorsandnotthevictims,eventhoughNIMHfallsdirectlyundertheMinistryofDefense.Schoenmakerneverthelessclaimedtobeindependent.ItisgenerallyknownthatthelawsuitsarebeingfiledbyIndonesianrelativesofvictimsofDutchviolence:whichisnowbeinginvestigatedinthisstudyof4.1millionEuros.AssuchtheNIMHplaysadoublerole:itparticipatesintheresearchon1945-1950butalsoassiststhestateinthehistoricalverificationoflegalclaims.Yet,NIMHonlysearchesforevidenceintheDutcharchives,inrelationtothecourtcasestheydonotconductanyresearchinIndonesia.SeeforexamplethecaseofthebeheadingoftheIndonesianresistanceleaderAndiAbubakarLambogo,whichiscurrentlybeinghandledbythecourtinTheHague.6

TheissueofthedoubleroleofNIMHisinlinewiththequestionposedbyHadiPurnama,whichPeterRomijnmisinterpreted.7FollowingwhatPondaagsaidabouttheconsequencesofnotrecognizing1945,HadiPurnamaaddedthatinternationallawis,tobeginwith,rootedincolonialism.Hestatedthattheoutcomeoftheinvestigationwillhave6MarjoleinvanPagee,‘Malikwantsapologiesforthebeheadingofhisfather,’NRC(May212016).See:https://historibersama.com/apologies-beheading-1947-nrc/7SeePresentationofHadiPurnama:https://youtu.be/2AdS09FI2SI


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legalconsequenceswhenitcomestocompensation.Eveniftheresearchersstickto1949,justasthestatedoes,itmeansthatIndonesianscanclaimtheirrightthroughaDutchcourt.PeterRomijn,ontheotherhand,thoughtthatPurnamaspokeaboutachangingworldorderthattheNetherlandsignoredatthetime.RomijnsaidhewouldliketositdownwithHadiPurnamatotalkmoreaboutthis.Ourquestioniswhethertheresearchers,inlinewiththisdiscussion,wouldliketorespondtothesubjectthatPurnamawastalkingabout:thepossibilityofrestitutionsandthepositionoftheresearcherstofacilitatethis.SinceNIMHdirectorSchoenmakerclaimedthatthethreeinstitutionsdonotnecessarilyrepresentthestateandthattheyareindependentasacademics.

ThelatterquestionalsotiesinwithAnnemarieToebosch'sproposalasexpressedinhervideomessage.ShesuggestedthattheresearchersshouldsitdowntogetherwithJeffryPondaagandlawyerLiesbethZegveldanddiscusstheinclusionofalltheimportantcourtdocumentsintheresearch.Afterthatwereceivedthefollowingwrittenresponse:

Ourresearchersconsultallpossiblerelevantarchives,includingtheselawsuitsand-moreimportantly-theunderlyingdocumentation.WearethereforepleasedthattheK.U.K.B.haspromisedusthatwemayviewthesedocuments.

However,itisamisunderstandingthatK.U.K.B.isgivingtheresearcherspermissiontousehisarchive.ToeboschexplicitlyurgedNIODtositdownwithPondaagandZegveldfirst.Thatmeanscommunication,aseriousconversation,whichrequirestrust.SincetheopenlettermadeclearhowlittleconfidencePondaaghasinthecurrentresearchdesign,itshouldbeobviousthathewillnotsharehisarchiveaslongasnothingisdonewithhisseriousobjections.

UnfortunatelythisisnotthefirsttimethatamisunderstandingoccursrelatedtoJeffryPondaag’sarchive.EarlierinMay2017(thusevenbeforetheprojectofficiallystarted)FridusSteijlenvisitedJeffryPondaagathome,whenheshowedinterestinhisarchiveaswell.Steijlenlaterwroteinablogpostonthewebsiteoftheresearchprojectthat:"Iwouldliketohavestatedthatwe,coordinatorsofthewitnessproject,alreadyinMay2017,contactedthechairpersonoftheK.U.K.B.invitinghimtocooperate."8ApparentlySteijlenunderstands‘cooperation’assharingdocumentswithresearchersparticipatinginastudythatPondaagdidnottrusttobeginwith.Infact,PondaagdoesnotrememberthatSteijlenusedtheword'cooperation'.

