Diary of a Nation (SBC 1988) - 11 December 1950: Maria Hertogh Riots

Maria Hertogh Riots: A Detailed Summary

Key Concepts:

• Maria Hertogh Case: Custody battle between Dutch parents and Malay foster mother.
• Religious and Racial Tensions: Conflict between European/Christian and Malay/Muslim communities.
• Colonial Injustice: Perceived bias of the colonial government and courts.
• Media Influence: Role of newspapers in fueling public sentiment.
• Riots: Outbreak of violence and its consequences.

1. Background and Initial Custody Dispute:

• Bera Maria Hertogh, born in Java in 1937 to Dutch Catholic parents, became a central figure in a highly controversial custody battle.
• In 1942, during the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies, Maria's father, Sergeant Adrianus Hertogh, was captured as a prisoner of war.
• Five-year-old Maria was placed under the care of Amina bin Muhammad, a family friend, in Bandung.
• Conflicting accounts emerged: Amina claimed Maria was given for adoption, while Mrs. Hertogh stated it was temporary care.
• Due to the Indonesian War of Independence, Maria and Amina moved to Malaya in 1947, where Maria was raised as a Muslim and renamed Nadra, speaking only Malay.
• In 1949, the Hertoghs, reunited in Holland, sought the Dutch Consul General in Singapore's help to find Maria.
• In April 1950, Amina and Maria arrived in Singapore for negotiations. Amina resisted parting with Maria.
• On April 22, 1950, the Chief Justice granted temporary custody of Maria to the social welfare department to prevent Amina from taking her out of Singapore. Maria and Amina were not informed or represented in these proceedings.
• Two days later, Maria was admitted to the girls homecraft Center at York Hill.

2. Court Rulings and Marriage:

• On May 19, the Chief Justice ruled that Maria should be returned to her natural parents after a 15-minute hearing. Maria refused, clinging to Amina and declaring, "Amina is my mother."
• Amina appealed, and on July 28, the appeal court returned Maria to Amina.
• Four days later, Maria, now 13, was married under Muslim rites to Manoadabi, a 22-year-old teacher.
• Mrs. Hertogh arrived in Singapore in November for another court hearing. Maria met her mother but stated she was a Muslim and wanted to stay with her husband.

3. The Legal Battle and Public Sentiment:

• The hearing began on November 21. Mr. Shurn, the Hertoghs' lawyer, argued that Maria's marriage was a maneuver to prejudice court proceedings and that Amina had taken Maria without consent.
• The case garnered significant publicity. On the last day of the hearing, a large crowd gathered outside the high court.
• The judge awarded custody to the Dutch father, citing his status as a prisoner of war and lack of consent to Maria's adoption.
• The judge ruled Maria should be governed by Dutch law and invalidated her marriage because Dutch law prohibited marriage for minors under 16.
• This decision angered the Muslim community, who viewed Maria's Muslim marriage as inviolate. The court did not recognize Maria as a Muslim, considering her a child under her Christian father's responsibility.
• Maria was taken to the Convent of the Good Shepherd in Thompson Road, with limited visitation from her mother.

4. Media's Role and Rising Tensions:

• Newspaper articles, particularly a photo of Maria weeping in the convent comforted by Christian nuns, fueled public outrage.
• The placement of a Muslim girl in a Christian convent was seen as a provocation by the colonial authorities.

5. Formation of the Nadra Action Committee and Incitement:

• On December 9, the Nadra Action Committee was formed to gather Muslim support.
• Karim Ghani, a Tamil Muslim and manager of the Muslim Publishing House, used his newspapers to incite religious fervor.
• Ghani reportedly told a crowd at the Sultan Mosque that a holy war might be necessary.

6. The Riots:

• On December 11, Amina's appeal for custody was dismissed after only 5 minutes, reinforcing the perception of judicial bias.
• The angry crowd outside the high court rioted, with violence spreading across the island.
• Europeans and Eurasians were targeted, with attacks on individuals and property.
• A journalist, Tom Masterson, was severely beaten and later died.
• Nine rioters were shot by the police and army. The total death toll reached 18, with 173 injured.
• A 24-hour curfew was imposed, lasting for two weeks.

7. Commission of Inquiry and Findings:

• A commission of inquiry attributed the riots to religious passions inflamed by the Maria Hertogh case.
• Later outbreaks were deemed racial, targeting Europeans and Eurasians indiscriminately.
• The commission criticized the publicity surrounding Maria's stay in the convent and deemed the decision to place her there "tragically ill-advised."
• The government should have moved Maria to a more neutral environment.
• The commission also noted instances of deliberate inaction by Malay police officers.
• The British press criticized the colonial government's mishandling of the situation, particularly the decision to place Maria in a Christian convent, which was seen as a challenge to Islam.

8. Maria's Later Life:

• The day after the riots began, Maria was sent to Holland.
• She became a Christian, remarried, and had 13 children.
• Her marriage later broke down.
• She was put on trial for conspiring to murder her husband in 1976.

9. Conclusion:

• The Maria Hertogh case and subsequent riots serve as a solemn lesson in racial and religious harmony.
• The events highlight the dangers of colonial injustice, media sensationalism, and the exploitation of religious sentiments.
• The case remains a significant historical event in Singapore, underscoring the importance of understanding and managing inter-communal relations.