Dutch apology for 1947 Indonesia massacre at Rawagede
The Dutch government has apologised for a massacre committed by its soldiers in Indonesia in 1947, as the country fought for independence.
Dutch ambassador Tjeerd de Zwaan spoke at a ceremony in Balongsari village, formerly known as Rawagede, where at least 150 people were killed. This comes after a court in the Netherlands, earlier this year ordered the government to pay compensation over the killings. The case was brought by relatives of those who were killed.
Mr de Zwaan said he hoped the formal apology would allow the families of the victims of the tragedy to close an exceedingly difficult chapter of their lives. "On behalf of the Dutch government, I apologise for the tragedy that took place in Rawagede on the 9th of December, 1947," he said. When he repeated the apology in Indonesian, some relatives of the victims broke down in tears.
When the Dutch attempted to reassert control after the defeat of the Japanese, they met fierce resistance. The Netherlands finally recognised Indonesia's independence in 1949.
BBC News - Dutch apology for 1947 Indonesia massacre at Rawagede
The Dutch government has apologised for a massacre committed by its soldiers in Indonesia in 1947, as the country fought for independence.
Dutch ambassador Tjeerd de Zwaan spoke at a ceremony in Balongsari village, formerly known as Rawagede, where at least 150 people were killed. This comes after a court in the Netherlands, earlier this year ordered the government to pay compensation over the killings. The case was brought by relatives of those who were killed.
Mr de Zwaan said he hoped the formal apology would allow the families of the victims of the tragedy to close an exceedingly difficult chapter of their lives. "On behalf of the Dutch government, I apologise for the tragedy that took place in Rawagede on the 9th of December, 1947," he said. When he repeated the apology in Indonesian, some relatives of the victims broke down in tears.
When the Dutch attempted to reassert control after the defeat of the Japanese, they met fierce resistance. The Netherlands finally recognised Indonesia's independence in 1949.
BBC News - Dutch apology for 1947 Indonesia massacre at Rawagede
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