Holocaust Education Needed in Indonesia
Transcription talkshow on TV-ONE, Indonesian TV station on Tuesday, February 9th ,2022.
Talkshow Title : Excited about the Holocaust museum in Indonesia
Ahmad Nurcholish, Diversity Activist:
Where is the problem (Holocaust Museum)?
Haikal Hassan, Pro-Palestinian Activist:
The problem is how come in Indonesia?
Ahmad Nurcholish, Diversity Activist:
So what’s the problem in Indonesia?
Haikal Hassan, Pro-Palestinian Activist:
What’s this got to do with it? Counter-productive.
TV Host:
Mr Haikal, we welcome Monique Rijkers
Monique Rijkers, Founder of Hadassah of Indonesia:
Yes, so if you asked what is the connection, why does Holocaust Museum have to be in Indonesia, may I show you a picture? Let me show you why this (Holocaust Museum) has relevance to Indonesia.
TV Hosts:
Please, show the picture to the camera
Monique Rijkers, Founder of Hadassah of Indonesia:
This is a film I produced, about a Jewish baby who was rescued by an Indonesian family in the Netherlands. This Jewish baby was hidden for four years by a Javanese family, the babysitter was a Muslim, (her name was) Mima Saina. Well, this baby is still alive, because he was saved, hidden eventually the baby became a famous Pulmonologist in USA. His name is Alfred Munzer. Another relevance to our context in Indonesia, why the Holocaust Museum is allowed to exist, Holocaust education is important, look at this. You can see it on Google Images. Young people greet like Hitler. Is this acceptable in Indonesia? You can see there are cars with Nazi swastika symbols in Indonesia. In Bandung, there is a Nazi themed cafe. Let me see! We are not related, but….
Haikal Hassan, Pro-Palestinian Activist:
For this reason, it’s okay to create a Holocaust Museum (in Indonesia)?
Monique Rijkers, Founder of Hadassah of Indonesia:
Indonesian (people) are able to glorify Hitler, glorify Nazis because they don’t understand Nazi ideology is anti-Jewish, anti-Semitism. It is not just about antisemitism that need to be educated. We have to educate that we must not be against other ethnicities, other religion.
TV host: Monique, you can ask MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council) because MUI has urged the Holocaust Museum in Minahasa to be closed.
Haikal Hassan, Pro-Palestinian Activist:
The issue of saving (Jewish babies by Indonesian families) should be straightened out a bit.
Monique Rijkers, Founder of Hadassah of Indonesia:
I do not agree (to close of the Holocaust Museum). Because of this (while showing picture), maybe MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council) doesn’t know this happened in Indonesia.
TV Host: While there is Mr. Amirsyah Tambunan from MUI, Monique Rijkers please asking him directly.
Monique Rijkers, Founder of Hadassah of Indonesia:
MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council) can see this picture. There was once a Hitler wax statue in Yogyakarta. Hitler statue used for selfie. Just imagine… and after being criticized by the world, it just closed. Indonesian children, you can see teenagers greeting (Hitler/Nazi salute), pose with the Indonesian flag. It is a shame, right?
Haikal Hassan, Pro-Palestinian Activist:
Just one picture, then you justify a Holocaust museum? Sorry, Monique Rijkers… you has a disability thinking disease. Just one point!, if you want to see,…the whole point.
TV Host:
We hear the voice of MUI, Mr. Amirsyah Tambunan
Amirsyah Tambunan, Secretary General of the MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council):
I emphasize what has been done in North Sulawesi. In my opinion, including development without a permit. Again, procedurally very flawed procedure. If it is said that a private (museum) does not need a permit, this is a rash attitude. This attitude is very contrary to the existing laws and regulations in Indonesia.
The substance of this museum in my opinion is irrelevant. Why? Because it is counterproductive to what happened to the history that this museum wants to explain. Indonesia has a history. Why not Indonesian history built in Indonesia. Because there are many historical events in Indonesia that the Indonesian people don’t even know about. Don’t let us be lack in history and then it seems as if we are proud of foreign history, but then we make our own history, ahistorical to our own history.
TV host:
Mr. Amirsyah, Monique Rijkers considers MUI to be the one who doesn’t understand (about the holocaust).
Amirsyah Tambunan, Secretary General of the MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council):
I think what was said by the previous source, MUI is considered does not understand (Holocaust), I think it’s the other way around. We already understand the history of Indonesia very well. Imagine Indonesia standing on the struggle of the ulama, Islamic guru, Islamic student have sacrificed body and souls to establish this country. Now Indonesia has been established from Sabang to Merauke, already sovereign. According to the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution, the first paragraph, all colonialism in the world must be abolished.
Because of the attitude of the Jews who are still colonizing Palestine, in my opinion, it is against the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution. In the condition of (Palestine being occupied), the Holocaust will be shown in Indonesian society. This is weird, I don’t think it makes sense. Beyond our common sense. This (Holocaust museum) should be rejected, because it is against the procedural establishment of this Holocaust Museum. Thank you.
