The Protected Neighbourhood

This is a story regarding an area called internment camp back in World War II era which was inhabited by 7000 people, women and children. The internment camp was in Malang City surrounding Idjen Boulevard “mountains street area” which was formerly inhabited by businessmen and municipal officials who were European, especially the Dutch—including the Dutch-Jews. The large camp was initiated in November-December 1942 as a “protected neighbourhoods” located near Merbaboe Park in Malang, East Java. In mid-1943, the camp was expanded southward to Welirang Street and northward to Ringgit Road. The camp was encircled by barbed wire and “gedek” (a wall made from woven bamboo). I heard this story for the first time from Paulus Irawan Prajitno, the owner of a house at Anjasmoro Street number 25, Malang City, East Java. He is the third generation heir of that house which was built in 1933. By the time World War II broke out, Japan entered Malang City back in 1942. That time, Japan started their propaganda which self-claimed as “Old Relatives” that wished to free Indonesia from Dutch Colonialism. Subsequently, they need to borrow Irawan’s house to hold captive Dutch women and their kids.