Tragedy Massacre Rawagede December 9, 1947

The Rawagede massacre was the massacre of the population Rawagede Village (now located in the Village Balongsari, Rawamerta, Karawang), between Karawang and Bekasi the Dutch troops on December 9, 1947 when the first launch military aggression. Some 431 people become victims of this massacre.

When the Dutch army invaded Bekasi, thousands of people fled to the direction of Karawang. The battle then raged in the area between Karawang and Bekasi resulting in the collapse of hundreds of civilian deaths. On October 4, 1948, the Dutch army launched a cleanup. In this incident 35 Rawagede people were killed for no apparent reason. Events thought to be an inspiration from the famous poem titled Anwar Between Karawang and Bekasi but in fact these allegations are not proven.  

On 14 September 2011, the Hague Tribunal said the Dutch government should be responsible and pay compensation to victims and their families. 

Chronological of Tragedy Rawagede

In West Java, before the Renville Agreement was signed, the Dutch soldiers from Division 1, also known as December 7th Division troops launched a cleaning unit and Indonesia militias are still conducting resistance against the Dutch. Dutch troops who took part in operations in the Karawang area is 3-9 RI Detachment, troops of the (1e the compagnie) and 12 Genie veld compagnie, the reserve brigade of paratroopers and DST (Depot Speciaale Troepen).

Around 130,000 Dutch soldiers were sent to the former Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia.Dalam operations in the Karawang area, the Dutch army hunt captain Luke Kustario, the company commander Siliwangi - later became Commander of the Battalion Tajimalela / Brigade Siliwangi Division II - who repeatedly and successfully attacked the patrol post Dutch military posts. In the region Rawagede also roam the various army, not only Indonesia but also hordes of fighters vandals and burglars.

On December 9, 1947, a day after talks Renville begins, Dutch army under the leadership of a major surrounded Rawagede village and searched every house. But they did not find a weapon too. They then forced the entire people out of their homes and gather in a field. Male population was ordered to stand side by side, then they were asked about the existence of the fighters of the Republic. However none of the people who say these fighters hiding place.

Dutch army leader then ordered to shoot to death all the male population, including young teens. Some people managed to escape to the forest, although wounded shot. Saih, now 83-year-old said that he along with his father and his neighbors about 20 in number made ​​to stand side by side. When Dutch soldiers strafe with machine gun-term local people: "didrèdèt" - his father was killed standing next shot, he also fell shot in his hand, but he pretended to be dead. When there is an opportunity, he immediately fled.

Saih bin sakam - Rawagede massacre survivors

That day the Dutch soldiers massacred 431 people Rawagede. Without any court, claims or defenses. As in South Sulawesi, the Dutch army in Rawagede also execute in place (standrechtelijke excecuties), an action that is clearly a war crime. It is estimated that victims of the massacre of more than 431 people, as many are swept away in flood rivers due to heavy rain.

A veteran of the Dutch soldiers who do not want to be named from the village Wamel, a village in the province Gerderland, the Dutch East sent a letter kebata victims of war as follows: From the Swamp Gedeh Dutch troops were fired upon. So it was decided to beat up the village to be a lesson for lain.Saat villages surrounded Gedeh Swamp night. Those who tried to leave the village, killed without sound (attack, pressed into the water until it sinks; their head was hit with rifle butts, etc.) Hour and a half six in the morning, when it began to noon, the village fired on with mortars. Men, women and children who would otherwise escape should be killed: all of them were shot dead. After the village was burned, the Dutch troops occupied the region. The remaining villagers were then gathered, squat, with hands folded behind his neck. Only a few left. Holland Marsh assume Gedeh has received a lesson. All man shot dead by Army troops, called the Kingdom. All the women were shot dead, while the Dutch democratic state. All children were shot dead.   

Wamel village on 20 September 1944 the Germans invaded. 14 civilians were killed brutally murdered by the Germans. It appears from this Wamel event, the veteran wrote a letter of regret it.

The rain which flushed resulting in a pool of blood soaked the village. The only remaining women and children. The next day, after the Dutch troops left the village, the women to bury the bodies with crude equipment. A mother buried her husband and two sons aged 12 and 15 years. They can not dig a hole too deep, only about 50 cm only. For a Muslim cemetery, which remains covered with pieces of wood, they were forced to use a door, and then ground covering, potluck, so the smell of corpses still smelled for days.