8See:https://www.ind45-50.org/en/meeting-ppi-belanda-report


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3.ApartheidColor-erasingracismWeexpectcentersofcolonialstudiesandgenocidestudiestobeplaceswherescholarshiponraceandracismtakesplace,andwherepeopleareacutelyawareofthedifferentshapesracismtakes,thenandnow.Thefactthattheracistunderpinningsofcolonialoppressionarenotacentralparttothesub-studiesandresearchquestionsismind-boggling.Wealreadymentionedthisinpoint9oftheattachmentoftheopenletter,onwhichwehavenotyetreceivedaresponse.

InrelationtotheDutchviolencebetween1945-1949VanVreeexpressedaninterestintheepistemologyofdenial(theDutchdenialof1945-1949),meanwhileweobserveanotherexampleofdenialinrelationtoracism.Duringthediscussionitbecameclearthattheresearchersinvolvedaretotallyunawareoftheirownracial-socialposition.VanVreeandtheotherresearchersdidnotdemonstraterecognitionofracistsituations.Wewillcallthisracistphenomenon‘colorerasing’(commonlyreferredtowiththeableisttermof‘colorblindness’).Weobservethisbothintheoutlineofthestudyitself,andonthepartoftheresearchteamonJanuary31.Wewillgivesomeexamplesofthecolor-erasingracismthatweexperiencedandwitnessed.

Firstbacktoourintroduction,therewasthelackofawareness,oratleastasilence,aboutthecolonialspacethatpost-colonialpeoplewerebroughtintoatNIOD.Withfullknowledgeaboutthespace,therewasnoacknowledgmentofanysensitivitiesuntilapersonofcolorbroughtitup,atwhichpointtherewasatoneofan‘interestingdiscussion’.TheNIODspacewasnotinterestingtothepeopleofcolorthere.Itwaspainful.Thisiscolor-erasingracism.

Second,thecommentaboutthepersonalpsychologicalaftermathofcolonialracismasexpressedbyFiaHamid-Walker,abrownwoman,wasfullyignored,andhercommentaboutthepossiblepowerdifferentialbetweentheIndonesianandDutchteamswasjudgmentallydismissed.Bothareexamplesofcolor-erasingracism.Thoseeducatedinissuesofracismknowthattheclassicstatementof“wedon’tseerace”,or“raceisnotanissue”,or“racedynamicsandinequalityarenotanissue”aretheclarioncallofracism.

Third,MarietteWolffcommentedthattheexclusionofPondaagattheexploratorymeetingwasbecausethemeetingwasonlyfor“Dutch”umbrellaorganizations.ThiscommentisupsettingenoughforastudythatclaimsinclusivityaswellasequalityoftheIndonesianresearchteam.Italsobetraysanunawarenessofhowthisisexperiencedintermsofracism.

TheexclusionofaninfluentialIndonesianlikeJeffryPondaagdoesnotmatchtheclaimthatIndonesianperspectivesareinvolved.TheresearcherscannotdenythattheonlyorganizationbasedintheNetherlandsthatisrepresentingIndonesianvictimsofwarcrimes,


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wasnotaskedtotakepartintheSocialResonanceGroup.PondaagasthechairmanofK.U.K.B.wasnotinvitedtospeakatthekick-offeventoftheresearch.Thiscannotbechangedanymore.Variousresearchersmayclaim(inseveralopinionarticles)tolistento'theIndonesians',theprogramleadersmaysaythattheyseetheIndonesianhistoriansasequalpartners,itisallmeaninglessaslongasnooneseeshowracistitisthatJeffryPondaagwasignoredfromtheveryfirstmoment.NotseeingtheproblemofexcludingPondaagisanotherexampleofcolor-erasingracism.Nothing,not“wehavenonwhiteresearchers”,or“weunderstandthatcolonialismwasracist”,or“weincludedPondaaglater“standsindefenseofthis.InvolvinganumberofIndonesianresearchersinsub-studies(whosenamesarestillpubliclyunknownandwhoarenotopenlycritical)cannotbeanexcuseforexcludingacriticalIndonesianvoicesuchasPondaag.ApartfromthefactthatMrs.Pattipilohyhasalsobeenignoredsofar,andoftennotaddressedinthecorrespondencewiththeresearchersasco-initiatoroftheopenletter.ThatPondaagduringthesecondpublicmeeting,afteralong,difficulte-mailexchange,wasgiventenminutestimetotalkcannotserveasanexcuseforthefactthathewasfirstexcluded.

Finally,theresearchersdidnotseemtobeawareofthefactthatthemostimportantcriticswhosatatthetablewerenon-whitepeople,incontrasttothemselves.Mrs.PattipilohywasevenpresentastheonlyIndonesianeyewitnessoftheperiodunderinvestigation.Giventheunequalrelationintermsofrepresentation,itshouldbeunthinkablethatthewrittenresponsefocusesona7-minutevideoofawhiteacademic.This,too,isanexampleofnotunderstanding,ornotseeing,color-erasingracism.TheextensiveattentionpaidtothecriticismofawhitepersonisinstarkcontrasttotheveryshortwrittenresponseoftheseriousdemandsbyMichaelvanZeijl(DeGrauweEeuw).FortheirpartDeGrauweEeuwcontactedVanVreeandaskedhimforamoreseriousresponse.InfacttheresearchersintheirwrittenresponseonlystatedthatVanZeijlaskedimportantquestions"thatwillbetreatedintheresearchprogram."Withthis,hisdemandswerenotonlyreducedtosuggestions,itisalsoincorrect.Thetopicthatheaddressedisnotincludedintheresearchdesignandquestions.Inanycase,ignoringhisinputasanon-whiteperson(incontrasttotheextensivereplyofthequestionsthatwereaskedbyawhiteperson)isanexampleofcolor-erasingracism.ThesamecountsfornotreplyingthevideomessageofFiaHamid-Walker,aswellasthemisinterpretationofHadiPurnama'squestions.Weexpectthatallquestionssubmittedbynon-whitepersonswillreceiveequaltreatment.Sexism

Wehavenoticedthatgenderisnotmentionedintheresearchdesign.(KNIL)soldiersweremen,butthatdoesnotmeanthatwomendidnotplayarolewhenitcomestowarandviolence.Racismandsexismarecloselyrelated.Rapeisaformofviolenceagainstwomenthatoftenoccursduringmilitaryactions.Further,theconceptsof'comfortwomen'and'nyai’s'werepresentincolonialsocietyaswell.Indonesianwomenalsoplayedan


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importantroleinthestruggleforindependence.Iftheresearchisreally‘inclusive’,includingtheIndonesianperspective,itisimportanttoexplicitlymentionthefateandtheroleofwomen.

Unfortunately,onthebasisoftheseexamples,wemustconcludethatwehavenoconfidenceintheknowledgeandskillsofthisresearchteamwhenitcomestorace,racismandrelatedsexism.Indonesianresearchteam

InhervideomessageFiaHamid-Walkeraskedattentionforthecontinuityincolonial

attitudesandexplainedthatmanyIndonesiansarestillinclinedtolookuptowhitepeopleasaresultofagesofcolonialism.ShecalledtheIndonesianresearchers"thebrownfaceswithwhitemasks,"referringtoFrantzFanon.9ItwaspainfultoseethatVanVree,awhiteman,wasnotabletoshowanykindofself-reflection,insteadhejudgedherremarkasderogatorytotheIndonesianresearchers.ThisindicatesthatVanVreeeitherdoesnotunderstandtheproblemshewastalkingaboutorthathedoesnottaketheproblemseriously.Infact,hisreactionillustrateshow'divideandrule'works,whetherheisawareofitornot.Asawhiteman,hepresentshimselfastheneutralcenter.Apparentlyhevaluestheopinionofparticipatingnon-whiteresearchersmorethantheopinionofthesamepeopleofcolorwhohavethecouragetogoagainstthedominantwhitevision.VanVreeseemstoforgetthathispositionisadominantone,notinthelastplacebecausehehas4.1millioneurosresearchmoneytospend.InthiswayheusesthedifferencesamongIndonesianstojustifytheresearchproject.

