The Aftermath of Dutch Colonialism in Indonesia – The Moluccan Matter and Netherlands New Guinea

The Dutch colonial empire came to an end on 27th of December in 1949 when Indonesia was granted independence by the Dutch. The Netherlands had transferred sovereignty to the Indonesians. It made an end to the Indonesian War of Independence (in Dutch known as: Politionele Acties) that started right after the Second World War in Indonesia ended. First there were the United States of Indonesia only to be taken over by the Indonesian Republic. Shortly after 12.500 Moluccans were transferred to the Netherlands. Many of the indigenous soldiers of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (the KNIL) were of Moluccan decent. They also fought with the Dutch against the Indonesian republicans during the Indonesian War of Independence. Did they had to stay behind in a country they were previously helped colonizing? In 1950 the self-proclaimed Republic of South Maluku (RMS) saw the light of day. Several months later forces of the Indonesian Republic invaded Ambon to take down the RMS. They took Ambon after heavy fighting, yet Moluccan fighters continued a guerrilla warfare on the nearby island of Ceram for another 13 years.

In the 1950s more repatriates came to the Netherlands. The so-called Moluccan Matter (Molukse Kwestie) would have a bitter aftertaste in the 1970s where radicalized Moluccan youngsters perpetrated several terrorists attacks. Several attempts to kidnap the Indonesian ambassador in the Netherlands failed, so did the attempt to take the Dutch queen hostage. Yet, in December 1975 Moluccan youngsters hijacked a Dutch train near Wijster. The train driver was shot dead and two more hostages shared the same fate. The hostage crisis ended when the Moluccan terrorists surrendered. This was the first train hijacking the Netherlands. In May 1977 Moluccan terrorists took over another train near De Punt and simultaneously a primary school in Bovensmilde. It ended with an intervention of Dutch marines.

Netherlands New Guinee was the territory the Dutch did not cede to Indonesia after the sovereignty transfer. The Dutch saw it as their mission to civilize the primitive people of New Guinee. Yet, Indonesian leader Sukarno saw it as part of his republic. In the following years Indonesian marines infiltrated the area. Just like they did during the times of the Konfrontasi in Sarawak. Would this lead to another war between the Netherlands and the Indonesian Republic?
History Hustle at Home presents: The Aftermath of Dutch Colonialism in Indonesia – Repatriation, Netherlands New Guinea and the Moluccan Matter.
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