The Dutch East Indies Red Cross, 18701950: On Humanitarianism and Colonialism

(Hardback)

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The Dutch East Indies Red Cross (NIRK) took action in 1873 when the Aceh War broke out, which lasted several decades. In this war the organizations neutrality was tested, but it turned out not to be an issue. Neutrality was a concept for European wars between civilized countries, not applicable in colonial wars. As a consequence, aid was tailored to the needs of the Dutch East Indian Army. This also showed itself in a statutory change making aid not only possible during war but also in case of uprising. After the war ended several decades of peaceif peace is a proper term in colonial circumstancesfollowed. They were used to be prepared in case of an attack by a foreign enemy. For this peace-work, societal work of the Red Cross, was deemed important. This means that it was not an aim in itself, but seen as practice for the war task. It also had to avoid the Red Cross becoming invisible and lose popularity, for only with enough (wo)men active the war task could be fulfilled. When war came, preparation turned out to have been in vain. Japan quickly conquered the archipelago. It forbade the organization only making use of some local branches when this came in handy. However, it proved not to be the end of the NIRK. When after the war independence was declared by Indonesian nationalists, the Netherlands send an army to restore law and order. In the war that followed, Red Cross-work became part of military carrot-and-stick strategy, trying to get the population back on Dutch side, and hoping that patients would inform the doctor with military information. The Red Cross not only had a humanitarian but a national task to fulfill.

Reviews

Adroitly using a great number of published and archival sources, Leo van Bergen convincingly argues that the Dutch East Indies Red Cross never attempted to provide medical assistance to the wounded in war irrespective of nationality, allegiance, or creed. For all intents and purposes, it was fully subservient to the colonial armed forces. It supported the colonial army in the subjugation (and slaughter) of Aceh and aimed to win the hearts and the minds of Indonesians during the war of Indonesian independence. Van Bergens book is the first one to analyze the way Red Cross functioned in a colonial context and persuasively adds to critiques of the Red Cross internationally. -- Hans Pols, University of Sydney
It is vitally important for the Red Cross Movement to have studies of national Red Cross Societies like this one translated into English. Deeply researched and with a sweeping narrative, it tells the story of the Dutch East Indies Red Cross and the role it played in supporting Dutch colonialism through to 1950. We need more books like this one. -- Melanie Oppenheimer, Flinders University

Author Bio

Leo van Bergen has worked as a medical historian at the VU University Medical Center.