In Muslim Indonesia, tiny Jewish community lives on

Yahoo – AFP, Olivia Rondonuwu, April 27, 2017

In a remote corner of the Indonesian archipelago, a modest synagogue stands
 in a tiny Jewish community that has found acceptance despite rising intolerance
in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country

In a remote corner of the Indonesian archipelago, a modest synagogue stands in a tiny Jewish community that has found acceptance despite rising intolerance in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.

The red-roofed building on Sulawesi island is the only synagogue in the nation of 255 million people. Here, unlike other parts of the country, the Jewish community feel safe to practise their faith openly.

"We can wear the kippah (Jewish skullcap) in the mall or anywhere we want, it's not a problem," Yobby Hattie Ensel, a Jewish leader from the nearby city of Manado told AFP.

In Tondano, the "Shaar Hasyamayim" synagogue sits close to several churches and residents of different religions live, work, and worship alongside each other without incident.

Indonesia has long been praised for its moderate, inclusive brand of Islam -- and this enclave of diversity is a testament to that.

But across the archipelago, intolerance has risen in recent years as more conservative forms of Islam have become popular, driven by increasingly vocal hardline groups.

Tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and the Palestinians, spill over here and deepen religious divides.

Outside the safe haven on Sulawesi, those who refuse to hide their faith have faced hostility.

Yaakov Baruch, an Orthodox Jew who runs the Tondano synagogue, revealed how he was threatened with death in a Jakarta busy mall as he walked along with his pregnant wife.

"From a few floors up, they shouted at me 'Crazy Jew'," he told AFP, adding the group of men then ran towards him and demanded he remove his skullcap.

"They said to me: 'We don't want you to use your kippah in this country. If you continue to use it, we'll kill you'."

In 2013, the country's only other synagogue in the city of Surabaya was demolished. It had been the site of anti-Israel protests for years, and was sealed off by hardliners in 2009 and left to decay.

Indonesia's Jewish community faces practical challenges, such as access

to kosher food, which is not widely available in the Muslim-majority nation

Secret worship

Indonesian rabbi Benjamin Verbrugge concedes any flare-up of tensions in the Middle East provokes hostility towards the local faithful.

"Problems between Israelis and Palestinians are a liability for me -- when someone is stabbed there, it makes me uneasy here," he said.

Faced with such open hostility, the Jews in the capital worship in secret.

Last month Verbrugge, head of the United Indonesian Jewish Community (UIJC), held celebrations for the festival of Purim, traditionally one of the most joyous days in Judaism's calendar, hidden in a small hotel room with a handful of fellow worshippers.

The UIJC estimate there are around 200 practising the faith in the country, believed to be the descendants of traders from Europe and Iraq who came to Asia to trade. The organisation was set up to bring the nation's Jews together.

The Jewish population in Indonesia is believed to have peaked at around 3,000 in the years before World War II, according to Rotem Kowner, a professor from the University of Haifa in Israel.

The fact that those remaining are scattered across the archipelago means Verbrugge has to defy rules that forbid Jews from using electrical gadgets on the Sabbath to lead group prayers online via the LINE messaging app.

The small community also faces more practical challenges, such as the fact kosher food is not widely available in Indonesia, said Phinechas, a local convert to Judaism.

"I try my best to be a good Jew but I can't manage it 100 percent," he added.

But across the archipelago, intolerance has risen in recent years as more 

conservative forms of Islam have become popular, forcing some Jews to

hide their faith for fear of repercussions

Increasing intolerance

Faith-based tension has been mounting in Indonesia, undermining its pluralist reputation.

Christian churches and mosques where Muslim minorities pray have been closed due to pressure from hardliners. Shiites and Ahmadis -- regarded as heretics by some Sunnis -- have been forced from their homes in mob attacks and on occasion even killed.

Successive governments have been criticised for failing to tackle the radicals for fear of being accused of attacking Islam.

Due to their small number and the fact most live in the shadows, the nation's Jews have not been a major focus of radical Islamic anger in Indonesia and have largely escaped the serious attacks directed at other minorities.

But having a low profile also brings problems.

According to the law, freedom of worship is guaranteed for all religions, including Judaism, but in practice Jews cannot be honest about their faith.

