Toespraak van minister Koenders tijdens nationale receptie Indonesië

Toespraak | 26-08-2015

Your Excellency, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,  

I would like to start by congratulating President Widodo and the Indonesian people on the 70th anniversary of the Proklamasi of 17 August 1945. A defining moment for the Indonesian people. The Dutch are honoured and happy to share in this moment, as our two peoples and nations are bonded together in a relationship that spans many generations, with all the ups and downs this implies.  

Today's celebration is a good occasion to highlight this close relationship between us. To look back on our common past. And to look forward to a positive future.   Indonesia has entered the 21st century brimming with energy, with a young and ambitious population. Your country is at the centre of one of the most vibrant regions of the world. Since the start of the Reformasi some 17 years ago, Indonesia has undergone some impressive changes. Poverty has declined, the middle class has grown, civil society is more active, and democratisation has taken root. These developments have enabled Indonesia to play an increasingly prominent part on the world stage, for example in the G20 and within the United Nations. Your country has assumed a leading role in the region, especially in ASEAN. Indonesia would like to build on its position and strategic location as an archipelago, acting as a 'maritime fulcrum'. And the Netherlands would like to be your strategic partner.   

Ladies and gentlemen,  

Following the birth of Republik Indonesia, we experienced a painful separation, a protracted process marked by severe violence. The government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands expressed regret in 2005 for the many people who were wounded or killed during that period.   The post-Proklamasi period has had a lasting impact on those who suffered during that time, both Indonesian and Dutch. New information about this period continues to emerge, and public interest - certainly in the Netherlands - continues to grow. My predecessor, I think we have the honor that he's with us today, Bernard Bot stated in 2005 that if a society wants to go into the future with its eyes open, it must also have the courage to confront the dark pages of its history. This applies to every country, including the Netherlands and the Republic of Indonesia. As Multatuli, the famous 19th-century Dutch anti-colonial writer, put it: 'An illusion lost is a truth found.'  

In 2013, on behalf of the Dutch government, our Ambassador acknowledged that the Netherlands bears a special responsibility in respect of Indonesian widows of the victims of summary executions like those carried out by Dutch troops in South Celebes and Rawagede. That year, my government introduced a measure enabling any future claims to be settled in a uniform manner, without the involvement of the courts. Two weeks ago my government extended the period for submitting claims by another two years. The Dutch government hopes that these steps will help to close this very painful chapter.  

Ladies and gentlemen,  

Notwithstanding the dark times in our past, our two countries remain close. Our histories are interwoven, as are our identities and cultures. This shared history offers a sound basis on which to build a shared future.  There are many opportunities for further deepening our friendship and partnership, I mentioned many of them, in areas like trade and investment, water management, the judicial sector, defence, counterterrorism and higher education. Let me highlight some of these areas, only some.

• Our countries have similar concerns about radicalisation, extremism and terrorism, including foreign terrorist fighters. This week, a high-level Indonesian delegation will visit the Netherlands for meetings with our National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism and other relevant parties. We also contribute to programmes to prevent and counter violent extremism. Boosting bilateral cooperation on this shared challenge is key.
• Indonesian and Dutch companies work together closely too. Not only to improve maritime infrastructure and protect Jakarta against annual flooding, but also in the area of agriculture and horticulture.
• Ours is a partnership of equals. Of course we are a lot smaller, by the way. This is underscored by triangular cooperation and the work we're doing to build together the capacity of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation. The Institute aims to identify potential conflicts and devise dispute settlement mechanisms for the ASEAN region. We are currently also exploring options for sharing expertise with each another and with China on the sustainable production of and trade in palm oil.
• The Netherlands and Indonesia are also organising a series of public debates on human rights in the ASEAN region. Topics include ASEAN's human rights architecture, migrants, gender-based violence, and business and human rights. These discussions aim to strengthen respect for human rights.

In a strong and wide-ranging relationship like ours, we can also discuss issues on which we hold different views, such as capital punishment.  

Ladies and gentlemen,   

The participation of so many young people in last June's Indonesia Now event (organised by my Ministry, DutchCulture and the Indonesian Embassy) bodes well for the future. It highlighted the great interest that our two peoples have in getting to know each other much better.  At that event, Indonesian and Dutch participants shared their views on our present-day relations and on various aspects of modern Indonesia. They discussed how to bring the two peoples closer together, and a young Dutchman was invited to attend the Independence Day celebration in Jakarta. This is the path I would like to take: a forward-looking approach, with lots of opportunities for people-to-people contacts. A 'Relationship 2.0', as foreign minister Retno Marsudi put it. I met her at Schiphol Airport last week, and we had an excellent conversation. Even though she no longer lives in the Netherlands, she still takes every opportunity to drop by, even if only in transit! I appreciate that. I hope to pay a return visit in the near future (and to see more than just Soekarno-Hatta Airport!).   

Ladies and gentlemen,                                                                        

I look forward to further deepening our relationship, and I would encourage all of you to play your part in that process, whether in government, business, academia, tourism or through the many family connections that exist. Thank you very much.