Harassment of the Chinese<\/p>\n
On Friday, Sept. 27, 1996 at 7:20 p.m. I returned to Medan
\nfrom a trip to Singapore. Singapore was wonderful.<\/p>\n
Problems started when I noticed my black luggage coming in on
\nthe conveyor belt into the luggage pickup area marked with a
\nwhite chalk X. My luggage was one of the last to arrive on the
\nconveyor belt, though at Singapore I was one of the first
\npassengers to check in. When my luggage arrived, I went to the
\nnothing-to-declare line. Immediately the Customs officer told me
\nto go to the other line. He didn't even look at my form. I told
\nhim that I had nothing to declare but he wouldn't believe me and
\nso I obeyed him.<\/p>\n
I noticed in front of me there was a young, stout Chinese
\nwoman who was being harassed by the Customs officers.<\/p>\n
I am an American of Japanese descent so I look like a Chinese.
\nMany times I have been mistaken for a Chinese-Indonesian, so I
\nknow what the Chinese in Medan suffer.<\/p>\n
Being an American I am accustomed to being honest and obeying
\nthe law. We don't expect and don't accept abuses of authority. We
\nexpect people to be honest and helpful.<\/p>\n
I had a lot of medication in my suitcase from the doctors in
\nSingapore. A young official grabbed these vitamins and poured my
\nnew vitamins into his hands. I was aghast. \"Don't do that, your
\nhands are dirty!\" I told him.<\/p>\n
When I finally reached my husband who was patiently waiting
\nfor me after everyone else had left, I told him what had
\nhappened. He went to the Customs officers to complain. As an
\nAmerican married to an Indonesian, I am concerned and hope to see
\nan improvement in the situation here.<\/p>\n
Name and address<\/p>\n
known to the editor<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/harassment-of-the-chinese-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }