Study says Dutch troops used 'extreme' violence in Indonesia

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Study says Dutch troops used ‘extreme’ violence in Indonesia

By MIKE CORDER
February 17, 2022

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch troops used “extreme violence” — often deliberately — during Indonesia’s 1940s war for independence, and military leaders and politicians in the Netherlands largely ignored the excesses, a long-running research project concluded in findings published Thursday.

The 4 1/2-year investigation by experts from three historical research institutes contradicts the Dutch government’s long-held view that the country’s troops engaged in extreme violence only sporadically as they battled pro-independence forces in what became Indonesia.

In a statement, the researchers said the sources they consulted “show that the use of extreme violence by the Dutch armed forces was not only widespread, but often deliberate, too. It was condoned at every level: political, military and legal.”

The researchers said it was not possible to give exact numbers of crimes and victims.

In 2013, the Dutch government apologized for some atrocities committed by its forces between 1945, when Indonesia declared its independence from Dutch colonial rule, and 1949, when the Netherlands finally recognized Indonesia’s independence.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/europe-netherlands-mark-rutte-847d84b6b8a38b286e739713386c7635

[The Magistrate]

1. That Was A Ghastly Few Years, Sir

It has been overlooked, and ought not to be.

[thucythucy]

2. Have you seen this?

I've been binging on this channel's content:

[The Magistrate]

3. Looks Interesting, Ma'am

Just about everybody pitched in to help the Dutch. Re-imposing Western colonial rule had wide and forthright support.

[thucythucy]

4. The episode before this one

covered the background--the history of the region and how the Dutch imposed colonial rule, basically through violence and terror.

Vietnam had a similar experience. After the Japanese surrender the British moved in and then basically handed the region back to France, despite the overwhelming support of the Vietnamese for independence.

According to David Halberstam--and other sources--FDR was opposed to France retaking "French Indochina." It makes one wonder how history might have changed had he lived to complete his final term.