Word: moluccans
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...rage, in a country that has always prided itself as the archetype of the liberal society, is Holland's community of some 35,000 refugees from South Molucca, a group of islands that is now part of Indonesia (see map). The cause of the backlash against the South Moluccan minority was one of the longest terrorist sieges in memory. At week's end, South Moluccan gunmen who had taken over a railroad train near the town of Beilen 13 days ago finally surrendered and released 23 hostages. Terrorists still held the Indonesian consulate in Amsterdam, where they...
Around the country, Dutchmen grew more and more outraged by what they saw as an abuse of their tolerance and good will. One South Moluccan clergyman delivered a stern warning to his compatriots: "There are Dutchmen who want revenge on us. Call the police immediately if you're threatened. Never go anywhere all by yourself. We must remain on good terms with the Dutch...
...real South Moluccan troublemakers model themselves after the Palestine Liberation Organization. They demand the creation of an independent state in the islands that they-or, more typically, their parents-were forced to flee after the Dutch left and the Indonesians took over in 1950. Most of the islanders living in The Netherlands recognize that the goal of an independent South Molucca is scarcely realistic. Johan Manusama, 65, president of the self-styled South Moluccan government-in-exile, regularly appears on television to urge Dutchmen not to punish other South Moluccans for the sins of the young "freedom fighters" holding...
Dutch anger at the South Moluccans could subside as quickly as it arose once the grim episode has been concluded. Nonetheless, hundreds of citizens lined up last week to sign a petition calling for especially severe penalties for terrorist crimes. At week's end, there was great concern for the fate of the 25 hostages held by the South Moluccan terrorists at the Indonesian consulate-especially after seven shots were heard inside the building on Sunday...
...twin acts of violence were not the first signs of South Moluccan anger. Just before a 1970 visit to The Netherlands by Indonesia's President Suharto, they attacked the Indonesian embassy in The Hague, killing a Dutch policeman. Last week's kidnapings came two days before the Dutch Appeals Court was to rule on prison sentences handed 16 South Moluccans who were implicated in a plot last April to kidnap Queen Juliana and other members of the Royal Family. They planned to storm the palace at Soestdijk after ramming the gates with an armored...