Indonesia unmoved by expressions of remorse, apology by Dutch PM over its independence linked violence

• Main Author: Mohd Noor Merican, Ahmad Murad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd 2023
• Subjects: B Philosophy (General); JF Political institutions (General); JZ International relations
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/112189/2/112189_Indonesia%20unmoved%20by%20expressions.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/112189/; https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2023/06/923448/indonesia-unmoved-expressions-remorse-apology-dutch-pm-over-its

LAST week, on June 16, the Jakarta Post reported that the Netherlands had finally recognised Aug 17, 1945 as Indonesia's official Independence Day. However, Indonesia's former colonisers still insist that the legal transfer of sovereignty took place some four years later, on Dec. 27, 1949, "and that the recognition will not change any pre-existing legal conditions". The newspaper cited Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, as stating that Amsterdam has "completely and unconditionally" acknowledged 1945 as the year marking Jakarta's independence – the first admission of its kind after 78 years.