Bali Beats London and Paris to Be Crowned World's Best Destination by TripAdvisor

Jakarta Globe, I Nyoman Mardika, April 22, 2017

Balinese Hindus walk along a beach during Melasti, a purification ceremony
 ahead of the holy day of Nyepi, in Gianyar, Bali, on March 25, 2017.
(Reuters Photo/Agung Parameswara)

Jakarta. Travel app and website TripAdvisor crowned Bali as the "World’s Best Destination in 2017," the first place in Asia to top its "Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Destinations" list.

TripAdvisor's head of destination marketing for Asia Pacific Sarah Mathews handed the award to Bali governor's economic and development assistant Dewa Putu Sunartha in a ceremony at the Seminyak Beach Resort and Spa in Bali on Thursday (20/04).

The Ministry of Tourism's resources development deputy Gede Pitana, who attended the ceremony, said,"This award should attract even more tourists to Bali and Indonesia. We expect 20 million foreign tourists in 2019."

Mathews said the award was based on ratings and reviews written by travelers on the TripAdvisor website. Bali was on top of a list of 419 outstanding tourist destinations across the globe.

"Bali offers the best experiences in food, culture and ecotourism. We want to share them to the rest of the world," Mathews said.

Bali beat London in second place and Paris in third to top the list.

TripAdvisor also declared Ritz Carlton Reserve's Mandapa Resort in Ubud, Bali, as the second best hotel in the world after Aria Hotel in Budapest, Hungary.

Bali's Nusa Dua Beach was also declared one of Asia's Top 25 Beaches in TripAdvisor's 2017 Travelers' Choice list.

Pence tours Indonesian mosque in outreach to Muslims

Yahoo – AFP, Andrew Beatty, April 20, 2017

US Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Indonesia represents the most high-profile
 outreach to Muslims by the Donald Trump administration since the brash
 billionaire came to office (AFP Photo/Adek BERRY)

US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday toured the biggest mosque in Muslim-majority Indonesia during a visit seen as a highly symbolic gesture from an administration that has been accused of stoking Islamophobia.

After kicking off his stop in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country by praising its moderate Islam as "an inspiration", he visited Istiqlal Mosque, whose vast white dome towers over downtown Jakarta.

He slipped off his shoes before being guided around the mosque, which is also the biggest in Southeast Asia, accompanied by his wife and two daughters in headscarves, as well as Istiqlal's grand imam.

His visit represents the most high-profile outreach to Muslims by the Donald Trump administration since the brash billionaire came to office and echoes a similar trip by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2010.

Since becoming president almost 100 days ago, Trump has hosted leaders from majority-Muslim Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

But his administration has also tried to ban travellers from several Muslim-majority nations, citing concerns about terrorism -- an effort currently being challenged in US courts.

As a presidential candidate, Trump often appeared to flirt with the far right as he railed against "radical Islamic terrorism".

But Pence struck a starkly different tone during his visit to Indonesia, which has often been praised as a successful Muslim democracy where most practise a moderate form of Islam and coexist peacefully with substantial religious minorities.

"Indonesia's tradition of moderate Islam is frankly an inspiration to the world and we commend you and your people," he said after talks with President Joko Widodo at the presidential palace in Jakarta.

"In your nation as in mine, religion unifies, it doesn’t divide."

US Vice President Mike Pence and his family were taken on a tour of Istiqlal, 

Indonesia's biggest mosque, in Jakarta (AFP Photo/Adek BERRY)

Tolerant Islam under threat

Pence is currently on a tour of South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Australia that is aimed at smoothing some of the rougher edges of Trump's rhetoric.

In South Korea and Japan, Pence played down protectionist declarations of "America first" and reaffirmed US treaty commitments to the security of the two countries as tensions rise over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

After meeting with representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation's at the regional bloc's headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday, Pence announced Trump would attend three summits in Asia in November, a further sign that his administration is seeking to reassure regional allies.

He will attend the US-ASEAN and East Asia summits in the Philippines and a gathering of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group in Vietnam.

At the mosque in Jakarta, Pence and his family also toured the cavernous main prayer room -- which was empty during his visit but fills up with tens of thousands of worshippers during key dates in the Muslim calender -- and admired the towering dome.

A man showed the US leader how he beats a carved drum next to the courtyard, a local addition to the traditional call to prayer.

