HISTORY SEC 2
7/6/2014
Torn between two worlds
Date: 1950
Maria Hertogh has gone down in popular imagination as the girl whose custody case sparked one of Singapore's worst riots. But her tale is not all about the politics of intercommunal relations in a multiracial city. At the centre was an innocent child torn between two mothers. This selection of news reports recaptures that gripping domestic drama, played out against the backdrop of that eternal conflict between East and West.
May 20
THE SINGAPORE CHIEF JUSTICE, Mr Justice MurrayAynsley, yesterday ordered that a 13yearold Dutch girl who has lived for eight years with a Malay woman in Java and Malaya should be given into the care of the Netherlands ConsulGeneral who, it is understood, will return her to her parents in Holland.
After the decision, the girl, Maria Huberdina Hertogh, and Aminah, the
Malay woman, clung to each other for almost an hour outside the Supreme
Court. They declined to enter a waiting car, sobbed and vowed they would not be parted.
With tears streaming down her face, Maria shouted in Malay (the only language she can speak): "Aminah is my mother. She has loved me, cared for me and brought me up."
Then looking at Aminah, the girl said, "Do you love me, mother? If you love me don't leave me. I don't want to go with this man (a Dutch consular official)." July 29
THE FULL COURT of Appeal in Singapore yesterday decided that Maria
Hertogh shall be given back to her fostermother, Che Aminah.
The Appeal Court yesterday held that the proceedings before the Chief
Justice were, by reason of the nonservice of the necessary parties, a nullity. When she heard that Maria would be returned to her, Aminah broke down and wept openly. But they were tears of joy. Hugging and kissing Maria, she said brokenly: "I have never been so happy in my life."
Stumbling a little as she came out of the Court of Appeal, she shook hands almost convulsively, with friends and wellwishers
Torn between two worlds
Date: 1950
Maria Hertogh has gone down in popular imagination as the girl whose custody case sparked one of Singapore's worst riots. But her tale is not all about the politics of intercommunal relations in a multiracial city. At the centre was an innocent child torn between two mothers. This selection of news reports recaptures that gripping domestic drama, played out against the backdrop of that eternal conflict between East and West.
May 20
THE SINGAPORE CHIEF JUSTICE, Mr Justice MurrayAynsley, yesterday ordered that a 13yearold Dutch girl who has lived for eight years with a Malay woman in Java and Malaya should be given into the care of the Netherlands ConsulGeneral who, it is understood, will return her to her parents in Holland.
After the decision, the girl, Maria Huberdina Hertogh, and Aminah, the
Malay woman, clung to each other for almost an hour outside the Supreme
Court. They declined to enter a waiting car, sobbed and vowed they would not be parted.
With tears streaming down her face, Maria shouted in Malay (the only language she can speak): "Aminah is my mother. She has loved me, cared for me and brought me up."
Then looking at Aminah, the girl said, "Do you love me, mother? If you love me don't leave me. I don't want to go with this man (a Dutch consular official)." July 29
THE FULL COURT of Appeal in Singapore yesterday decided that Maria
Hertogh shall be given back to her fostermother, Che Aminah.
The Appeal Court yesterday held that the proceedings before the Chief
Justice were, by reason of the nonservice of the necessary parties, a nullity. When she heard that Maria would be returned to her, Aminah broke down and wept openly. But they were tears of joy. Hugging and kissing Maria, she said brokenly: "I have never been so happy in my life."
Stumbling a little as she came out of the Court of Appeal, she shook hands almost convulsively, with friends and wellwishers