Research on the decolonisation of Indonesia: From Dutch East Indies to Indonesia

By order of the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Institute for War Documentation (NIOD) investigated for the past four years (2002-2006) the decolonisation of Indonesia. On January 11th 2007 the results were presented at the annual literary festival Winternachten at The Hague. The research is the result of the lobby of the Indonesian-Dutch community that wants more attention for their own history. During the research there has been an intensive cooperation with young Indonesian historians. The program ‘From Dutch East Indies to Indonesia’ is meant to increase the knowledge about the decolonisation process in the Indonesian archipelago. The purpose is to contribute to a reconsideration - not only scientifically, but also in a social and political way - of the insights in these turbulent years. The program contains five sub studies: Indonesia and Nationalisation, Damage and Rehabilitation, The Backpay-issue in International Perspective, New Orders: Crime and Authority and the Struggle for the City. The research has resulted in a publication.

OBJECTIVES
Study the decolonisation process of Indonesia

Increase the knowledge about the decolonisation process in the Indonesian archipelago.

Contribute to a reconsideration - not only scientifically, but also in a social and political way - of the insights in these turbulent years.

RESULTS
Publication ‘From Dutch East Indies to Indonesia’ (2007)