"Alhamdulillah, I'm Grateful If I Apologize TOO," Prabowo Responded When The Dutch PM Admitted The Date Of Indonesian Independence

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto answered press questions at the Staff School and the Leadership of the National Police Education and Training Institute (Sespim Lemdiklat), Bandung/ANTARA

JAKARTA - Defense Minister (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto welcomed and expressed his gratitude for the statement by the Dutch Prime Minister (PM) Mark Rutte who recognized August 17, 1945 as the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia. Prabowo conveyed this when interviewed after attending the National Dialogue at the Staff School and Leadership of the National Police Education and Training Institute (Sespim Lemdiklat). He also said it would be better if Rutte apologized to Indonesia. "Yes, thank God, thank you. We are also grateful if he (Rutte) apologizes for what they (Netherlands) did during that time in Indonesia, but the king has apologized," Prabowo said in Bandung, West Java, quoted from Antara, Friday, June 16. Prabowo said Indonesia had proclaimed its independence on August 17, 1945. Therefore, according to him, every action of the Dutch military after the proclamation of Indonesian independence was a form of aggression. "We consider and we think that it is indeed a proclamation in '45. It means that every action of their military (Netherlands) is aggression, but officially we accept sovereignty at the end of '49, the results of the KMB (Regional Table Conference), but thank God if he recognizes it now," said Prabowo. However, Prabowo admitted that he did not know when the Dutch PM would meet with the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo to discuss further the confession. "Ask the foreign minister," added the Minister of Defense. Previously, Dutch Prime Minister Rutte made a statement regarding the recognition of August 17, 1945 as Indonesian Independence Day on Wednesday (14/6) local time, in a debate over the results of research on decolonization in the Dutch Parliament. Quoted from a transcript of the debate that can be accessed on the official website of the Dutch Parliament, Sweepe Kamer, Rutte stated that the Netherlands recognized August 17 as the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence unconditionally. Rutte said this in response to a lawmaker from the GroenLinks Party, Corinne Ellemeet, who asked the Prime Minister to convey the importance of August 17, 1945 and the willingness to consult with the President of Indonesia. "The answer is yes. I will give you a little background on that. The Netherlands recognizes August 17 completely and unconditionally," said Rutter. Rutte added that the Dutch were always involved and/or present at the celebration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia in recent years. He also emphasized that the King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander always sends congratulations to Indonesia on August 17 every year.

It is known that Dutch King Willem Alexander accompanied by Dutch Queen Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti has also expressed regret and apology to Indonesia for excessive violence from the Dutch during the colonial period. He conveyed this at the Bogor Presidential Palace, Tuesday (10/3/2022).