Chinese contribution<\/p>\n
This letter is in response to Mr. Sumarsono Sastrowardoyo's
\nletter on Sept. 23 entitled \"Shane\".<\/p>\n
Pak Sumarsono, several months ago a friend of mine showed me a
\nvery interesting old book entitled \"Boekoe Resmi Peringatan 6
\nBoelan Republik Indonesia\" (Official publication marking six
\nmonths since the founding of the Republic of Indonesia). I copied
\none of the articles (page 44) which reported briefly that back in
\nNovember 1945, the Chinese residents together (shoulder to
\nshoulder) with the Indonesians fought against the British for the
\nIndonesia Merdeka (Indonesian independence) in Surabaya. The
\narticle showed a very harmonious relationship between them all.
\nShould you need more information, I recommend you to talk to
\npeople of the older generation. You might also go straight to the
\nNational Library to find old publications like the above-
\nmentioned book.<\/p>\n
It would also be useful to read Mr, Christianto Wibisono's
\nanalysis \"Tragedi BCA and non-pri\" (BCA tragedy and non-indigenous
\npeople) in Suara Pembaruan on June 1, 1998, and also Mr. Yap
\nTjwan Bing's autobiography \"Meretas jalan kemerdekaan\" (pioneering
\nthe path to freedom), an autobiography of a freedom fighter,
\nGramedia 1988.<\/p>\n
With regard to Poh An Tui, as far as I know, this organization
\nwas basically similar to Hansip (Civil defense scheme). It was
\norganized to safeguard the neighborhood against crimes (theft,
\nburglary etc.), not against the Indonesian freedom fighters.<\/p>\n
Pak Sumarsono, if you have spare time, would you please also
\nread Sam Po Kong dan Indonesia written by Prof. Kong Yuan Zhi and
\nedited by Mr. Hembing Wijayakusuma. I hope it will enrich our
\nunderstanding of the Indonesian nation and culture formation in
\nthe past.<\/p>\n
While we are looking for the truth about the past, there are
\npeople out there who happen to be Chinese and are now doing and
\ncontributing something to our country. You might recall a doctor
\nin Medan who built schools and dedicates his life to poor people.
\nSome other people do this in different ways. Let us do something
\nfor a better Indonesia. Today must be better than yesterday, and
\ntomorrow shall be better than today.<\/p>\n
To Mr. Ning M. Widjaya, would you please calm down a bit. I
\nbelieve Pak Sumarsono is just trying to disclose the truth about
\nour history, and is not trying to confront the ethnic Chinese.<\/p>\n
After all we are brothers and sisters. We are just stopping by
\nto drink. Life is very short. Let's make Indonesia a better and
\npeaceful place for us and our descendants.<\/p>\n
RUDY KUSWORO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinese-contribution-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }