Bersiap is the term used by the Dutch to describe the violent and chaotic phase of Indonesia’s revolutionary period that unfolded in the aftermath of World War II. The Indonesian word bersiap means ‘get ready’ or ‘get prepared’. Europeans, Indo-Europeans, and any civilians who were accused of being pro-Dutch were targeted. This group predominantly consisted of native-born Indo-Europeans, Indo-Chinese, Christian indigenous people (such as Menadonese and Ambonese), and indigenous aristocracy. It resulted in a chaotic mix of civil war, religious conflict, and social revolution. The Bersiap period spanned from August 1945 to December 1946.
An Editorial on the Introduction to Over de grens by Inez Hollander, Ph.D. Director Emeritus for The Indo Project and Author of Silence Voices/Verstilde stemmen en verzwegen levens I apologize to you, dear reader. I was going to read the recently published decolonization research anthology Over de grens: Nederlands extreme geweld in de Indonesische onafhankelijkheidsoorlog,…
[Telegraaf article 2/17/2022 by Alexander Bakker – translated by Margaret Maugenest] Rutte: deep apologies to Indonesians for extreme and systematic violence BRUSSELS — In response to findings of the investigation into extreme violence being used by the Dutch against the Indonesians during the War for independence in Indonesia (1945-1949), Prime Minister Mark Rutte offered “deep…
The Back Story In light of the upcoming REVOLUSI exhibit at the Rijksmuseum which deals with the independence struggle of Indonesia, one of the Indonesian curators, Bonnie Triyana, publicly announced that the word “bersiap” should be (and was going to be) omitted from the exhibit. He argued that the term, when used by Dutch people,…
Half goed is niet goed, half waar is niet waar, halfheid leidt tot niets. ~ Multatuli, Max Havelaar The following is an opinion piece and a personal story. I’m writing this for The Indo Project as I feel that many supporters of The Indo Project have a similar story to tell. It’s the other…
We’ve all been there. Just go back in time and think of your elementary school antics. In the schoolyard someone lashes out and says But you’re a moron. The answer that may come back when there is no good answer: No, you’re a moron. And then there is always that line of last resort and…
In the last few weeks, The Netherlands’ colonial closet was ripped wide open in a fight about who gets to determine what the former colonial power did and did not do in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). It started with the Revolusi exhibit in the Rijksmuseum about the Indonesian independence, which is now open to…