InthiscontextwewouldliketoremindtheresearchersonceagainthatnoIndonesianwaspresentduringthekick-offoftheresearch.EventheaudienceintheroomnoticedthatitwasstrangethatsomeonelikeJeffryPondaag(givenhispioneeringrole)wasnotoneofthespeakers.Indonesianscouldnotparticipateinthediscussiontobeginwithbecauseofthelanguagebarrier,theeventwasentirelyinDutch.Whywasthisrealitydeniedduringtheroundtablediscussion?Oostindiereversedtheproblembysayingthatittookhimoneandahalfyeartogetusaroundthetable.ThetruthisthathedeliberatelychosetoignorePondaagatthetime.ItisirreversibleandundeniablethattheresearchoutlinewasrealizedwithoutIndonesianinput,theIndonesianresearcherswereonlyapproachedatalaterstage.Theyarecurrentlyonlyinvolvedinsub-studies.WhenwepresentedtheopenletteronemonthlaterOostindiesaidthatourobjectionswere"toobizarreforwords".Henevermadetheefforttogetintouchwithusafterwards.TheonlyreasonthatweweresittingaroundthetableonJanuary31wasthelong,difficulte-mailexchangebetweenJeffryPondaagandFridusSteijlen.(Notethatonlyafteracommentfrom

9VideomessageFiaHamid-Walker:https://youtu.be/AvEekqynnZI


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PondaagthatFridusSteijlenisnottheprojectleader,VanVreecontactedhimafterwhichprojectcoordinatorMariëtteWolftookoverthecommunication.)

UntiltodaytheprecisenatureofthecooperationbetweenDutchandIndonesianresearchersisunclear.Duringthekick-offeventtheDutchteamframedthecooperationwiththeIndonesianhistoriansasaverycloseone.ADutchdelegationofresearchers,includingOostindie,traveledonseveraloccasionstoYogyakartatomeetupwiththeIndonesianteam.However,theIndonesianprofessorBambangPurwantoinfactdemandedanindependentseparate,Indonesianteam.Thisisveryconfusing,because,whatisit:Aclosecooperationortwocompletelyseparateprojects?Thisisthecontradictionofhowthecooperationisbeingpresented.OnonehandtheIndonesianteamclaimstobecompletelyindependent,whileontheotherhandtheDutchresearcherstalkaboutanexchangeandtheintentiontopublishjointarticles.DuringtheroundtablediscussionIreenHoogenboomannouncedthattheIndonesianresearchersarecurrentlyworkingontheirownwebsite,whichwillbeonlinesoon,whilethewrittenresponsetothequestionfromLaraNubergreads:

Byorganizingjointworkshopstheprojectscaninformeachother,exchangesources,perspectivesandideas,discussaboutsources,historiographyandterminology.TheRegionalStudiesgroupandtheIndonesianprojectwillpublishaneditedvolumetogether.ThisvolumewillbepublishedinIndonesian,EnglishandDutch.TheIndonesianprojectwillseparatelypublishanIndonesianeditedvolumethatweaimtotranslatetoo.

Whatisit?Acooperationornot?Further,wewouldliketoknowhowtheresultsof

theIndonesianhistoriansaregoingtobecomparedwiththeDutchresults,sinceperspectivesmaybedifferent.

