Generalizations about Madurese incorrect<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): To Amir Santoso, a Madurese academic living in
\nJakarta, most accusations being made by Dayaks against their
\nformer neighbors in Central Kalimantan simply make no sense.<\/p>\n
The claims of rudeness, of longstanding violent behavior, and
\nof failing to adapt to Dayak culture were all undermined by the
\nsimple fact that many Madurese had been living in Sampit for up
\nto four generations.<\/p>\n
\"I acknowledge that there are some criminals among the
\nMadurese, just as there are in other communities,\" said Amir, a
\nmember of the Indonesian Humane Foundation set up to help victims
\nof Sampit.<\/p>\n
\"But I cannot accept the opinion that all the Madurese are
\ncriminals. Generalization is always wrong.<\/p>\n
\"If they are all criminals, why were they able to stay there
\nfor such a long time?\"<\/p>\n
The same applied to accusations that Madurese in Sampit were
\nrude or aggressive.<\/p>\n
\"How can they say that when they had been living in Kalimantan
\nfor years, for three generations or four generations?\"<\/p>\n
Many of the Madurese in Central Kalimantan \"were born there
\nand do not know about Madura. Many also have no family in
\nMadura\".<\/p>\n
Claims that the Madurese did not assimilate with Dayak culture
\nwere nonsense when considering that many had Dayak husbands or
\nwives, Amir, a professor at the University of Indonesia, said.<\/p>\n
Asked why immigrants from South Kalimantan and Java sided with
\nthe Dayaks in their complaints, Amir said he believed members of
\nthe Dayak political elite had curried favor ahead of elections
\nfor governor and bupati, or district chief.<\/p>\n
He said that some Dayaks, being in a minority in the
\nprovincial government, had exploited feelings against the
\nMadurese in efforts to win majority support.<\/p>\n
Amir, who lectures in politics, said the laws being proposed
\nto restrict access to Central Kalimantan were discriminatory.<\/p>\n
\"It seems to me the regulations go too far ...<\/p>\n
\"If one province makes a discriminatory rule like that, that
\nwill be used as a precedent by the other provinces.\"<\/p>\n
Such regulations were also unwieldy and unworkable, and open
\nto being corrupted by officials.<\/p>\n
Concerning the Dayaks' demand for an apology for having caused
\nthe violence, Amir said: \"No, we will refuse. ... No, no, we
\nrefuse to do that.\" (Peter Kerr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/generalizations-about-madurese-incorrect-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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