Slaughter Westerling, a Cruelty of Dutch Special Troops in South Sulawesi
by Captain Westerling and his troops massacred civilians in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The massacre that is known as Pembantaian Westerling caused 40,000 dead.
Slaughter Westerling is one of painful traces that left by Dutch troops in Indonesia. The massacre happened on December 1946-February 1947. It started when the Dutch Special Troops under Captain Raymond Pierre Paul Westerling were ordered to snatch away their colony in South Sulawesi, Netherlands Indies (now Indonesia). Whereas Netherlands Indies have been independent since 1945, and became Republic of Indonesia. Westerling was given full authority to do his duty.
By reason for looking the ‘extremists, robbers, criminals, and killers’, Westerling troops entered the villages. Actually they looked for the strugglers of Indonesia. They used strategy of Counter Insurgency by their way. They were not held on officially stipulation of Counter Insurgency (about intelligence, civil society and prisoner).
Everyone who was assumed as a dangerous person was killed. They were not only use method of shooting gun, but also other cruel method. According a book that written by Horst H. Geerken, Westerling was not only instruct to shoot nape but also ordered beheading. Hundreds of sacks that filled heads were wasted in the sea to erase the trace.
Target of killing was spread, not only people who assumed as terrorists, extremist, criminal, robber and murderers, but also the innocence people. Including the people who had been jailed first were due to some reasons. They were take out from jail, and then were killed.
Thousands of people dead in some villages in South Sulawesi. Batua village, Tanjung Bunga village, Kalikuang village, Jongaya village, Polobangkeng village, Gowa and the others. But the greatest victim of Westerling is Incident of Galung Lombok on February 2, 1947.
On 1947, Indonesian Government in front of UN claimed that the victim of slaughter Westerling was 40,000. But Dutch Government, on 1969, predicted the victims achieve 3000-5000. Whereas Captain Westerling said ‘only’ 600 dead.
Now, the victims of Westerling have new hope to get justice. The winning of victims of Rawagede case, give them a hope. 9 widows of victims, representative all victims will sue Dutch government. Initiation has been done through KUKB (Komite Utang Kehormatan Belanda, Committee of Dutch Honorary Debts) and a lawyer of human rights, Liesbeth Zegveld.
“They especially need recognition of their suffering and also apology,” Lisbeth Zegveld said, like reported by site of Netherlands Radio of broadcasting Indonesia. Lisbeth Zegveld was a lawyer of victims of Rawagede tragedy.
However, what Westerling and his troops did is a crime. War crime! Hopefully the people of South Sulawesi get justice.
(Images from Google)
Liked it
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Post Commentmdrkarim7
On January 24, 2012 at 7:10 am
So, sad,,, how long Africans will be suffering only Allah knows!
marqjonz
On January 24, 2012 at 7:17 am
Good to see you writing on Triond again. By the way, I’ve seen nothing about this lawsuit in American media. Thanks.
papaleng
On January 24, 2012 at 7:45 am
Nice piece History you have shared here.
iva75cpb
On January 24, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Sad things happen, although violence can always be skipped.
juny423
On January 24, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I watched one of the good movies that depict such cruelty.
dwisuka
On January 24, 2012 at 9:20 pm
@mdrkarim7: yes, only Allah knows. thanks for reading
@marqjonz: thank you, Mark. It’s an old pain that reappear recently after winning of Rawagede tragedy
@papaleng: thanks for visiting
@iva75cpb: violence always leaves nightmare for the victim
@juny423: such cruelty always be a good topic of movie. movie with historical background. thanks for your comment, juni.
Eunike
On January 25, 2012 at 3:12 am
II am glad I read this. Remind me the time when I learn history in basic school
Eunike
On January 25, 2012 at 3:13 am
II am glad I read this. Remind me the time when I learn history in basic school
aheed411
On January 25, 2012 at 4:26 am
Wow
dwisuka
On January 25, 2012 at 6:07 am
@Eunike: yes, it’s part of our history. and it always be mentioned in historical lesson in school
@aheed411: thanks for ‘wow’
Kristie Claar
On January 25, 2012 at 10:01 am
Thank you for sharing this. Good job!
Ruby Hawk
On January 25, 2012 at 7:54 pm
Such horror, what can anyone say to make sense of such things? It’s unbelievable.
multiplenews
On January 27, 2012 at 2:42 am
Sad things happen, although violence can always be skipped.
ImKarn23
On January 27, 2012 at 2:08 pm
it never ceases to amaze – man’s inhumanity…to everything! well done – shedding the light, dwisuka!
metalgadget
On January 29, 2012 at 1:07 am
Nice story friends …
keep share
girishpuri
On January 30, 2012 at 4:21 am
very sad
dwisuka
On January 31, 2012 at 8:56 pm
@Kristie Claar: thanks, Kristie
@Ruby Hawk: thanks for your comment
@multiplenews: thanks for commenting
@ImKarn23: thanks for reading this
@metalgadget: hi, friend. thanks for visiting
@girishpuri: yes, sad history
somiasom
On February 4, 2012 at 10:31 am
Good share… keep it up