Groups concerned over Parti establishment<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An ethnic Chinese Moslem foundation, Haji Karim
\nOei, expressed concern here yesterday over the recent
\nestablishment of a Chinese political party, fearing that such an
\nethnic-based party would only aggravate animosity toward those of
\nChinese descent.<\/p>\n
In a statement read at a news conference by deputy chairman
\nH.M. Ali Karim, the foundation maintained that such political
\nparties were \"not in line with the spirit of 1928's Youth
\nPledge\".<\/p>\n
Ali was referring to the historic youths oath of 1928 when
\nnationalist youths laid the foundation of nationhood by declaring
\nthemselves to be of \"one motherland, one nation and one language:
\nIndonesia\".<\/p>\n
\"The foundation followed with deep concern the establishment
\nof political organizations that are based on ethnicity and
\nancestry... Such a political organization is established simply
\nout of emotion,\" Ali said.<\/p>\n
Bambang Wiwoho, a nonethnic Chinese who is secretary-general
\nof the foundation, said he was disturbed about any possible
\nrepercussions which the establishment of the party may cause.<\/p>\n
\"It's not right to fight for our aspirations in an exclusive
\nmanner,\" Bambang remarked.<\/p>\n
Also attending the occasion was well-known soothsayer and
\nastrologer Putri Wong Kam Fu alias Leoni Fatima, who said: \"It
\n(the establishment of the party) was not the correct time to do
\nso\".<\/p>\n
Wong, who is also a member of the foundation, did not say when
\nshe believed the \"correct time\" would be, but was convinced that
\nthe presence of an ethnic Chinese political party would bear
\n\"harmful repercussions\" to most ethnic Chinese who know nothing
\nof politics.<\/p>\n
The news conference was held yesterday in direct response to
\nthe establishment of the Chinese-Indonesian Reform Party (Parti)
\non June 5, the first ethnic-based political party to emerge in
\nthe current atmosphere of openness sweeping the country.<\/p>\n
\"We want to defend our rights and create true harmony among
\nIndonesian citizens,\" said one of Parti's founders, Ponijan --
\ndirector of the Widyatara language school -- during the launching
\nof the party.<\/p>\n
Ponijan said the party would demand that the government start
\ntreating citizens of Chinese descent fairly in political,
\neconomic, social and legal matters.<\/p>\n
\"The government has so far discriminated against us. It, for
\ninstance, (uses a code to) differentiate us on our identity
\ncards,\" Ponijan asserted.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Wong charged that the party founders should have
\nconsulted with leading ethnic Chinese figures before using the
\nword Tionghoa (Chinese) in the name of its party,<\/p>\n
\"If anything goes wrong with such a party, won't it be all
\nChinese who bear the brunt?\" Wong asked.<\/p>\n
The ethnic Chinese minority has often become a target during
\nvarious upheavals in the country, largely because it dominates
\nthe economy.<\/p>\n
Last month, hundreds of Chinese shops were among those
\ntargeted by looters and arsonists during the riots here which saw
\nover 5,000 buildings damaged or burned.<\/p>\n
But with the new government pledging democratic reform, a
\nsmall coalition of ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs said that now was
\nthe time to take to the political stage.<\/p>\n
Chinese-Indonesians make up only about 4 percent of the
\ncountry's 202 million population. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/groups-concerned-over-parti-establishment-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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