In that year, the Netherlands, Iwan, says, Indonesians who had worked for the Netherlands were deported to Indonesia during the Second World War. “That was the moment for the Indonesians to say: if the Netherlands can do that, then we can no longer commemorate together. But now that apologies have been offered for the colonial past, there is a feeling that it is possible again.”
Perhimpunan Indonesia
Iwans father, Slamet Faiman, was part of the ‘Perhimpunan Indonesia’ group. Among other things, the group committed itself from the Netherlands for the independence of their country, before the Second World War began. “But they realized in 1938: if we want to achieve our goal, we must ensure that the Netherlands does not become fascist,” says Iwan. That is why the men went into the resistance in the Netherlands. “And also to defend the democratic values they were standing for.”
According to Iwan, it is important that this group is now commemorated. “These heroes deserve it. And we should not forget what happened then. We live in such a strange time at the moment. Who knows it can happen again.”