LINGGAJATI ON THE MAP

Linggajati is a small mountain village at the foot of the highest volcano in West-Java. A house stands there, built by a Dutch entrepreneur who, in the 1920s, migrated to Indonesia. Sadly, he died too young, at the age of thirty-seven. But he had built a house that would play a vital part in changing the Dutch-Indonesian relationship forever. Yet, he never could have imagined that his house would make “world news,” would join the company of the United Nations. But it did…as the location where one of the conferences negotiating the independence of Indonesia took place.

The Indonesian de-colonization process, which accelerated with the declaration of independence by Indonesian freedom-fighters, President Ir. Sukarno and Dr. Mohammad Hatta on August 17, 1945, came as a result of negotiations sponsored by England, America, Australia and the United Nations. Among the delegates who participated in the de-colonization negotiation in Linggajati were among others : Former Dutch Prime Minister Prof. dr. Willem  Schermerhorn, Lt. Governor- General dr. Hubertus van Mook, Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir, President Soekarno, Vice- President Dr. Mohammad Hatta. Also present were Miles W. Lampson and Lord Killearn.

Further de-colonization negotiations  were held at the Hoge, Veluwe, Malino, Renville and the Round Table Conference. The Round Table Conference was held in the Hague 1949 (August 23-November 2).

The Dutch East-Indies had experienced significant change after the Japanese occupation during World War II. For the thousands of Dutch and Dutch-Indonesians citizens who returned from the Japanese labour and internment camps, and who wanted to resume their lives, this post-war period was extremely difficult. Nonetheless, the Indonesian population was clear about waging their fight for independence.  But as long as the Dutch government delayed making a decision about the de-colonization process, a period of insecurity existed for the Dutch and Dutch-Indonesians who remained in Indonesia. The Linggajati negotiations in November 1946 were established in order to address such problems.  Eventually, the  Linggajati agreement  became the basis for Holland’s recognition of Indonesia’s Independence, which was eventually  signed on December 27, 1949.

What made the Linggajati conference so special?  It was because the negotiations between the Indonesians and Dutch were conducted at the highest level, and this could have then been the basis for peace and new relations. The house in which the negotiations took place became a symbol of the Indonesian quest for Independence and  diplomacy. And so in the 1970s, the Indonesian government designated the house, in which the negotiations had taken place, to be a national monument. With this, the Indonesian people honored the diplomatic efforts of their founding fathers, Sukarno, Hatta and Sjahrir and, as well, the efforts of Dutch diplomats. In the Netherlands, appreciation for the Dutch and Indonesian delegations came later. At the opening of the Linggarjati exhibition in  the Hague  in February 2010, Mayor Van Aartsen described the Linggajati negotiations as “a turnaround in the relations between The Netherlands and Indonesia: for the first time in history diplomacy took place on the basis of equality.“

As do most countries, The Netherlands values its history. A few years ago, government funds were made available to record the “stories” about World War II. This included major developments in the former Dutch East Indies. An organization, “Het Gebaar,” was formed especially to grant funds to individuals and organizations that wanted to record their account of events.

As part of “Het Gebaar,” the Friends of Linggajati foundation, was awarded 100,000 euros to record the story of Linggajati. It was decided to do this in the form of a transportable exhibit. Friends of Linggajati then asked “Indisch Erfgoed Apeldoorn” to manage the exhibit. This was successfully done with the help of dedicated volunteers.

The exhibit has already appreared in Apeldoorn, Eindhoven and, at the invitation of Mayor Van Aartsen and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in The Hague. At the invitation of “Stichting Committee 4 and 5 May,” and in close collaboration with the “Stichting Oud Soest,” this exhibit will open on August 6, 2010 at the Museum Oud-Soest, Steenhoffstra 46, 3764 BM Soest.

The exhibit offers a  view of the shared past of the first generation of Dutch-East Indies/Indonesia. It also indirectly offers an understanding of the second and third generation Dutch-Indonesians and Indonesians who have lived there for  shorter or longer periods. An added feature is a perspective on the historic developments of Indonesia and the government of that period.

This colonial past and the forced departure of many Dutch from their beloved country is somewhat vague for the current younger generation in The Netherlands. Possibly that period of history is also vague for second and third generation Indonesians. Many Indonesians studied in Japan, America, Australia and other countries. What they know about Holland, they probably heard from their grandparents. So it is important that, as  the history of Indonesia is recorded, the Indonesian historians present Indonesian history independently of the Dutch interpretation.

It is encouraging that many Indonesian youth visit the museum in Linggajati. As an Indonesian teacher expressed it: “We want them to feel and know the spirit of Linggajati. “

Since the era represented by the exhibit, Indonesia has experienced enormous development. Some of Indonesia’s accomplishments include: a stable democratic country, increasing influence as the largest Muslim country in the world (population 280 million) with mostly moderate Muslims, plus the inclusion of other world religions.

Indonesia is now a major exporter of coal and palm oil and it is self-sufficient in its rice production. Albeit, Indonesia is now a net importer of crude oil for its domestic fuel production needs, it is still a major exporter of Liquefied Petroleum Gas. The stable situation in the country has boosted foreign investments.

Economically, Indonesia is frequently mentioned in the media along with Brazil, China, India, and is a member of the G20. Among other reasons, this includes the amazing efforts of their founding fathers, who managed to inspire Indonesians to create one population, one language, and one country. Long before a concept of a united Europe emerged, Indonesians had begun to form a united Indonesia. This was difficult for a country with 17,000 islands and three hundred cultures and dialects.

As members of the Foundation Friends of Linggajati, we want to express our appreciation and pride for the enormous development that took place in Indonesia, and continues today. Indonesia, the “Sash of Emeralds on the Equator” with which The Netherlands has been connected economically and culturally, and with whom thousands of Dutch families remain connected, has arrived on the world scene as a significant Asian leader.

Indonesia has every right to be proud of what it has achieved, and the direction in which it is headed. Indonesia has become a beacon of hope in a troubled world.“

Foundation “Friends of Linggajati”
Monica Bouman
Joty ter Kulve

July 2010