350 Years of Oppression

An Indonesian man in a black peci cap, the national flag behind him, points at a figure marked "NICA" (Netherlands Indies Civil Administration), identifiable as H.J. van Mook, Lieutenant Governor-General of the Indies, beneath the caption "350 tahoen ditindes" (350 years of oppression). Below, three gaunt Indonesians stand before a Japanese soldier, captioned "3½ tahoen diperas" (3½ years of exploitation). Together the panels lay the suffering and hunger of the Indonesian people at the feet of both Dutch and Japanese rule.