Chinese-Indonesian issue<\/p>\n
Ms. Donna K. Woodward's letter on July 23, 1998, was her
\nsecond on the Chinese\/indigenous subject. In the first letter,
\nshe basically dismissed the magnitude of unfair discrimination
\nagainst the Chinese-Indonesians by saying that the indigenous
\nIndonesians would rather have their IDs marked rather than be
\nalienated from the economic sector.<\/p>\n
In her second letter, she liberally used the term \"Chinese
\nbusiness community\" and associated it with collusive practices in
\nIndonesia to the effect that every Chinese businessperson will be
\nincluded in this category, whether or not he\/she is guilty of
\ncollusion.<\/p>\n
First, I would like to bring to her attention that it is
\nsimply ridiculous to generalize that all Chinese get special
\ntreatment, while the indigenous are discriminated against in the
\neconomic sector. Where did she get the data from for this absurd
\nallegation? Both Chinese and indigenous people, generally, are
\nequally welcomed or restricted in the business sector (in fact,
\nthe hurdle for Chinese is more higher in that they have to dig
\ndeeper into their pockets). The difference is whether they have
\ntalent, a strong will, persistence, dedication and, in some
\ncases, money and access to power. The vast majority of Chinese
\nbusinesses thrive through years of hard work and networking.
\nHowever, their success in business has little to do with the fact
\nof them being Chinese. They, like everyone else in the country,
\nincluding multinational companies, do bribe in order to get
\nthings done. This is part of this society's culture, the blame of
\nwhich should be directed at 32 years of defective governance
\nsystem and leadership.<\/p>\n
If I, a Chinese-Indonesian, decided to have my own business
\none of these days, the likelihood would be that I would have to
\nput everything I have into the venture for it to work, probably
\nonly to find it flop not in a so-distant future because I have
\nneither talent, money, strong will nor access to power.<\/p>\n
Perhaps she would like to read the news of a Chinese family (a
\nfather and four children) in Singkawang who committed suicide due
\nto the unbearable pressure they were facing caused by the crisis.
\nThere are many more Chinese like them everywhere in Indonesia who
\nnever get their way up to newspapers or televisions, unlike their
\nkin who drive Volvos and own giant conglomerates.<\/p>\n
What she said in her letter only touched the surface of a
\ncornucopia of Chinese\/indigenous issues that reaches far deeper
\nthan what is just readily seen by the naked eye. The Chinese
\nbusinesspeople, particularly some really big ones, do have a role
\nin the current crisis we are facing but why single out their
\nethnicity while the problems have little relevance to ethnic
\nissues? One shouldn't forget also their role as the engine of
\nthe country's economy for the past 30 years, if it is really
\nnecessary to highlight their ethnicity when talking about bad
\nthings that are happening here.<\/p>\n
I hope everyone can see that the issue is not about Chinese-
\nIndonesians but rather the dismal failure of the old regime in
\nguaranteeing a just and prosperous society open in every sector
\nto everyone, regardless of social status and religious and racial
\nbackground, to contribute and have a share of.<\/p>\n
RAHAYU RATNANINGSIH<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinese-indonesian-issue-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }