Sean Bala (@seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy)

Thom, I use 9front btw (@[email protected]) 80 years ago, as the Japanese surrender and the "Dutch Indies" revert back to Dutch control after years of brutal Japanese occupation that killed 4 million Indonesians, they declare independence from The Netherlands. Despite the absolute horror The Netherlands had just faced under the nazi occupation, we decide to try and fight Indonesian independence. We go to war. A ravaged Netherlands thinks it can brutally supress independence of an island chain larger than Europe. Our violence is extreme. The war lasts four years. Pressure from the United States to cut off post-WWII aid to The Netherlands finally forces our hand, and we recognise Indonesian independence in 1949. Thank fuck for that, because what we did to the people of Indonesia in the roughly 400 years we colonised them is inexcusable. A crime against humanity of unimaginable proportions. One upon which much of our wealth and prosperity is built. The Netherlands has this cuddly, cute, and tolerant international image now, but all of that is built on the broken backs of untold millions that we murdered, enslaved, and exploited. I don't know if I have any Indonesian followers, but if I do, I hope your independence celebrations on the 17th are awesome. Bhinneka tunggal ika. https://exquisite.social/@thomholwerda/115029181581438883