Around 800 motorcyclists rode through Brabant in an impressive procession on Saturday. They drove from Middelburg over the A58 to Breda and after a long stop to Krimpen aan de IJssel via the A16. Along the road and on viaducts the procession attracted a lot of attention.
This ride commemorates the death of the former president of the Republic of the South Moluccas, Chris Soumokil. He was executed in 1966 by the then Indonesian regime.
The current government in exile of the Republic of the South Moluccas (RMS) has therefore declared a national day on 12 April on which all who left their lives are commemorated for the struggle for freedom.
Three Moluccan organizations raise money with the motorcycle ride to compete against violation of human rights by the Indonesian government in the Moluccas and West Papua.
In November 1950, Indonesia took over control of the Moluccan Ambon and in 1952 the RMS resistance was largely terminated. Since then, the RMS government has been in exile in the Netherlands.
