Blaming the victim<\/p>\n
In his letter of June 30, Mr. Sumarsono finds fault with the
\nfact that many Chinese-Indonesians chose to flee the country
\nduring the riots which engulfed Indonesia several weeks ago. He
\nalso cites their siege mentality, feeling of victimization and
\nlack of commitment as reasons why they will continue to be
\nvictimized. Mr. Sumarsono prefers to blame the victim rather than
\nlook in the mirror and realize that, because of people with
\nattitudes like his, Indonesia is a country where the ethnic
\nminority is systematically persecuted and lives under the
\nconstant threat of racial terror.<\/p>\n
First it needs to be stated that many Chinese-Indonesians did
\nnot leave the country before the riots broke out and we all know
\nthe consequences they suffered. Rampaging mobs stopping cars and
\nmotorcycles, and if the riders were ethnic Chinese, the vehicles
\nwere burned on the spot, the people beaten. Reports of rape of
\nChinese-Indonesian women by rioters are also widespread. Many
\nshop\/houses were ransacked and burned. Unfortunately, in this
\narrangement the owner's family often inhabits the top floor of
\nthe shop\/house, and if the rioters set the bottom floor ablaze we
\ncan only wonder at the fate of its inhabitants trapped on the top
\nfloor. Even private residences were not exempt with whole housing
\ncomplexes being invaded and ransacked by the mobs.<\/p>\n
Its easy to understand why Chinese-Indonesian would try to
\nescape in a crisis. They face discrimination on every level of
\ngovernment and society. Differentiated from natives by their
\nidentification card numbers, they must pay extra legal fees to
\nprocess even the simplest of documents. Subject to restrictive
\nquotas by government universities and excluded from employment in
\nthe civil service and Armed Forces, is it any wonder that they
\nchoose to become entrepreneurs? We all saw the signs posted in
\nfront of stores and houses which read \"native Moslem property\"
\ndespite the fact that Islam is a religion which is universal and
\nknows no racial differentiation. Is this the reaction of an
\ninclusive society or one which is fundamentally exclusive as well
\nas pervasively racist?<\/p>\n
Many political and social observers cite the disparity in
\neconomic wealth as the reason for the riots. If this is true, why
\nweren't the scores of corrupt officials who live opulent
\nlifestyles which cannot possibly be supported by their meager
\nsalaries as civil servants made targets? Mom-and-pop stores
\nselling instant noodles, soft drinks and rice hardly qualify as
\nfinancial giants but were also vandalized and burned for the sole
\nreason that the owners were Chinese-Indonesian.<\/p>\n
Among the demands of reformers is increased democracy and the
\nenforcement of human rights. Democracy guarantees the rights of
\nall its citizens regardless of race or religion and human rights
\nare just that, universal rights for all people.<\/p>\n
I think that in the spirit of reforms, it is time that all
\nIndonesians contemplate the true meaning of the concepts of human
\nrights and democracy, as well as how to apply them universally
\nand fairly to all layers and segments of society including the
\nethnic Chinese minority. Until this society does so, real
\ndemocracy and genuinely universal human rights will remain an
\nelusive dream, and innocent people will continue to be
\npersecuted.<\/p>\n
JIWAY FRANCIS TUNG<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/blaming-the-victim-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }