Lambertus Nicodemus Palar
Encyclopedia
Lambertus Nicodemus Palar (Rurukan, June 5, 1900 - Jakarta
, February 12, 1981) represented the Republic of Indonesia
in various diplomatic positions most notably as the first Indonesian Representative to the United Nations
. He also held ambassadorships in India
, East Germany, Soviet Union
, Canada
, and the United States
. He was the son of Gerrit Palar and Jacoba Lumanauw.
to attend high school in Yogyakarta where he stayed with Sam Ratulangi
. In 1922, Palar started his studies at the Polytechnic in Bandung, which is now known as the Bandung Institute of Technology . At this school, Palar became acquainted with Indonesian nationalists such as Sukarno
. A severe illness forced Palar to drop out of the school and to return to Minahasa
. Palar eventually restarted his studies at law school in Batavia (now Jakarta) where he joined the youth organization called Young Minahasa . In 1928, Palar moved to the Netherlands to study at the University of Amsterdam .
During the German occupation of Holland, Palar couldn't work for the SDAP and instead was employed in the Van der Waals Laboratorium. He also taught classes for the Malay language and was a guitarist in a Kroncong
ensemble. During the war, Palar and his wife joined the anti-Nazi underground movement.
After the war, Palar was voted into the Lower House representing the newly established Labor Party , which originated from the SDAP. After the Indonesian Declaration of Independence
on August 17, 1945, Palar being sympathetic to the proclamation promoted contacts with the Indonesian nationalists. This was not received well by the PvdA resulting in the party distancing itself from the original position of unconditionally recognizing the right of national independence for Indonesia, which was opposed by Palar. Being assigned by his party on a fact finding mission to Indonesia, Palar again met with the leaders of the Indonesian National Revolution
including President Sukarno. Palar continued to urge non-violent resolution of the dispute between the Netherlands and the new Republic of Indonesia. However, on July 20, 1947, the parliament voted to commence Police Action in Indonesia. Palar resigned from the parliament and the Labor Party the following day.
Palar joined the effort for international recognition of Indonesian independence by becoming the Indonesian Representative to the United Nations in 1947. He remained in this position until 1953. This time period included such important events as the continued Dutch-Indonesian conflict, the transfer of sovereignty from the Dutch, and the inclusion of Indonesia as a member of the United Nations.
During the Dutch-Indonesian conflict, Palar argued the case of Indonesian independence at the UN and the Security Council, even though his status was only as an "observer" because Indonesia was not a member of the UN at that time. After a second Police Action was unpopular and subsequently condemned by the Security Council http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/055/04/IMG/NR005504.pdf?OpenElement, the Roem-van Roijen Agreement
was signed, which led to the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference
and the recognition of Indonesian sovereignty by the Dutch on December 27, 1949.
Indonesia was admitted as the 60th Member State of the United Nations on September 28, 1950.http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/2/23/00003125.pdf Addressing the General Assembly
as the first Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations, Palar thanked those that have supported the Indonesian cause and pledged that Indonesia would assume the responsilities of being a member state. Palar continued his work at the UN until being assigned the Indonesian ambassadorship for India. In 1955, Palar was requested back to Indonesia and was instrumental in planning the Asia-Africa Conference, which gathered Asian and African states, most of which were newly independent. After the conference, Palar resumed his ambassadorship responsibities by representing Indonesia in East Germany and the Soviet Union. From 1957 to 1962, he became the Ambassador to Canada and afterwards returned to the UN as Ambassador until 1965. Sukarno withdrew Indonesia's membership in the UN because of the Indonesia-Malaysia conflict and upon the selection of Malaysia into the Security Council. Palar then became the Ambassador to the United States. Under new leadership of Suharto in 1966, Indonesia requested the resumption of membership to the UN with a message to the Secretary General that was delivered by Palar.
Palar retired from foreign service in 1968 having served his country during its early struggles and conflicts and battled for its freedom in the diplomatic arena. Palar returned to Jakarta, but remained active through lectureships, social work, and as an advisor to the Indonesian Representative to the United Nations. Lambertus Nicodemus Palar died in Jakarta on February 12, 1980. He was survived by his wife, Johanna Petronella "Yoke" Volmers, and children Mary Elizabeth Singh, Maesi Martowardojo, and Bintoar Palar.
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...
, February 12, 1981) represented the Republic of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
in various diplomatic positions most notably as the first Indonesian Representative to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He also held ambassadorships in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, East Germany, Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was the son of Gerrit Palar and Jacoba Lumanauw.
Early life and education
Palar attended middle school in Tondano. He moved to JavaJava
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
to attend high school in Yogyakarta where he stayed with Sam Ratulangi
Sam Ratulangi
Dr. Gerungan Saul Samuel Jozias Ratulangi or Ratu Langie , usually known as Sam Ratulangi, was a Minahasa politician, journalist and teacher from North Sulawesi, Indonesia...
. In 1922, Palar started his studies at the Polytechnic in Bandung, which is now known as the Bandung Institute of Technology . At this school, Palar became acquainted with Indonesian nationalists such as Sukarno
Sukarno
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...
. A severe illness forced Palar to drop out of the school and to return to Minahasa
Minahasa
The Minahasa are an ethnic group located in the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia, formerly known as North Celebes...
. Palar eventually restarted his studies at law school in Batavia (now Jakarta) where he joined the youth organization called Young Minahasa . In 1928, Palar moved to the Netherlands to study at the University of Amsterdam .
Political career in the Netherlands
In 1930, Palar became a member of the Social-Democratic Workers' Party shortly after the SDAP convened a Colonial Congress and voted on propositions that included unconditionally recognizing the right of national independence for the Dutch Indies. Palar then held the position of secretary of the Colonial Commission of the SDAP and the Netherlands' Trade Union Federation starting in October 1933. He was also the director of Persbureau Indonesia (Persindo), which was given the task of sending articles related to Dutch social democracy to the Dutch Indies. In 1938, Palar returned to his homeland with his Indo (Eurasian) wife, Johanna Petronella Volmers, whom she married in 1935. He traveled throughout the archipelago and gather information on the current developments. He discovered that the Indonesian nationalist movement was very much alive and returned to the Netherlands writing about his experience.During the German occupation of Holland, Palar couldn't work for the SDAP and instead was employed in the Van der Waals Laboratorium. He also taught classes for the Malay language and was a guitarist in a Kroncong
Kroncong
Kroncong is the name of a ukulele-type instrument and an Indonesian musical style that typically makes use of the kroncong , the band or combo or ensemble consist of a flute, a violin, a melody guitar, a cello in pizzicato style, string bass also in...
ensemble. During the war, Palar and his wife joined the anti-Nazi underground movement.
After the war, Palar was voted into the Lower House representing the newly established Labor Party , which originated from the SDAP. After the Indonesian Declaration of Independence
Indonesian Declaration of Independence
The Proclamation of Indonesian Independence was read at 10.00 a.m. on Friday, August 17, 1945. The declaration marked the start of the diplomatic and armed-resistance of the Indonesian National Revolution, fighting against the forces of the Netherlands until the latter officially acknowledged...
on August 17, 1945, Palar being sympathetic to the proclamation promoted contacts with the Indonesian nationalists. This was not received well by the PvdA resulting in the party distancing itself from the original position of unconditionally recognizing the right of national independence for Indonesia, which was opposed by Palar. Being assigned by his party on a fact finding mission to Indonesia, Palar again met with the leaders of the Indonesian National Revolution
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
including President Sukarno. Palar continued to urge non-violent resolution of the dispute between the Netherlands and the new Republic of Indonesia. However, on July 20, 1947, the parliament voted to commence Police Action in Indonesia. Palar resigned from the parliament and the Labor Party the following day.
Representing Indonesia
During the Dutch-Indonesian conflict, Palar argued the case of Indonesian independence at the UN and the Security Council, even though his status was only as an "observer" because Indonesia was not a member of the UN at that time. After a second Police Action was unpopular and subsequently condemned by the Security Council http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/055/04/IMG/NR005504.pdf?OpenElement, the Roem-van Roijen Agreement
Roem-van Roijen Agreement
The Roem – van Roijen Agreement was an agreement made between Indonesia and the Netherlands on 7 May 1949. The name being derived between the two principal negotiators at the meeting; Mohammad Roem and Jan Herman van Roijen...
was signed, which led to the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference
Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference
The Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference was held in the Hague from August 23 - November 2, 1949, between representatives of the Netherlands, the Republic of Indonesia and the BFO representing various states the Dutch had created in the Indonesian archipelago...
and the recognition of Indonesian sovereignty by the Dutch on December 27, 1949.
Indonesia was admitted as the 60th Member State of the United Nations on September 28, 1950.http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/2/23/00003125.pdf Addressing the General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
as the first Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations, Palar thanked those that have supported the Indonesian cause and pledged that Indonesia would assume the responsilities of being a member state. Palar continued his work at the UN until being assigned the Indonesian ambassadorship for India. In 1955, Palar was requested back to Indonesia and was instrumental in planning the Asia-Africa Conference, which gathered Asian and African states, most of which were newly independent. After the conference, Palar resumed his ambassadorship responsibities by representing Indonesia in East Germany and the Soviet Union. From 1957 to 1962, he became the Ambassador to Canada and afterwards returned to the UN as Ambassador until 1965. Sukarno withdrew Indonesia's membership in the UN because of the Indonesia-Malaysia conflict and upon the selection of Malaysia into the Security Council. Palar then became the Ambassador to the United States. Under new leadership of Suharto in 1966, Indonesia requested the resumption of membership to the UN with a message to the Secretary General that was delivered by Palar.
Palar retired from foreign service in 1968 having served his country during its early struggles and conflicts and battled for its freedom in the diplomatic arena. Palar returned to Jakarta, but remained active through lectureships, social work, and as an advisor to the Indonesian Representative to the United Nations. Lambertus Nicodemus Palar died in Jakarta on February 12, 1980. He was survived by his wife, Johanna Petronella "Yoke" Volmers, and children Mary Elizabeth Singh, Maesi Martowardojo, and Bintoar Palar.