More than a hundred veterans attended a special farewell meeting on the 28th of december in The Hague to honour the Indonesian Ambassador to The Netherlands, Junus Effendi Habibie who maintains a special relation with the Dutch veterans who were active in Indonesia during the struggle for independence. Mr. J.E. Habibie is the first Indonesian ambassador – since formal diplomatic representation have been established between Indonesia and The Netherlands in 1950 – who invited Dutch veterans at the formal Independence Day ceremony on the 17th of august. The ambassador held a impressive and moving farewell speech in which he emphasized that both the soldiers of Indonesia and The Netherlands did their duty, but there is no grudge towards each other. On the contrary the ambassador said “what remains is true friendship between the Dutch and Indonesian people”! Since his posting in the Netherlands Mr. Habibie has been a great advocate for strong friendship ties between The Netherlands and Indonesia, particular the friendship between the former adversaries has his special attention, because “friendship between nations is based on friendship between people” according to the ambassador. The presence of the Dutch veterans at the official Independence Day ceremony is groundbreaking in the relations between Indonesia and The Netherlands. Next to that Mr. Habibie organised the very succesful Pasar Malam Indonesia a trade fair, which promotes the regions, business and culture of Indonesia. At that fair the Dutch Committee for Remembrance for Veterans was given the opportunity to organise an exposition of large photographs of Indonesian war cemeteries, thereby honouring the Indonesian men and women who fought for independence. This has been much appreciated – especially by the Indonesians living in the Netherlands – of the more than 30.000 persons who visited the Pasar Malam Indonesia.
On behalf of the veterans, the ambassador was addressed at the farewell meeting by lieutenant-general (ret) Ted Meines, who thanked Mr. Habibie for his enormous contribution promoting the friendship between both countries. He remarked that after the Independence of Indonesia the friendship between both peoples is “unbreakable and everlasting”. To honour ambassador Habibie, he was awarded the Friendship medal by the Committee for Remembrance for Veterans, which he graciously accepted, receiving a standing ovation by those present at the farewell meeting. The importance of the gathering was emphasized by the attending of several important guests such as the former Dutch ambassador in Indonesia Baron van Heemstra; the chairman of the Veteransplatform (the association of all Dutch veterans organisations) major-general (ret) Leen Noordzij, also the last commander of the 7th December Division; the director of the Veteransinstitute, captain of the Royal Navy Frank Marcus; the chairman of the National Fund for Freedom and Veteranscare Mr. Robert Croll and member of parliament Mr. Anne Mulder.
Ambassador Junus Effendi Habibie, who will return to his native country on the 20th of January, emphasized that he will continue to work on behalf of the good relations between The Netherlands and Indonesia, in particular promoting friendship between Indonesian and Dutch veterans. The Dutch veterans wish him good health and good luck for the future and thank him for his enormous achievements and continuous friendship!
Ton Lutter