There has been a pretty serious discussion over “Bersiap” in the Dutch-Indonesian facebook group. As average Indonesians who were taught in Indonesian schools and reading Indonesian history books, I was very surprised when hearing about “Bersiap”. Many 1st generations of Dutch-Indonesians probably traumatized by this event, but until today, no single book in Indonesian history books mentioned about this tragedy.
This is another fact that is hidden from public’s consciousness. Apparently Dutch Indonesians history has been effectively removed from the timeline of Indonesian history. We are thought of being non-existant.
For these who unaware of Bersiap, this is google translation of dutch Wikipedia which still does not exist in english or Indonesian wikipedia:
The Bersiap period was a violent period in Indonesian history that lasted from about October 1945 until early 1946. After the capitulation of Japan on August 14, 1945 created a power vacuum in the former Dutch East Indies.
Political activists seized the opportunity to colonial ties with the Netherlands on August 17, 1945 and break the independence of Indonesia was proclaimed by Sukarno and Hatta. In fact, Sukarno was kidnapped by activists (most students) and in his home on East Pegangsaan successfully put under pressure to the Republic of Indonesia to declare. Preparations for the proclamation of the R.I. had obviously started much earlier. Almost all political parties in Dutch East Indies (the PNI and the PKI, the Parindra etc.) did not wish the return of Dutch rule.
With political pressure had Sukarno, Hatta and others where the Japanese force that had an Indonesian army was formed (the Peta = Pembela Tanah Air) but that no firearms had been trained by Japanese instructors.
There was also, more or less organized into a model communist cell structure, a nation force launched the so called “groups Banteng (Banteng one is a buffalo). The armament was sober, she was a machete (a daily tool, each ethnic group varied in shape and size, in virtually the entire archipelago) and the bamboo-runcing (runcing = spear) in a one point cut bamboo pole of about 2 meter long. The argument to the Japanese occupation to the creation of these military and paramilitary groups were: the Japanese troops to support a possible Allied invasion. It is obvious that these paramilitary militias very much violent, predatory elements were.
When the Netherlands have tried to restore authority over the archipelago came to a number of places to violence, in particular among Indo-Europeans and Chinese probably thousands of deaths. In large parts of Sumatra, the indigenous people’s heads off in a very violent manner. The latter is the historical significance of the Bersiap period.
Settlers of pure Dutch descent (totok) were still in Japanese internment camps (Japanese camp), the Japanese designated as protected areas, making them among relatively few casualties. In contrast, for many the liberation almost one years later only took place when they were “exchanged” or liberated by British-Indian troops (especially the Ghurka’s). Presumably, most victims (hundreds) of cases in Surabaya, just before the outright war between the British army and the brand new republic broke.
The organization of the “forces” showed little consistency. The communication between all groups / cells was extremely low: the fixed telephone network was neglected and there were no mobile phones. Effective communication in the city were the lampposts. It then hit with a piece of iron on the lampposts in the cries of the “battle cry”. Great Awakening was the battle cry of the very many nationalist Indonesian youth (Pamoeda’s) in the Indonesian revolution. The two meanings are “Be prepared!” and “shun”. Literally it means: “Get ready” (Bersiap). This course was very effective for the muster of large masses, she was also very / too broad and unfocused content.
The killings were facilitated by the fierce propaganda radio broadcasts from the station “Radio Pemberontak” which openly called for “elimination of all programs Belanda (Dutch) and all Anjing’s Belanda (the dogs of the Dutch), that the Eurasians were intended. The Indonesian Minister Shahrir called for an end to the violence.
In 2005 the Dutch government was still the date August 17, 1945 recognized as the official beginning of the independence of Indonesia.
Ironic, isn’t it? There is yet study to measure and estimate the victims that died during atrocity. Inez Hollander’s book, Silenced Voice is probably a good reference if you are looking for victim’s testimony. Many members of Dutch-Indonesian Community also voiced similar opinion, it was the worst time of Dutch-Indonesian, yet almost no people bothered to investigate this.
It’s like a Jewish who forgot their ancestors were victim of Holocaust or Chinese Indonesians who forgot the decades of discrimination from Soeharto.
If you opinion to be shared, join the discussion here.
