As you know, Het Indisch Platform is an umbrella organisation, consisting of almost 30 Indische organisations and which, on behalf of the Indische community negotiates with the Dutch government.
One of the important tasks of Het Indisch Platform is obtaining RECOGNITION from the Dutch government and the RIGHT to compensation for lost property and possessions because of the war years in the Pacific (1942-1945). Moreover, "Het Indisch Platform" demands retroactive payment of salaries and pensions owing, issues which have been pushed forward through many tricks by consecutive Dutch governments over 67 years. During consultation with "Het Indisch Platform", the Dutch government has declared it is not prepared to collaborate on the realisation of a solution of "De Indische Kwestie". Even a meeting held on 7 June 2011 did not bring solution, neither did an individual vote related to a motion from Pia Dijkstra (D66) to form a Commission of Wise Persons. This motion was rejected with a vote of 76 against and 74 for. Rarely has the difference between ‘for’ and ‘against’ been this close. Against voted both governing parties VVD and CDA, as well as their partner the PVV.
However, "Het Indisch Platform" is not yet ready to give up. In the meeting of "Het Indisch Platform" the proposition of the undersigned to bring a petition on line was accepted unanimously. Through this the Indische community, represented by "Het Indisch Platform", DEMANDS RIGHTS FOR ALL who have been robbed of their belongings and salaries, and for which the Dutch governments, for 67 years, has refused to agree to a solution.
On behalf of all Indische Dutch we ask you to respond to the appeal from "Het Indisch Platform" and sign the online petition. Please keep in mind that a great number of Indische Dutch (including our parents / grandparents / great-grandparents) have suffered immensely under the Japanese oppression.
Especially now that the government has tendered its resignation and a new cabinet will present itself after the elections of 12 September, the political parties as well as their leaders need to realize that, after 67 years, "De Indische Kwestie" must be resolved and that there are no reasons for new delays.
The link below will take you directly to the right petition, where you need to fill in only your name and city of residence. Your e-mail address is required for confirmation, which “petities.nl” will send you to confirm your signing. Please keep in mind that you sign the petition as an individual; therefore, all family members have the right to sign as well.
We ask you to forward this news update to all your family members, friends and acquaintances, even those abroad, all those who might be willing to sign the petition, please use a single form for each signature, please! On behalf of almost 1,5 million Dutch persons with an Indische background (including offspring and in-laws), represented by the Stichting "Het Indisch Platform", we sincerely thank you for your cooperation.
For the direction of "Het Indisch Platform", Dr.Ir. H.Th. Bussemaker, chairman Stichting Het Indisch Platform
If you have any questiions concerning the petition we have opened a special emailaddress:
Dit e-mailadres is beschermd tegen spambots. U heeft Javascript nodig om het te kunnen zien.
Click here for the Adobe PDF printable version of the petition afdrukversie (dutch)
I don't understand the issue. My family lost their businesses, jobs, property, homes and lives in Buitenzorg during the war, and then the crazy and dangerous time of Indonesian independence. I don't know that it's the Dutch that owes any reparation. I'd like a better explanation of the issues. Seems to me there were many other groups more culpable.
My Great-Grandparents were released from Buchenwald (separately as each became more sick and less useful as slave labor) about a week before they died. The family has always said they were released so the Nazis wouldn't need to deal with their bodies when they died-disgusting!
However, I agree with Meike. If possible, I'd like to read the entire verbiage of the petition or at least see something that will explain this effort in greater detail. I would never turn away compensation and wouldn't advise my family to do so either, but would like more information before I sign the actual petition.
Also...does this agency assist those that lost everything back in Indonesia when the Japanese moved in? Between family material losses in both Nederland and Indonesia, I am fairly sure our family lost much. Thank you.
Go to http://www.theindoproject.org/site/featured/3202 and get a full explanation...and the same message to you as to Mieke. If it applies to you then sign the petition!
I don't understand the issue. My family lost their businesses, jobs, property, homes and lives in Buitenzorg during the war, and then the crazy and dangerous time of Indonesian independence. I don't know that it's the Dutch that owes any reparation. I'd like a better explanation of the issues. Seems to me there were many other groups more culpable.
Is anyone or group seeking repatriation from the Germans? What about the Japanese? It seems those two would be first in line to pay something like this...it wasn't the Dutch government that caused or supported the terrible things that happened to the world back then!
Another group more culpable would be the Japanese government because of their occupation of Nederlands Indie. But, if I am not mistaken, it was the Dutch government (in exile?) who declared war to Japan,
Go to http://www.theindoproject.org/site/featured/3202 to get a full explanation of the purpose of this petition...and don't hesitate in signing it. There is strength in numbers!
Ik spreek namens de familie. In ieder geval wat ik van mijn vader heb begrepen, heeft mijn familie een hoop bezit verloren tijdens de oorlog en politionele acties. Dat was de periode eind jaren 50 toen mijn vader naar Nederland was gevlucht samen met zijn broers en zusters.
Tot nu toe is het nog steeds een ingewikkeld verhaal om te begrijpen. Het enige wat ik er wel uit begrijp is dat de Indische regering in die tijd onterecht onze bezit en onroerend goed heeft toegeëigend, en tot de dag van vandaag zijn er geen acties hier tegen aangespannen. Mijn familie was ooit welvarend en rijk, en dat was in 1 keer vernietigd.
Als nieuwe generatie indo ben ik heel erg benieuwd wat jullie hier nog tegen kunnen doen. De overheid moet heel wat meer in z'n mars en invloed hebben dan wat het tot nu toe heeft laten zien.
