Stichting Vrienden van Linggarjati (Friends of Linggarjati)

On August 28, 2005 President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono visited the building in Linggarjati where the agreement between Indonesia and the Netherlands was signed in 1947.

The President was acompanied by Andi Mallarangeng ( Presidential Speaker), Hatta Radjasa ( Minister of Transportation), Jero Watjik ( Minister of Curlture and Tourism), Agung Laksono ( Chairman of the House of Representatives), Ali Alatas ( former Minister of Foreign Affairs), Emil Salim ( former Minister of Environment), as well as several ambassadors and consuls.

The President was given a briefing during the tour of the museum. Before leaving, he said the museum in Linggarjati is very valuable for Indonesia and should be maintained well for future generations.

The Presidential visit was ended by watching a performance from the Purba Wisesa choir.The choir is composed of sectarial staff members of the Kuningan Regency.

The term Friends of Linggarjati has a very profound meaning.

The museum at Linggarjati, to commemorate the conference and the Linggarjati Agreement of 1946, is a monument in remembrance of this historical occasion.

It was an example of the prevalence of the spirit of dialogue and human goodwill in a world of violence.

The Linggarjati Agreement was the defacto recognition of the Republic of Indonesia by the Kingdom of The Netherlands and the right of self-determination of a people, after centuries of domination.

It is in this spirit that the Friends of Linggarjati seek to give form and content in a worthy manner to the ties of friendship between the two people, the Dutch and the Indonesians.

One of the projects to which the Friends of Linggarjati Foundation devote its efforts, is the renovation, expansion and maintenance of the Linggarjati Museum, the historic location of the negotiations. It is very interesting that prominent Indonesian historians have pledged to call attention to the fact that Indonesia's diplomatic efforts were as important, if not more important , as the military aspect in its struggle for independence. The Linggarjati Museum will be an  essential tool to make Indonesia's youth aware of this fact.

The official cooperation between the Forum Indonesia Nederland (FINED) and its associated organization INTERFEL (International Fellows) from the Indonesian side, and the Friends of Linggarjati Foundation (SVL) from the Dutch side, has received the official blessing from the Indonesian and Dutch governments both.
It is hoped that our combined efforts will lead to the realization by the Indonesian people that their independence was shared by a part of the Dutch people and elite and that the diplomatic delibera-tions were at least as important as the physical struggle. In the long term, some of the other agreements reached between the two nations during this period such as Kaliurang, will in due course receive their proper place in history as well.

We are still grateful to our Founder and First Chairman, Dr. Willem van Os, he took the initiative to establish the 'Stichting Vrienden van Linggarjati'.

We, Friends of Linggarjati in the Netherlands, are proud to lend a helping hand to our Indonesian counterparts to make this endeavour take tangible forms.