Pence then held an interfaith dialogue behind closed doors with representatives of the Christian, Buddhist, Confucian, Hindu and Muslim faiths.

The vice president's upbeat tone about Indonesian Islam contrasts with growing concerns inside the country that the traditionally inclusive brand of the religion is under threat from hardliners and a trend towards conservatism.

On Wednesday Jakarta's Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama was defeated in a run-off election to lead the capital by a Muslim challenger who was accused of pandering to hardliners to win votes.

Purnama, known by his nickname Ahok, lost after his once-unassailable lead in opinion polls was dented when he was put on trial for blasphemy in a case criticised as politically motivated.

After his talks with Widodo, Pence also said the US was committed to building a stronger defence partnership with Indonesia to combat terrorism, and guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, where Indonesian and Chinese vessels have recently clashed.

Easter Celebrations Should Inspire Unity in Indonesia: Religious Affairs Minister

Jakarta Globe, Eko Prasetyo, April 14, 2017

Indonesian Catholics pray at Gua Maria ("Mary's Cave") in Sendang
Sriningsih in Yogyakarta on Thursday (13/04). (Antara Photo/
Aloysius Jarot Nugroho)

Jakarta. Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said Easter celebrations in Indonesia are perfect manifestations of the country's motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, or "unity in diversity."

Lukman said the theme for this year's official national celebration of Easter — to be hosted in Manado, North Sulawesi — "Torang Samua Ciptaan Tuhan," or "Everyone is God’s Creation," was chosen to reflect the values of the often-quoted motto.

"The founding fathers of this country clearly understood we're a pluralistic, diverse nation, that's why unity is something to be fought for," Lukman was quoted as saying on the Ministry of Religious Affairs website.

Shephard Supit, the chairman of the 2017 National Easter Celebration committee, said a series of ceremonies and events celebrating Easter will be held in Manado and Tondano from April 21-25.

More than 25,000 Christians are expected to attend, including foreign visitors.

North Sulawesi Governor Olly Donkokambey said the province is more than ready to host the Easter celebrations.

"It will be another honor for us. Last year we also hosted the National Christmas Celebration and the Maulid Nabi [Prophet Muhammad's birthday] Celebration," Olly said.

Two men may get 100 lashes after gay sex in Indonesia

Two men may be in line for up to 100 lashes of the cane after being caught having sex in Indonesia's Shariah-ruled province of Aceh. The province is the only one allowed to impose Shariah after a change in the law.

Deutsche Welle, 8 April 2017

If found guilty, two men from the Indonesian province of Aceh who were discovered having sex together will be the first to be caned for gay sex under a new code implemented two years ago, Marzuki, the Shariah police's chief investigator, said on Saturday.

"Based on our investigation, testimony of witnesses and evidence, we can prove that they violated Islamic Shariah law and we can take them to court," said Marzuki, who goes by a single name.

The new code allows up to 100 lashes for morality offenses including gay sex, adultery, gambling, drinking alcohol, the wearing of tight clothes by women and skipping Friday prayers in the case of men.

Homo sexualityis not illegal in Indonesia, but a judicial review being considered by the Constitutional Court is seeking to criminalize sex outside marriage and sex between people of the same gender.

Read:The invisible scars left by strikes of the cane

Civilian vigilantism

Residents caught the men having sex on March 28 in a rented room in the provincial capital Banda Aceh, an official at the provincial public order department told the German press agency DPA.

The men - aged 23 and 20 - were reported to the police on March 29, Marzuki said. He added that the men had "confessed" to "being a gay couple." This was supported, he said, by video footage taken by a resident showing one of the men naked and distressed as he calls for help on his cellphone. The second man is repeatedly pushed by another man who is preventing the couple from leaving the room.

Under the code, sex out of wedlock is punishable by up to 100 strokes of the cane. An earlier version of the code did not regulate punishment for gay sex.

