This year, 2020, is once again a notable landmark year. A year in which several anniversaries are celebrated or events commemorated. The end of the Second World War 75 years ago in 1945, for instance, in Europe in May and in the Pacific in August. But also, in the same year, the proclamation of the Republic of Indonesia on 17 August. And it is 70 years since the RMS was proclaimed in April. And already 50 years since the occupation of the Indonesian ambassador's residence in Wassenaar, the first hostage action carried out by young Moluccans, followed by the actions in 1975, so 45 years ago this year.
Attention for these historic moments this year is taking place in bizarre circumstances. In April a large gathering was to be organised at the RAI in Amsterdam to mark the 70th anniversary of the RMS proclamation. The outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic put a spanner in the works. Because of the lockdown in force, much work in the Netherlands is being done in the digital world. That became the reality for the RMS commemoration too. This year RMS president in exile mr John Wattilete gave a speech on 25 April via YouTube. That was a world away from last year, when a court case turned out to be necessary to force through the RMS commemoration at the Orpheus theatre in Apeldoorn. That morning Wattilete had been present at the raising of the flag in the neighbourhood in Breda, where everyone kept a proper distance in line with the covid-19 measures. As they did in the other Moluccan neighbourhoods where the flag was raised.
Flags in the Moluccas
Earlier on 25 April, flags had already been raised in the Moluccas. That happens every year; perhaps because of the landmark year, three men this year even carried the flag to police headquarters. A clip of this action, as well as one of a demonstration in the village of Aboru, went viral.
For now it looks as if the measures connected with the covid-19 pandemic will prevent large gatherings. The question is how the commemorations of the next historic moments important to the Moluccan community will take place. Which those are and what the relevance of those events is was described five years ago in three articles in the newsletter of the Moluks Historisch Museum. For those interested: the first article in February 2015 was about 1945, the second in March was about 1950 and the third about 1970 and 1975. Perhaps worth reading back.
