In your opinion, what could have prevented the Maria Hertogh riots in 1950? (give at least two suggestions)
The Maria Hertogh riot was a riot broke out over the custody battle of a 13-year old girl, Maria Bertha Hertogh. Maria was born in Java in 1937 to Dutch Catholic parents. When her parents were imprisoned during the Japanese Occupation, Maria came under the care of a Malay woman, Che Aminah and her husband. They brought her up as a Muslim and named her Nadra.
The riot broke out when the judge rejected the appeal for the custody of Maria by Che Aminah. This was also partly because the judge put Maria in the care of a Catholic convent in Thomson Road. Maria was a Muslim and had to bow and worship the Mother Mary. Pictures of Maria in the Catholic convent were taken and published all over the newspaper.
Another incident that happened before the riot which caused unhappiness in the Muslim community was in November 1950. In November 1950, the battle for custody continued. The court ruled that Maria should be returned to her natural parents. The judge announced that the Dutch law did not recognise Maria's marriage as she was under-aged and her natural father's consent was not obtained. The Muslim community felt that Muslim law was not respect. The community somewhat felt betrayed.
Finally, on 11 December 1950, the court sat to hear Maria's case. Large crowds gathered outside the court at the Padang to know the verdict. The judge rejected the appeal.
Feeling betrayed by what they saw as the British taking sides with the Dutch, the supporters of Aminah at the Padang started to riot. Any European and Eurasian in sight was attacked. Cars were overturned and burnt. Serious rioting erupted in the vicinity of Sultan Mosque, North Bridge and Jalan Besar roads. The riot was so serious that it continued for three days, a curfew was imposed for two weeks and troops were called in to maintain law and order.
In my opinion, there are several things can be done to prevent the riot. If the judge were to be more sensitive and tried to understand the Muslim law, the riot might not have happened. If necessary precautions were taken such as not allowing people or large crowds to gathered outside the court at Padang to know the verdict, the riot might again not have happened. If the judge were to know more about Maria's case, the riot might not have happened. If the judge had thought of the Muslims' feelings, the riot might not have happened. If the judge had prevented the reporters to take pictures of Maria in the Catholic convent and publish in the newspaper, the riot might not have happened.
If the judge were more sensitive and tried to understand the Muslim law, he would know that Muslims, like Christians or Catholics, believe that there is only one God. If he knew that, he should have known better than to put Maria in the care of a Catholic convent. By doing so, he angered the Muslim community and disrespected the Muslim law.
If necessary precautions were taken such as preventing large crowds to gather outside the court at the Padang to know the verdict, large groups of people would not be so angry that they started a riot. By preventing the large crowds' presence, perhaps the riot could have been prevented. This was because by the time, supporters of Aminah or the Muslim community knew the verdict and started a riot, the risk of the riot should have already been known or predicted by the British.
If the judge were to know more about Maria's case, he should have known that in the years Maria were under the care of Che Aminah, she was a Muslim not a Catholic. And that being under the care of another person or family for years, I believe one would not prefer to go back to one's natural parents. There are emotion ties already.
If the judge had thought of the Muslims' feelings, he should not have given a verdict so soon. He should know that he would be accused of siding with the Dutch if he were to give the custody of Maria to the Dutch parents, Maria's natural parents. This would cause unhappiness in the Muslim community.
If the judge had prevented the reporters to take pictures of Maria in the Catholic convent and publish in the newspaper, the Muslim community would not know what is actually happening in the convent and might not be the angry that a riot broke out. Maria's case was being covered in the newspaper a lot and of course the Muslim community wasn't happy about this.
In conclusion, I believe that the riot could have been prevented.
The riot broke out when the judge rejected the appeal for the custody of Maria by Che Aminah. This was also partly because the judge put Maria in the care of a Catholic convent in Thomson Road. Maria was a Muslim and had to bow and worship the Mother Mary. Pictures of Maria in the Catholic convent were taken and published all over the newspaper.
Another incident that happened before the riot which caused unhappiness in the Muslim community was in November 1950. In November 1950, the battle for custody continued. The court ruled that Maria should be returned to her natural parents. The judge announced that the Dutch law did not recognise Maria's marriage as she was under-aged and her natural father's consent was not obtained. The Muslim community felt that Muslim law was not respect. The community somewhat felt betrayed.
Finally, on 11 December 1950, the court sat to hear Maria's case. Large crowds gathered outside the court at the Padang to know the verdict. The judge rejected the appeal.
Feeling betrayed by what they saw as the British taking sides with the Dutch, the supporters of Aminah at the Padang started to riot. Any European and Eurasian in sight was attacked. Cars were overturned and burnt. Serious rioting erupted in the vicinity of Sultan Mosque, North Bridge and Jalan Besar roads. The riot was so serious that it continued for three days, a curfew was imposed for two weeks and troops were called in to maintain law and order.
In my opinion, there are several things can be done to prevent the riot. If the judge were to be more sensitive and tried to understand the Muslim law, the riot might not have happened. If necessary precautions were taken such as not allowing people or large crowds to gathered outside the court at Padang to know the verdict, the riot might again not have happened. If the judge were to know more about Maria's case, the riot might not have happened. If the judge had thought of the Muslims' feelings, the riot might not have happened. If the judge had prevented the reporters to take pictures of Maria in the Catholic convent and publish in the newspaper, the riot might not have happened.
If the judge were more sensitive and tried to understand the Muslim law, he would know that Muslims, like Christians or Catholics, believe that there is only one God. If he knew that, he should have known better than to put Maria in the care of a Catholic convent. By doing so, he angered the Muslim community and disrespected the Muslim law.
If necessary precautions were taken such as preventing large crowds to gather outside the court at the Padang to know the verdict, large groups of people would not be so angry that they started a riot. By preventing the large crowds' presence, perhaps the riot could have been prevented. This was because by the time, supporters of Aminah or the Muslim community knew the verdict and started a riot, the risk of the riot should have already been known or predicted by the British.
If the judge were to know more about Maria's case, he should have known that in the years Maria were under the care of Che Aminah, she was a Muslim not a Catholic. And that being under the care of another person or family for years, I believe one would not prefer to go back to one's natural parents. There are emotion ties already.
If the judge had thought of the Muslims' feelings, he should not have given a verdict so soon. He should know that he would be accused of siding with the Dutch if he were to give the custody of Maria to the Dutch parents, Maria's natural parents. This would cause unhappiness in the Muslim community.
If the judge had prevented the reporters to take pictures of Maria in the Catholic convent and publish in the newspaper, the Muslim community would not know what is actually happening in the convent and might not be the angry that a riot broke out. Maria's case was being covered in the newspaper a lot and of course the Muslim community wasn't happy about this.
In conclusion, I believe that the riot could have been prevented.
posted by huiqing at
6:07 AM
6 Comments
