Lambertus Nicodemus Palar

Lambertus Nicodemus Palar was born in Rurukan, Minahasa, in 1900. He moved to the Netherlands in 1928 and entered the Dutch Social Democratic Workers’ Party. His work connected the labor movement with Indonesian affairs: he served its colonial commission, worked for the trade union federation, and edited the Persindo information service. After the Second World War he sat in the Dutch parliament. In July 1947 he opposed Dutch military action against the Indonesian Republic, broke with the Labour Party, and resigned his seat. ¹

Palar then represented the Republic internationally. He joined its delegation at the United Nations and became its head, working with younger representatives including Soedjatmoko and Sumitro Djojohadikusumo. In 1950 he led a mission to Moscow concerning Soviet support for Indonesia’s admission to the UN. After membership was achieved that September, he became the country’s first permanent representative. Later assignments took him to India, West Germany, and Canada before a second term at the UN. ²

His Washington ambassadorship began amid deteriorating relations between Indonesia and the United States. On 10 September 1965, Secretary of State Dean Rusk summoned him over harassment of American diplomatic premises and personnel. Palar acknowledged the embarrassment caused by the incidents and promised to transmit the protest to Jakarta. He explained that Sukarno treated demonstrations as expressions of popular opinion, but offered no adequate justification for the reported failures of protection. ³

He remained involved as Indonesia’s foreign policy changed. In September 1966 he joined Adam Malik’s talks with Rusk on Indonesia’s return to the UN and urgent requirements for food, clothing, aid, and debt relief. A presidential decree that November appointed Suwito Kusumowidagdo to succeed him and directed Palar’s return to Jakarta. ^{4, 5}

In retirement Palar spent ten months at the East–West Center and lectured in the United States. Back in Indonesia, he remained involved in development discussion and the Indonesian United Nations association. He died in Jakarta on 13 February 1981. Indonesia designated him a National Hero in November 2013. ^{2, 1, 6}