25/06/2002 (00:00)
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Prangko Maluku Selatan
1950 UPU issues
UPU 1st issue, The very first stamps issue printed for Maluku Selatan. Small stamps, perforated. Backman catalogue number 1-4 The complete set of 4 stamps
UPU 2nd issue, Additional 1Rupiah top value, perforated. Backman catalogue number 5 1 Rupiah top
UPU 3rd issue, Large 2 1/2 R stamp, imperforate Backman catalogue number 6 Fine design with postmen from all over the world in national unforms, all holding hands around the world. Single stamp imperforate Ditto imperforate pair, horizontal Ditto imperforate pair, vertical Ditto imperforate block of 4 stamps, horizontal
UPU 4th issue, Large 2 1/2 R stamp in revised colour, imperforate Backman catalogue number airmail 1 Fine design with postmen from all over the world in national unforms, all holding hands around the world. Overprinted in dutch LUCHTPOST for airmail. Single stamp imperforate Ditto imperforate pair, horizontal Ditto imperforate pair, vertical Ditto imperforate block of 4 stamps, horizontal
UPU 4th issue, Large 2 1/2 R stamp, perforated Backman catalogue number airmail 2 Fine design with postmen from all over the world in national unforms, all holding hands around the world. Overprinted in dutch LUCHTPOST for airmail. Single stamp perforated Ditto iperforated pair, horizontal Ditto perforated pair, vertical Ditto perforated block of 4 stamps, horizontal
UPU 5th issue, Large 2 1/2 R stamp in revised colour, imperforate Backman catalogue airmail 3 Fine design with postmen from all over the world in national unforms, all holding hands around the world. Overprinted in indonesian POS UDARA for airmail. Single stamp imperforate Ditto imperforate pair, horizontal Ditto imperforate pair, vertical Ditto imperforate block of 4 stamps, horizontal
UPU 3rd issue, Large 2 1/2 R stamp, perforated Backman catalogue airmail 4 Fine design with postmen from all over the world in national unforms, all holding hands around the world. Single stamp perforated Ditto iperforated pair, horizontal Ditto perforated pair, vertical Ditto perforated block of 4 stamps, horizontal
Geographical Features: The south Moluccas homeland consists of some 150 islands located in the Banda Sea. Its main islands are Ceram, Ambon and Buru. Population: The South Moluccans are Melanesians and there are about 1 million people who live in the Republic of South Moluccas. There are currently 50,000 Moluccans living in the Netherlands.
Organisations: The South Moluccas is represented in UNPO by the Republic of South Moluccas, the Republik Maluku Selatan (RMS). Brief History: 1600s The Netherlands invaded the South Moluccas and incorporated the region into the Dutch East Indies. 1949 The Dutch ceded sovereignty to an independent Federal Republic of Indonesia. The South Moluccas formed part of the state of Eastern Indonesia, one of the member-states of the Federation.
1950 Indonesian President Sukarno intended to change the states character from a federal into a unitarian state and the South Moluccans declared their country independent from the component State of east Indonesia. Since the declaration, the South Moluccas struggle politically world-wide for recognition of their rights to self- determination and independence as a free republic. 1951 Moluccan islands were occupied by Indonesian forces.
1966 The government of the South Moluccas functioned as a government in exile in the Netherlands. 1978 The Dutch parliament decided to regard the case of the South Moluccas being closed, no official contacts have taken place between the two governments. 1991 The South Moluccas became a member of UNPO. 1996 The repression of the Moluccans continues. Many Indonesians have migrated to the region taking the better job opportunities.
Current situation:
The South Moluccas continue in their struggle for international recognition and eventual independence. Because of Indonesians transmigration policy, the South Moluccans may become a minority in their own country. With the growth and the increasing boldness of the democratic movement in Indonesia, the resistance in the Republic of South Moluccas has the opportunity to enter a new direction and gain momentum. Increased contacts with the government in exile make the development of a unified national and international strategy an important task for the RMS government and people on the ground. Maluku Selatan is officially recognised by UN and international community as a part of Republic of Indonesia. But The RMS movement's group now which is in Netherland still active trying to instabilize the government of Republic of Indonesia.Repoebliek Maluku Selatan and the Korean War
When the DUTCH EAST INDIES in 1949 became independent under the name of REPUBLIC INDONESIA, many of the inhabitants of the Southern Moluccas, who had supported the Dutch in the Indonesian struggle for independence, feared the new government's retribution and left the country together with the departing Dutch troops. They settled in the Netherlands, where they still form a community ca. 50.000 strong. Immediately, an exile government, REPUBLIK MALUKU SELATAN, was formed.
When the Korean War broke out, the Moluccan exile government contacted General McArthur, offering to send 2.000 combattants if the U.S. in return would recognize their claim of Moluccan independence.
Needless to say, the U.S. government did not respond to the offer, and the Moluccan troop contingent for the Korean War never materialized. A major activity of the exile government was issuing stamps which never were used; some of them feature General Douglas McArthur, on whom their political hopes rested for a while.
Stamp issued by the Exile Government of the Republic of the Southern Moluccas featuring the country's map and their flag's colours Stamps issued by the Exile Government of the Republic of the Southern Moluccas featuring the UN Emblem and General Douglas McArthur
From Indonesian perspective, the exile government representatives were collaborators and potential insurgents. The Moluccans, many of whom are christian, feared that the new Republic of Indonesia would be dominated by Muslim Javanese, and that their region would lose it's cultural identity. These days, the Moluccas are one of the regions where violent clashes between different ethnic groups take place. It is to be hoped, that newly democratic Indonesia can overcome the tension and establish a multicultural society.
Sources: Alexander Ganse (KMLA), Anders Backman (SilverDalen Stamps Club), Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO)
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