On the first day of his visit to Indonesia, in his speech at the Bogor Palace, the Dutch King Willem-Alexander, accompanied by Ratu Maxima, expressed his apologies to Indonesia for the violence that had occurred in the past
"The past cannot be erased and must be acknowledged every generation in turn. In the years immediately after the Proclamation, a painful separation occurred which claimed many lives," the King of the Netherlands said at a press conference at the Bogor Palace on Tuesday (10/3/2020 ).
In addition, Willem said, the Dutch Government had recognized Indonesia's political and moral independence since 2005. The recognition was marked by the Dutch Government's first visit represented by the then Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Bot.
During his four-day visit, the king and his wife Ratu Maxima visited the ancient capital of Yogyakarta and Sebangau National Park in the province of Central Kalimantan in Kalimantan.
In his speech, King Willem revealed that the Netherlands needed Indonesia, especially over Indonesia's position as a member of the G20 and a leading member of ASEAN.
This is a force for security and stability in Southeast Asia.
In addition, Indonesia is currently a member of the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council.
"As the third largest democracy in the world and one of the largest economies in Asia, you play a major role, for example, in a joint effort to protect and promote rule-based international order," he explained.
King Willem also called for further cooperative relations with Indonesia, especially to foster peace, justice and protection of minorities based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"We want to work with you to achieve this goal," he said.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander is welcomed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Bogor on March 10, 2020. Source: Getty
Meanwhile, Jokowi stated that past history indeed cannot be erased.
However, according to him, it can be a lesson to build a relationship of mutual respect and benefit.
"I want to say that we certainly cannot erase history. However, we can learn from the past. We make these lessons to reinforce the commitment to build an equal, respectful and mutually beneficial relationship," President Jokowi was quoted as saying by Compass.
The reaction to the apology
The apology was considered as something that surprised all parties.
One Royal journalist, Sander Paulus said earlier this week that such an apology was not possible. "The king can only do that if the whole government agrees, and that doesn't happen.
Moreover, the Indonesian government never apologized, "he told RTL Nieuws.
Some Dutch historians also criticized the apology from King Willem.
Their visit to the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery, according to the Dutch Embassy, to honor victims of the war of independence was also questioned.
Even the Dutch historian Marjolein van Pagee called him "hypocritical and very embarrassing".
Dutch King Willem Alexander was accompanied by Queen Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti visit to Ereveld Menteng Pulo, Jakarta. Source: Antara Foto/Hafids Mubarak
The children and grandchildren of victims of killings by Dutch soldiers say they are not satisfied with apologies without providing compensation.
Rusdi, activist Lidik Pro, who accompanied the families of victims of the Westerling massacre in South Sulawesi said that if the Dutch government wanted to improve the situation, they should have publicly stated that those killed by the Dutch army were heroes, not rebels.
"With that, the hearts of the victims' children will be remedied," he told the BBC.