Jakarta signed a peace agreement with Aceh separatist rebels in 2005, ending decades of conflict that killed more than 15,000 people.

jbh/tj (AP, dpa)

Related Articles:

Coalition negotiators condemn anti-gay violence after attack in Arnhem

D66 MPs Pechtold (l) and Koolmes take a stand. Photo: David van Dam/HH

N.E.C. keert geweld tegen homo's de rug toe. #allemannenhandinhand #handinhand @3FM pic.twitter.com/ADxjti0iMO

— N.E.C. Nijmegen (@NEC_Nijmegen) April 3, 2017

Male colleagues of @NLatUN walking hand in hand in New York protesting against violence directed at LGBTI #allemannenhandinhand pic.twitter.com/AYThVsymep

— Lise Gregoire (@LiseGvH) April 3, 2017

Related Article:

"The Akashic Circle" – Jul 17, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: Religion, The Humanization of God, Benevolent Design, DNA, Akashic Circle, (Old) Souls, Gaia, Indigenous People, Talents, Reincarnation, Genders, Gender Switches, In “between” Gender Change, Gender Confusion, Shift of Human Consciousness, Global Unity,..... etc.)  - (Text version)

“… Gender Switching

Old souls, let me tell you something. If you are old enough, and many of you are, you have been everything. Do you hear me? All of you. You have been both genders. All of you have been what I will call between genders, and that means that all of you have had gender switches. Do you know what happens when it's time for you to switch a gender? We have discussed it before. You'll have dozens of lifetimes as the same gender. You're used to it. It's comfortable. You cannot conceive of being anything else, yet now it's time to change. It takes approximately three lifetimes for you to get used to it, and in those three lifetimes, you will have what I call "gender confusion."

It isn't confusion at all. It's absolutely normal, yet society often will see it as abnormal. I'm sitting here telling you you've all been through it. All of you. That's what old souls do. It's part of the system. …”

"Listening to the Voice of Spirit" (2) - Feb 20, 2016 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (DNA Efficiency is on average at 35 percent now) - (Text version)

“… With free choice, the percentage of DNA efficiently started to go down as humanity grew. As soon as the DNA started to lose percentage, the gender balance was dysfunctional. If you want to have a test of any society, anywhere on the planet, and you want to know the DNA percentage number [consciousness quota] as a society, there's an easy test: How do they perceive and treat their women? The higher the DNA functionality, the more the feminine divine is honored. This is the test! Different cultures create different DNA consciousness, even at the same time on the planet. So you can have a culture on Earth at 25 percent and one at 37 - and if you did, they would indeed clash. …”

“… You're at 35. There's an equality here, you're starting to see the dark and light, and it's changing everything. You take a look at history and you've come a long way, but it took a long time to get here. Dear ones, we've seen this process before and the snowball is rolling. There isn't anything in the way that's going to stop it. In the path of this snowball of higher consciousness are all kinds of things that will be run over and perish. Part of this is what you call "the establishment". Watch for some very big established things to fall over! The snowball will simply knock them down. …”

Garuda Indonesia Moves to New Terminal to Boost Tourist Arrivals

Jakarta Globe, Dames Alexander Sinaga, April 05, 2017

Garuda Indonesia will move all its international flights to the new Terminal 3
 at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport starting on May 1. (Photo
courtesy of beritasatu.com)

Jakarta. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will try to help increase international tourist arrivals by moving its international flight operations from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

The Tourism Ministry has asked for airport operator Angkasa Pura II's help to attract an additional 700,000 international visitors to Indonesia this year. Garuda plans to help achieve the target by streamlining its passengers' path through the airport.

Currently the airline operates flights from two terminals at Soekarno-Hatta — domestic flights from Terminal 3 and international flights from Terminal 2. But soon all Garuda flights will use Terminal 3 and passengers will no longer need to move between terminals to catch a connecting flight.

"The new Terminal 3 will be a bigger and better hub for us," Garuda Indonesia chief executive Arif Wibowo said in a statement.

Angkasa Pura II president director Muhammad Awaluddin confirmed the plan to move Garuda Indonesia's international flights to Terminal 3, saying it would help the airport to take in more passengers.

"We should have more than 100 million passengers going through Soekarno-Hatta this year. In January, the airport had more than 15 million passengers, 14 percent to 15 percent more than last year," Awaluddin said during a ministerial coordination meeting at Hotel Borobudur in Central Jakarta on March 30.

Awaluddin said Soekarno-Hatta Airport has two runways which can accommodate 72 flights per hour. Angkasa Pura wants to increase that rate to 80 flights per hour by October and to 86 flights per hour by January 2018.