Subsequently,dotheDutchresearchershaveanyideawhyBambangPurwantodemandedaseparate,independentteam?IsitpossiblethathedidnotfullyagreewiththeDutchresearchquestions?Andifso,onwhichpointsdoeshediffer?Whatdoeshefindrelevanttoinvestigate?AndwhatdoesthissayabouttheEurocentricstartingpointoftheresearch?ItisquitetellingthatbothIndonesianprojectleaderswerenotpresentduringthekick-offeventoftheresearch.ItisimportanttounderstandthehesitationonthesideoftheIndonesianresearchersandwhereitcomesfrom,whatisbehindit?

Duringtheroundtablediscussion,JeffryPondaagaskedhowmuchmoneytheIndonesianteamreceivesfromtheNetherlands.ThewrittenresponseonlystatesthatfourPhDresearcherswillbepaidaccordingtoIndonesianstandardsforthreeyears.Howmuchmoneyisthatexactly?Sincethe4,1millionbudgetconcernstaxpayer’smoney,itisimportantthatthereisclarityaboutthis.Onceagain,werequestthatyourevealthenamesoftheIndonesianhistoriansandtheiruniversities,aswellastheexactbudgetthathasbeengiventothem.


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IncludingIndonesianperspectivesVanVreesaysthathetotallyagreeswithMichaelVanZeijlwhenhesaidthatthe

IndonesianperspectivedeservesattentionandthatthisperspectivehasbeenignoredintheNetherlandsallthistime.AsproofthattheresearchersfindtheIndonesianperspectiveveryimportant,VanVreereferstothesub-study'RegionalStudies.'Remarkably,theargument‘listentotheIndonesians'oftenappearsinopinionarticlesbyparticipatingresearcherssuchasAnne-LotHoek,MartijnEijckhoff10andRemcoRaben.Theproblem,however,isthattheresearchdesignshowsthattheDutchresearchersdidnotlistentotheIndonesians.Theoutlineandresearchquestionsshowsthattheperspectiveoftheoppressedisnottheleadingperspective.Ifthewordvictimisused,itisalwaystorefertotheDutch(-Indies)victimsoftheBersiap,whiletheIndonesianvictimsareonlycalled'witnesses'.11ApartfromthefactthattheignoranceofcriticalIndonesianvoices(suchasthoseofPondaagandPattipilohy)showsthattheDutchteamisnotveryopentoIndonesianviewsincasetheyareopposingtheirviews.

Wedonotunderstandwhatthethreeinstituteswanttodowith'theIndonesianperspective'.Wearguethatthevictimperspectivecannotexistalongsidetheperpetrator'sperspectiveasifbotharelegitimate.Or,asEstherCaptainsuggested,thattherolesarediffuseandinterchangeable,sometimesvictim,sometimesperpetrator.TheDutchcolonialperspectiveneedstoberemoved.TheIndonesianperspectiveasanadditional‘extra’isimpossible.InthewrittenresponseonAnnemarieToebosch'squestions,theresearchersdenythattheyare'leveling'DutchandIndonesianviolence.Yet,termsas'multi-vocality'and'multi-perspectivity'leavetheimpressionthatfortheDutchresearchersallperspectivesareequalandthatdifferentviewsmayexistsidebyside.InourpreviousanalysisoftheBersiapwehavealreadyexplainedinwhatwaywethinkthattheDutchresearchteamisguiltyof‘leveling’whenitcomestocomparingcolonialandanti-colonialviolence.Asimpledenialofthisisnotaveryconvincingansweronthequestionabouthowtheperspectivesoftheoppressedarevalued.EstherCaptainsaidthatthehistoryisnotthatblackandwhite.Thisisacliché.Askingfornuanceisatypicalcolonialreflexandanexampleof‘leveling’.Thereisalwaysaleadingnarrativeinwhichperpetrator/victimrolescanbeclearlydefined.

