Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten issues a formal apology for the mistreatment of thousands of Moluccan soldiers who fought for the Dutch colonial forces during Indonesia’s independence struggle. The apology acknowledges the grief and pain experienced by Moluccan families connected to those events, as a monument funded through public donations is unveiled in Rotterdam.
The accounts note that around 12,500 men from the Moluccan islands, who served in the Royal Dutch East Indies Army, arrive in the Netherlands with their families in 1951. Many of the men are said to have been pressured into leaving and, contrary to their expectations, several consider that they were not given a clear choice or that the move was treated as more permanent than intended.
At the time, many soldiers believe they were being temporarily evacuated after Indonesia gained independence. Instead, their experiences with Dutch authorities and the treatment of their communities become a lasting source of grievance. Jetten’s apology and the monument’s unveiling are presented as part of an effort to formally recognize that past mistreatment.
