It becomes an early indication that the Dutch government will return other objects belonging to Indonesia that were taken as part of colonialismJakarta (ANTARA) - The return of Prince Diponegoro’s kris, a dagger with a waved blade, is quite meaningful for Indonesia owing to its high historical value.
The return of the kris also mirrored sound diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Indonesia, Head of the National Museum Siswanto stated in Jakarta, Friday.
Siswanto pointed out that the Dutch government had returned the historically significant object since it was cognizant of the fact that the property of Indonesian national heroes should be stored in the country.
The return of the kris by the Dutch government was also all done in good faith to bolster relations with Indonesia, he stated.
Historian Bondan Kanumoyoso seconded this view, saying that the Dutch government had returned the kris in good faith.
"It becomes an early indication that the Dutch government will return other objects belonging to Indonesia that were taken as part of colonialism," he stated.
Colonizers invading a country commonly took goods, as they had conquered the region.
The Dutch government had earlier symbolically handed back the kris of Prince Diponegoro during the visit of Dutch King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima to Indonesia.
Related news: International Recognition Brings Babad Diponegoro Into Spotlight
The kris was handed over directly to President Joko Widodo when Raja Willem and Ratu Maxima had visited the Bogor Palace on Tuesday (Mar 10).
Prince Diponegoro's kris, rumored to have disappeared, was finally found at the Volkenkunde Museum in Leiden, the Netherlands. Following a lengthy, comprehensive study, the Dutch and Indonesian verification teams were able to ensure the authenticity of the kris.
Historically, the dagger was obtained by the Dutch government after capturing Prince Diponegoro following the great war in 1825-1830. Colonel Jan-Baptist Cleerens then handed over the kris as a gift to King Willem I in 1831. Related news: Prince Diponegoro's kris aligns with historical records
Related news: King Willem Alexander returns Prince Diponegoro's "keris" to Jokowi
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Reporter: Prisca Triferna, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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