The Netherlands officially recognized the independence of its former colony, Indonesia.

The Dutch House of Representatives today held a session on the research report “Independence, decolonization, violence and war in Indonesia 1945-1950”.

Speaking here, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands had recognized that Indonesia had achieved “complete, unconditional and unconditional” independence in 1945.

Rutte stated that he will consult with his Indonesian counterpart to determine a common content for the independence day celebration, adding: “We regard the declaration (the declaration declaring Indonesia’s independence in 1945) as a historical fact.” saying.

MPs from some opposition parties also argued that the government should also openly admit that the Kingdom of the Netherlands has committed war crimes.

DECISION OF THE COURT OF THE NETHERLANDS

In March 2020, Dutch King William Alexander apologized to the Indonesian government for violence during the independence struggle.

The District Court in The Hague ruled on March 26, 2020 that the Netherlands acted unlawfully in the deaths of 11 Indonesians shot by Dutch soldiers in South Sulawesi during the Indonesian independence struggle.

The case was brought by the wives and children of 11 men who were shot in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province, a former colony of the Netherlands, in 1946-1947.

The court decided to pay compensation in amounts ranging from 235 euros to 10 thousand euros to 8 women and 4 children who were widowed due to the illegal act of the Netherlands.

The Dutch government, following the court’s decision, announced that it would pay compensation to the children of Indonesians who were shot during the struggle for Indonesian independence.

According to a large-scale study of the 2022 Indonesian war of independence carried out by different institutions, the Kingdom of the Netherlands was found guilty of “extreme structural violence” in the period 1945-1950.

In the report, it was stated that villages were burned, people were tortured and executed without trial.

HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE

After the end of the Pacific War, Indonesia declared its independence with the declaration read by the political leader of the time, Sukarno, and his deputy, Muhammed Hatta, over the radio in 1945.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands did not recognize Sukarno’s declaration of independence and landed troops on the islands of Java and Sumatra to maintain colonial rule.

The soldiers of the Kingdom committed war crimes with their massacres against the civilian population.

Peace negotiations that started between the Netherlands and Indonesia after clashes in some cities resulted in the Kingdom of the Netherlands recognizing the independence of the new state on December 27, 1949.

Indonesia, where Muslim traders spread Islam, was colonized by Portugal in 1511. The country later became a Spanish, Dutch and British colony.