Rengat massacre

The Rengat massacre (Dutch: Bloedbad van Rengat, Indonesian: Peristiwa 5 Januari 1949) was committed by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army on 5 January 1949 in Rengat, Riau during Operation Kraai. Following the capture of the town, paratroopers of the Korps Speciale Troepen under lieutenant Rudy de Mey subjected confirmed and suspected TNI militants, civil servants, and ordinary townspeople to looting, rape, and summary execution.[3] Bodies were disposed of in the Indragiri River.[2]

Rengat massacre
Part of Operation Kraai
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Location	Rengat, Riau, Dutch East Indies
Date	5 January 1949
Attack type	massacre
Deaths	80-400 (Dutch claims)[1] 1500-2600 (Indonesian claims)[2]
Victims	militants, officials, civilians
Perpetrators	Korps Speciale Troepen (KNIL)

Estimates of the death toll of the Rengat massacre have varied significantly between sources. The Resident of Riau claimed that 400 people had been shot. In turn, the Riau district prosecutor put the death toll at 120 total dead, further reducing the number of victims to "around 80" in his conclusion.[3] This amount has consistently appeared in Dutch official statements since at least 1969.[1] Indonesian sources, including a memorial site on location, estimate a death toll of between 1500 and 2000. Other sources have claimed up to 2600 wounded and dead, including the father of famed author Chairil Anwar.[4]

See also

• South Sulawesi campaign of 1946–1947
• Rawagede massacre

References

1. "'Meer doden bij Nederlandse acties op Sumatra in 1949'", Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, 13 February 2016. Retrieved on 26 December 2019.
2. "Ook zuiveringsacties in Rengat, Riau", IndonesiëNU, 9 November 2013. Retrieved on 26 December 2019.
3. Hoek, Anne-Lot. "Rengat, 1949 (Part 1)", Inside Indonesia, 12 September 2016. Retrieved on 26 December 2019.
4. Hari Ini 68 Tahun Silam, 2.600 Warga Rengat Dibantai Belanda, Termasuk Ayah Penyair Terkemuka Chairil Anwar, Potret News Riau, 5 January 2017. Retrieved on 26 December 2019.