Joop Beek
Encyclopedia
Josephus Beek SJ (Amsterdam
, 12 March 1917 – Jakarta
, 17 September 1983) was a Dutch and later Indonesian Jesuit, priest
, educator and politician. From approximately 1965 until approximately 1975 he was the most important consultant to the Indonesian president Soeharto, but always remained in the shade.
Joop Beek grew up in Amsterdam in a family with Indonesian connections. In 1935, he entered the Jesuit order in Mariëndaal in Grave in the Netherlands . In 1938, as was usual in this religious order, he was transferred to work in a Jesuit college, in his case in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. During the Second World War he was interned by the Japanese until 1945, and come liberation he was held for seven more months by the Indonesians. In 1946, he returned to the Netherlands, to Maastricht, to study for priesthood, was ordained in 1948 and again sent to Yogyakarta, where he stayed until 1959. Here he also started setting up catholic student organisations, that would prove the basis for his later political influence.
and the later president, the pro-western general Suharto. A rift with Soekarno developed because of his increasingly communist preferences. In 1965, a coup attempt was made and six pro-western generals were assassinated.
The coup failed and Father Beek sent his well-organized students into the streets to demonstrate against the Communists . The main remaining general, Suharto, increased his powers quickly and could eventually oust Sukarno and eliminate the communists in a very bloody witch hunt, that cost at least some 500,000 lives and tens of thousands of prisoners, among which Pramoedya Ananta Toer
, the writer who described his many years in prison on the island of Buru. Soeharto became president and father Beek his main advisor, up to approximately 1975. Father Beek then had already taken Indonesian citizenship.
A Dutch TV-reporter, Aad van den Heuvel worked for the KRO Brandpunt news programme and met father Beek in Indonesia several times. In his novel 'Stenen Tijdperk'*Stone Age) he introduces a character that is based upon father Beek. At one visit, Van den Heuvel recalled in a VPRO radio-documentary on father Beek , that he and his colleague Ed van Westerloo spoke with the father late in the sixties about a speech that they understood general Sukarno would be giving later, and asked the father if he knew what it would be about. 'I don't know, I'm still writing it', father Beek replied.
, a political party which leaned on non-Islamic middle classes and Catholics and was meant to keep the Muslims under control. Father Beek also supported the establishment by his former student Liem Bian Kie (also known as Jusuf Wanandi
) of the CSIS (Center for Strategic & International study), a seeming-scientific Indonesian think-tank which would form the main connection between father Beeks movement and the government. The rich Wanandi family still supports this institute.
, who became a government minister, and also Liem Bian Kie (also known as Jusuf Wanandi
).
Some critics reproach father Beek that he was undemocratic and eliminated the Islamic political party, which resulted into increased Islamic fundamentalism.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, 12 March 1917 – Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, 17 September 1983) was a Dutch and later Indonesian Jesuit, priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, educator and politician. From approximately 1965 until approximately 1975 he was the most important consultant to the Indonesian president Soeharto, but always remained in the shade.
Joop Beek grew up in Amsterdam in a family with Indonesian connections. In 1935, he entered the Jesuit order in Mariëndaal in Grave in the Netherlands . In 1938, as was usual in this religious order, he was transferred to work in a Jesuit college, in his case in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. During the Second World War he was interned by the Japanese until 1945, and come liberation he was held for seven more months by the Indonesians. In 1946, he returned to the Netherlands, to Maastricht, to study for priesthood, was ordained in 1948 and again sent to Yogyakarta, where he stayed until 1959. Here he also started setting up catholic student organisations, that would prove the basis for his later political influence.
Leadership training KASBUL
In 1960, father Beek started work in Jakarta, where he became increasingly convinced of the danger of the communists in Indonesia, especially to the Catholics. He set up intensive leadership training lasting a month, under the name KASBUL (Kaderisasi Sebulan), on strict ascetic principles and with some excessive punishments. This was successful and formed a generation of militant anti-communist and anti-Islamic and loyal catholic leaders, trained in leadership, speaking in public, writing, group dynamics and social analysis. The students also learned to recognise communist tactics and how to counter them.Anti-communist
The leadership training provided the basis for an information network with a cellular system and for contacts with political leaders, such as the then president SukarnoSukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
and the later president, the pro-western general Suharto. A rift with Soekarno developed because of his increasingly communist preferences. In 1965, a coup attempt was made and six pro-western generals were assassinated.
The coup failed and Father Beek sent his well-organized students into the streets to demonstrate against the Communists . The main remaining general, Suharto, increased his powers quickly and could eventually oust Sukarno and eliminate the communists in a very bloody witch hunt, that cost at least some 500,000 lives and tens of thousands of prisoners, among which Pramoedya Ananta Toer
Pramoedya Ananta Toer
Pramoedya Ananta Toer was an Indonesian author of novels, short stories, essays, polemic and histories of his homeland and its people...
, the writer who described his many years in prison on the island of Buru. Soeharto became president and father Beek his main advisor, up to approximately 1975. Father Beek then had already taken Indonesian citizenship.
A Dutch TV-reporter, Aad van den Heuvel worked for the KRO Brandpunt news programme and met father Beek in Indonesia several times. In his novel 'Stenen Tijdperk'*Stone Age) he introduces a character that is based upon father Beek. At one visit, Van den Heuvel recalled in a VPRO radio-documentary on father Beek , that he and his colleague Ed van Westerloo spoke with the father late in the sixties about a speech that they understood general Sukarno would be giving later, and asked the father if he knew what it would be about. 'I don't know, I'm still writing it', father Beek replied.
Anti-Islamic CSIS
Already from the beginning father Beek considered the Communists and the Islam as the largest enemies of the Catholics in Indonesia. The Communists eliminated, he could anticipate on Soeharto' s fear for political dominance by the numerically predominating Muslims. Father Beek incited Soeharto into founding the GolkarGolkar
The Party of the Functional Groups is a political party in Indonesia. It is also known as Sekber Golkar . It was the ruling party during Suharto's regime...
, a political party which leaned on non-Islamic middle classes and Catholics and was meant to keep the Muslims under control. Father Beek also supported the establishment by his former student Liem Bian Kie (also known as Jusuf Wanandi
Jusuf Wanandi
Jusuf Wanandi is a Chinese-Indonesian politician and educator.He was born in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, on November 15, 1937. He is the brother of Sofjan Wanandi.- Education :...
) of the CSIS (Center for Strategic & International study), a seeming-scientific Indonesian think-tank which would form the main connection between father Beeks movement and the government. The rich Wanandi family still supports this institute.
Influence
Several sources point to the vast influence father Beek had through his students, that were often successful in obtaining important positions in the administration, government or the business world. One of the best known is Cosmas BatubaraCosmas Batubara
Cosmas Batubara, born in Purbasaribu, Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra in 19 September 1938, is an Indonesian politician. He was a chairman and the co-founder of KAMI, an Indonesian anti-communist student group...
, who became a government minister, and also Liem Bian Kie (also known as Jusuf Wanandi
Jusuf Wanandi
Jusuf Wanandi is a Chinese-Indonesian politician and educator.He was born in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, on November 15, 1937. He is the brother of Sofjan Wanandi.- Education :...
).
Some critics reproach father Beek that he was undemocratic and eliminated the Islamic political party, which resulted into increased Islamic fundamentalism.
External links
- http://geschiedenis.vpro.nl/artikelen/41290181/