Not the finished article: Terminal 3

All of Garuda Indonesia's flights are set to use Terminal 3 starting from May 1.

"We've told Garuda to start organizing their move to Terminal 3. Everything has to be ready by May 1," Minister of Transportation Budi Karya said.

Budi said Garuda Indonesia has to set up all the infrastructure at its new terminal before moving. The ministry can only issue an operating permit once the terminal is ready.

"They have their work cut out for them; they're yet to do all the operational simulations, from check-in to boarding to luggage-handling," Budi said.

According to the Ministry of Transportation, infrastructure for international flights at Terminal 3 is now 90 percent complete. Budi said Garuda Indonesia will operate 26 international flights from the terminal.

The new terminal was opened in August last year, but has been beset with problems from the start, including a collapsed roof and a flash flood at its arrival gate.

Garuda Indonesia operational director Novianto Herupratomo and Ida Fiqriyah,

the flag-carrier's first female captain, on Wednesday (05/04). (Photo courtesy

of Garuda Indonesia)

Related Article:

Garuda Indonesia Appoints First Female Captain

Garuda Indonesia Appoints First Female Captain

Jakarta Globe, Sarah Yuniarni, April 06, 2017

Garuda Indonesia operational director Novianto Herupratomo and Ida Fiqriyah,
the flag-carrier's first female captain, on Wednesday (05/04). (Photo courtesy
of Garuda Indonesia).

Jakarta. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has appointed its first ever female captain, the first major Indonesian airline to do so.

Ida Fiqriyah was officially appointed as a captain on Wednesday (o5/04). She regularly flies the narrow-body Boeing B737-800 NG and single-aisle aircraft for Garuda. She has clocked in 10,585 flight hours in more than 18 years with the flag-carrier, beginning her career in 1999 as a co-pilot.

A 1996 graduate of the Indonesian State Aviation School in Tangerang, Banten, Ida has been flying all types of aircraft for Garuda Indonesia, including Boeing B737-300, B737-400 and B737-500 and the wide-body Airbus A330-300 and A330-200.

"We are an equal-opportunity employer. We always reward good performances," Garuda Indonesia operational director Novianto Herupratomo said in a statement on Wednesday.

Novianto said to become a captain is no easy task; pilots have to go through a lot of hardships and face many challenging situations before they can even be considered as a captain at Garuda Indonesia.

He also said Ida's appointment as captain should inspire other Indonesian women to pursue a career in aviation.

Garuda Indonesia currently employs 30 female pilots out of a total of 1,380 pilots at the company.

Bangka Belitung Embarks on New Campaign to Attract Foreign Tourists

Jakarta Globe, April 03, 2017

A beach at Burung Belitung Island in Bangka Belitung province. Local tourism
agencies have been ramping up campaigns to attract foreign tourists to the
province in recent months. (Antara Photo/Teresia May)

Jakarta. Travel agencies from neighboring Singapore and Malaysia will send representatives to a series of events next month to promote tourism to the Bangka Belitung Islands.

The Pelangi Travel Mart 2017 will be held on May 9-12 and is being organized by Bangka Belitung regional representatives of the Association of Indonesian Tourism (ASPPI).

"Pelangi Travel Mart will host 50 sellers and 100 buyers and has booked 70 participants for the event so far. We are aiming to book local stakeholders, including hotels, souvenir shops and restaurants," ASPPI Bangka Belitung director, Agus Pahlevi, said on Saturday (01/04).

"If there are no hurdles, other neighboring countries will also participate in the event to offer travel packages to Bangka Belitung."

Aside from its hard selling strategy, the event's organizer plans to hold other activities to promote Bangka Belitung. The Travel Mart will be hosted on Lepar Island, in the central Bangka city of Namang and in the provincial capital of Pangkalpinang.

"We will emphasize promoting maritime tourism, but we are generally encouraging potential visitors to enrich themselves in Bangka Belitung's local cultural," Agus said.

"From Lepar Island, tourists are able to travel to surrounding islands, including to Kelapan and Mercusuar, and to Tukam village, a local town known for its industrious recycling program," Agus said.

Pelangi Travel Mart will also be supported by the Ministry of Tourism, the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurants Association (PHRI) and the Indonesian Tourist Guide Association (HPI).