10See:https://historibersama.com/listen-to-the-indonesian-voices-nrc/11See,forexample,theradiointerview(RadioEenVandaag,April18,2017)withFridusSteijlen,thecoordinatorofthe‘WitnessesandContemporaries’sub-projectandDutchlawyerLiesbethZegveld.ThelatterfindsitproblematicwhentheDutchresearchonlyreferstoIndonesianvictimsas'witnesses'.Steijlenreplied:"thisprojectisfocusingonwitnesses,therearealsovictims,butwewanttohearthepeoplethatwereinvolvedassoldiersaswell,whichisanothercategory,thatiswhyweuseasomewhatneutralterm."AfterwhichZegveldreplied:"theterm‘victims’doesappearintheresearch,namelywhereitconcernstheBersiapperiod,thuswhereitconcerns'us'asDutch,thentheresearchusestheterm'victims’,butwhenitconcernsindigenousIndonesianpeople,theysuddenlyuse'witness'.”https://www.nporadio1.nl/radio-eenvandaag/onderwerpen/404822-onderzoek-dekolonisatie-nederlands-indie


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4.Alternativewriterteamsynthesis

WedemandthatGertOostindiewillbereplaced.Heisnotqualifiedtowritethesynthesis.Inpoint3oftheattachmentoftheopenletterwethoroughlylistedthereasonsforthis.Below,brieflysummarized,onceagainthemostimportantreasons:-Hedoesnotrecognizetheproblematicoutlineoftheresearch,hesimplyrejectsourcriticismas'toobizarreforwords';-HedoesnotspeakIndonesian;-HeisnotanIndonesianexpert;-HedoesnotseethecolonialtraditionofviolenceassomethingthatispartofthenationalhistoryoftheNetherlands.Inhisbook'SoldierinIndonesia'hewritesthattheNetherlandsdoesnothaveastrongmilitarycultureandarguesthatfromthebeginningofthe20thcenturytheDutchwereaneutralpower;-Hemakes(public)irresponsiblestatementssuchas:‘Ijustaccidentallygotinvolvedinthesubject,’‘therearebadbutalsogoodsidesofcolonialism,’‘Dutchwarcrimesmustbeunderstoodinthecontextofthattime:protectingthepopulation,restoringorderandpeace’,‘historiansshouldnotmoralize’,’fortunatelytheNetherlandshasnotdevelopedatraditionofpostcolonialstudies’.-Hehasanoutdated,positivisticviewofhistoryanddenieshisownsubjectivity;

Inshort,wethinkthatsomeonewhodoesnotunderstandhowracismworks,who

‘levels’colonialismandslaveryandwhodoesnotknowwhatkindofresponsibilitieshisprivilegesentail,isnotqualifiedtowritethesummaryofastudyoncolonialviolence.Weproposethatanindependentresearchteamisgoingtowritethesynthesis,consistingofDutchbutmainlyIndonesianresearcherswhosepointofdepartureisadecolonialperspective.WearethinkingofresearcherslikeRushdyHoesein,FiaHamid-Walker,AdySetyawan,YongkyGigihPrasisko,JanBreman,EwaldvanVugtandSandewHira.Theexactcompositionofthewritingteamisnotfixed,yetitmustbeclearthatthoseparticipatingintheresearchcannotwritethesynthesis.


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ConclusionToconclude,wewanttoaskwhattheDutchresearchteamisgoingtodowithourobjections.TheopenletterwasalreadysentinNovember2017,butayearandahalflatercolonialismisstillnotthedepartingpointoftheresearchoutline.Further,wewouldliketoremindyouthatseveralquestionsfromtheopenletterremainunanswered;theywerealsonotaddressedduringtheroundtablediscussion.Forexamplepoint10oftheattachmentregardingoursuggestionsforcomparativeresearch,point12thatdealswiththeDutchlawof1971,point13thatraisestheissueofthemorethanthreethousandDutchconscriptsthatrefusedmilitaryorderandwereputinjail.LetaloneourseriousobjectionsagainstformerlieutenantgeneralM.deKruifwhoistakingpartintheScientificAdvisoryBoard.Wewillonlybesatisfiedwhenthestructureofthisstudyisgoingtochange.Thatiswhyweexpectaclearanswertothequestion:isourcriticismtakenseriouslyandwill350yearsofcolonialexploitationgetaprominentplaceintheresearchfromnowon?

report with questions and remarks regarding the …...jeffry pondaag: "the netherlands never...

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