Assimilation slow for Chinese-Indonesians<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The assimilation of Indonesians of Chinese
\ndescent remains inert because there remains a lack of historical,
\nsocial, economic and cultural understanding of the nation's
\nhistory.<\/p>\n
\"For example, many Chinese-Indonesians and non-Chinese do not
\nknow that their ancestors fought hand-in-hand against the Dutch
\ncolonialists,\" said sociologist Mely G. Tan, who helped organize
\na three-day seminar on the issue.<\/p>\n
\"Do Chinese-Indonesians feel at home here? Have they become
\nIndonesians? This is the question that we still have to ask
\nourselves,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Mely was speaking at a media conference on Thursday at the
\nclose of the three-day seminar, titled Chinese-Indonesians:
\nPeople and Their Culture.<\/p>\n
The seminar featured such prominent speakers as Daniel S. Lev
\nof the University of Washington, Claudine Salmon of the French-
\nbased National Center for Scientific Research, Leonard Blusse of
\nLeiden University, Dede Oetomo of Airlangga University in
\nSurabaya, Gondomono of the University of Indonesia and researcher
\nDaniel Dhakidae.<\/p>\n
Mely also pointed to the fact that Indonesians of Chinese
\ndescent were often targeted during riots.<\/p>\n
\"Almost all the shops targeted in riots belong to Chinese-
\nIndonesians. Why? Because they are visible and they sell staple
\nfoods. Chinese-Indonesians have always been silent about this,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
One immediate concrete step that should be taken to redress
\nthis situation is to end the official discrimination of things
\nassociated with the Chinese culture.<\/p>\n
During the New Order era, Chinese characters were banned and
\nother Chinese cultural traits were restricted.<\/p>\n
The phobia against all things Chinese was partly the result of
\nthe failed 1965 Communist coup, which the government alleged was
\nin part encouraged by China, she said.<\/p>\n
However, many of these restrictions have been slowly relaxed
\nunder the leadership of President Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
\"We call for all discriminative regulations against all ethnic
\ngroups or races, including those against Indonesians of Chinese
\ndescent, to be revoked. Everyone is equal before the law, as
\nstated in the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
\"A better understanding between all people is needed. We are
\nIndonesians. Our authenticity lies in our nationhood, which is
\nbeing Indonesian. Only after that can we speak about our
\ndiversity,\" Mely said. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/assimilation-slow-for-chinese-indonesians-1447893297",
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