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The interviewees discuss the nature of Dutch imperialism in the Dutch East Indies, its character as a police state and the lack of political and economic rights for Indonesians. It also sheds light on the Japanese occupation and the 'give and take' relationship between the Indonesians and the Japanese.

The story picks up in 1945. After independence is proclaimed by Sukarno and Hatta, the Dutch start to reassert their authority and refuse to recognise the Republik Indonesia. Governor-general Van Mook starts building up a federal structure, seen as a divide and rule tactic. Two military agressions of the Dutch are countered by guerilla warfare on the part of the TNI. Interviews with Mohammad Hatta, Abdulharis Nasution, Ruslan Abdulgani and other.