Esthy Reko Astuti, the deputy minister for tourism marketing, said the upcoming events are an example of recent government efforts to attract more foreign visitors to the country.

"Tourists visiting Indonesia can contribute to the country's economic strength as their expenses determine our foreign exchange earnings," Esthy said. "Local tourism agencies, who are dominated by young people, have been shrewd enough to introduce the Bangka Belitung Islands to foreign tourists, a relatively unfamiliar destination."

"Agencies have been aggressively promoting tourism packages on social media," she said.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said the event is crucial to building up the country's tourism industry.

"I would suggest local tourism agents join the Indonesia Tourism Xchange [ITX] – a digital marketplace endorsed by Tourism Ministry – to enable agents to promote their business through a streamlined online platform," Arief said.

During a National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas), Arief also said that conventional travel agents are facing new challenges to adapt to an increasing online marketplace. According to ministry data, at least 70 percent of tourists book their trips on the web.

UN blasts 'disturbing' racism against Aborigines in Australia

Yahoo – AFP, April 3, 2017

UN blasts 'disturbing' racism against Aborigines in Australia

Sydney (AFP) - Racism against Aborigines in Australia is widespread and "deeply disturbing", a United Nations envoy said Monday, urging the government to work more closely with indigenous people.

UN special rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz has been on a 15-day visit at Canberra's invitation to check on progress made since the last such trip in 2009.

She said she found racism against the indigenous population widespread.

"As I have travelled across the country, I have found the prevalence of racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples deeply disturbing," she said.

"This manifests itself in different ways, ranging from public stereotyped portrayals of them as violent criminals, welfare profiteers and poor parents and to discrimination in the administration of justice."

During her tour, Tauli-Corpuz examined measures aimed at reducing indigenous disadvantage, jail conditions, land rights issues and violence against women.

Aborigines -- who make up about three percent of the population of 24 million -- are among the most disadvantaged Australians.

In February an annual government report entitled "Closing the Gap" found that Australia was failing in its efforts to improve Aboriginal lives, with targets -- including cutting child mortality and raising life expectancy -- not being met.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull admitted at the time not enough progress had been made and committed more money to improve research and evaluate policies to improve the situation.

The UN rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples said in a statement there was a lack of government consultation with indigenous bodies working to support their own communities in public health, housing, education, and child protection.

She said the national representative body for the indigenous population -- the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples -- was "dismally disregarded by the government".

"While Australia has adopted numerous policies aiming to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait socio-economic disadvantage, the failure to respect the right to self-determination and the right to full and effective participation in these is alarming," she said.

"The compounded effect of these policies has contributed to the failure to deliver on the targets in the areas of health, education and employment in the Closing the Gap strategy."

Tauli-Corpuz said indigenous organisations "remain unfunded or have had funding radically cut" and urged Canberra to do more.

She highlighted escalating rates of youth suicide, and denounced as "simply astounding" the high levels of indigenous incarceration.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders make up 27 percent of the prison population, despite accounting for just three percent of the total population.

"Imprisonment is the end result of years of dispossession, discrimination and trauma faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders populations over the generations," said the envoy.

Children of Indonesian men executed by Dutch demand damages

DutchNews, March 31, 2017

More than 500 children of men executed in Indonesia during the independence war of 1946 to 1949 are preparing damages claims against the Dutch state, the AD said on Friday. 

Lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld has sent a list of 520 names to the defence and foreign affairs ministries, urging the state to settle their claims out of court, the paper said. 

She wants the government to agree to give the children damages the same rights as the widows of the men killed. They are able to make an uncontested claim for damages, outside the courts. 

The state, however, has said it wants to wait until the outcome of a test case brought by the children of men executed in southern Sulawesi. A lower court ruled in 2015 that they are entitled to compensation like their mothers. 

The Dutch military interventions in Indonesia, or Dutch Indies as it was known then, followed the proclamation of the independent Republic of Indonesia in 1945 and lasted until the country formally gained independence in 1949 after a bloody struggle. 

At the end of 2011, the Netherlands finally formally apologised for the massacre of hundreds of men and boys in the Javanese village of Rawagede in 1947. 

Last year, the Dutch government agreed to set up a major inquiry into the structural use of violence in Indonesia.

Related Article:

Dutch cabinet agrees to fund research into violence in Indonesia