My father was a prisoner of war (POW) in Japan for 3 1/2 years working in the coal mines. He is still alive at 94 years of age. My Opa was also a POW in Burma working on the railroads.
This petition is a powerful message to the Dutch government, especially if the goal is reached of 10,000 signatures. However, I think it needs to be brought to light in the International Community beyond the borders of the Netherlands. Perhaps this has been considered already, but are you using social media in your campaign ? Facebook has a Cause Page, Is there a video in English on YouTube ? Shame works really well - especially on a wider scale globally. The Dutch arrogance has a long history.
Als er niks gebeurd zou zijn en er op generlij wijze alles is afgenomen wat er was opgebouwd dan zou er onder andere geen Centrum Oegstgeest'45 zijn waar tot vandaag de dag aan toe mensen om leren te gaan met zware opgelopen trauma's. Al zal menig trots Indonesische vader en/of moeder zoals altijd het zwijgen ertoe doen met een "ach al klaar ik heb nergens last van". Zo is het generatie op generatie blijven traumatiseren. Hoe ouder, hoe intenser. En het verstoppen van het aangedane kwaad doet nog meer schade aan. Dus laat al diegenen nu maar eens naar voren stappen en gehoord worden!!
Both my parents were imprisoned by the Japanese, my father as a POW and my mother as a civilian. I am told that the Japs came looking for me but due to the fact that my maiden name is a double name and was abbreviated on their forms I escaped being imprisoned with my mother. My maternal grandmother and an aunt and uncle took care of me. My parents lost everything. My father had been a documentary maker for the Dutch Navy in Surabaya, and with the war threatening to break out and with it the danger that Surabaya (the headquarters of the Dutch navy) might be bombed my parents moved us to Bandoeng where my mother's family lived. My aunt and uncle had a dry goods store in their house so we did have rice and coffee but not much else.
I also do not understand what the issue is. I was told by my father that the Dutch opened their doors to the Indonesians in order to escape the camps and hardship of the Japanese. Why are we petitioning the Dutch? Shouldn't we be asking compensation for our families from the Japanese?
Ik denk dat de Nederlandse regeering al een oorlogs schade vergoeding van de Japan ontvangen heeft, net zoals hier in Amerika. En dat de Nederlandse regeering het maar eerst netjes in hun eigen zak gestopt hebben en pas veel later een restant afgegeven hebben met het "gebaar"
I don't understand the issue. My family lost their businesses, jobs, property, homes and lives in Buitenzorg during the war, and then the crazy and dangerous time of Indonesian independence. I don't know that it's the Dutch that owes any reparation. I'd like a better explanation of the issues. Seems to me there were many other groups more culpable.
Is anyone or group seeking reparations from Germany? What about the Japanese? It seems those two would be first in line to pay something like this...it wasn't the Dutch government that caused or supported the terrible things that happened to the world back then!
I'm a student living in Switzerland. For my college degree I'm writing an essay on the topic: "How was the life of swiss and dutch families affected by the japanese invasion in Indonesia?" My grandfather was living in Bandung at that time and was able to give me a lot of information. But I still need more time witnesses and am therefore looking for Swiss or Dutch people willing to tell me about their experience. Thank you in advance, you can contact me: please.help.indonesia.42gmail.com
With all due respect, for everyone who does not see the point in adressing this petition at the Dutch government: as far as I'm concerned, the Japanese government is not very relevant in this particular issue. It was the Dutch government that carried responsibility for Nederlands-Indië (a Dutch colony, therefore an unseperable part of the Dutch nation-state) and the Indonesian and Indische soldiers they sent out to fight for them. Colonising an entire body of people, letting them fight battles in the name of your country and subsequently denying to recognise them as 'fully' Dutch citisens (and other creative arguments) in order to dodge the dept of honor you owe them, should not go by without consequences. It is about time the Dutch government takes responsibility for its ugly past.
Reacties
However, I agree with Meike. If possible, I'd like to read the entire verbiage of the petition or at least see something that will explain this effort in greater detail. I would never turn away compensation and wouldn't advise my family to do so either, but would like more information before I sign the actual petition.
Also...does this agency assist those that lost everything back in Indonesia when the Japanese moved in? Between family material losses in both Nederland and Indonesia, I am fairly sure our family lost much. Thank you.
Is anyone or group seeking repatriation from the Germans? What about the Japanese? It seems those two would be first in line to pay something like this...it wasn't the Dutch government that caused or supported the terrible things that happened to the world back then!
Tot nu toe is het nog steeds een ingewikkeld verhaal om te begrijpen. Het enige wat ik er wel uit begrijp is dat de Indische regering in die tijd onterecht onze bezit en onroerend goed heeft toegeëigend, en tot de dag van vandaag zijn er geen acties hier tegen aangespannen. Mijn familie was ooit welvarend en rijk, en dat was in 1 keer vernietigd.
Als nieuwe generatie indo ben ik heel erg benieuwd wat jullie hier nog tegen kunnen doen. De overheid moet heel wat meer in z'n mars en invloed hebben dan wat het tot nu toe heeft laten zien.
Groet,
Steve Liem
Peter Groen
Maria Louise Groen Hujier
Great Great Grandfather
Captain Joannes Henricus Huijer
Is anyone or group seeking reparations from Germany? What about the Japanese? It seems those two would be first in line to pay something like this...it wasn't the Dutch government that caused or supported the terrible things that happened to the world back then!
Was born in Tegal, Bandung during 1941-1949, 1949-1956 Holland, since 1956 in the US.
Again, Move on!
Indiesche platform.