History blamed for assimilation's failure<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Disharmony between ethnic Chinese and indigenous
\ncommunities was the failure and "success story" of Soeharto's
\nregime, which included the dominant political party Golkar and
\nthe Armed Forces (ABRI), analysts say.<\/p>\n
According to Rusdi Muchtar, a researcher at the National
\nInstitute of Science, the Soeharto regime "cornered" and abused
\nthis ethnic minority.<\/p>\n
During his tenure, for example, the majority of native
\nIndonesians were encouraged to draw connections between the
\nJavanese and the island of Java, the Dayak tribe with Kalimantan,
\nand so on.<\/p>\n
"This territorial orientation has pushed people to the
\nconclusion that the Chinese have no territory here. They're
\nChinese and therefore strangers," Rusdi said.<\/p>\n
HS Dillon of the state-sponsored Body for National Unity
\n(Bakom PKB), argues that the crisis arose because the authorities
\ncontinually denied the existence of problems in the field.<\/p>\n
"Most of the institutions which should have served as pillars
\nof a pluralistic society -- as dictated by our constitution --
\nhave failed miserably. I blame both Golkar and ABRI. These two
\npillars should have functioned as leaders (in the push) for a
\npluralistic society," Dillon said.<\/p>\n
"Let's review ABRI's position," he said.<\/p>\n
"A written regulation limits the number of ethnic Chinese
\nofficers who can become generals," Dillon argued.<\/p>\n
"Similar restrictions apply to ethnic Chinese representation
\nin the bureaucracy," he added.<\/p>\n
"What I'm trying to say is this: do not accentuate
\ndifferences; we should build upon similarities. Or in the end we
\nwill have one ethnic group killing another," Dillon advised.<\/p>\n
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Chinese-Indonesians were
\ndivided into two groups. They adhered to either the assimilation
\nor integration policy in their pledge of solidarity and loyalty
\nto the Indonesian nation and people.<\/p>\n
The group proposing the assimilation process was Lembaga
\nPembina Kesatuan Bangsa (LPKB), embryo of the current Bakom PKB.<\/p>\n
Members of LPKB suggested that one of the best ways Chinese-
\nIndonesians could foster acceptance from indigenous Indonesians
\nwas for them to change their Chinese names to Indonesian ones.<\/p>\n
LPKB also advocated intermarriage between ethnic Chinese and
\nlocal people and departure from Chinese-oriented culture as other
\nmeans to quicken the nation-building process and cease
\ndiscriminatory practices against Chinese-Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Prominent LPKB members included: Auwyang Peng Koen (PK Ojong,
\nfounder of Kompas daily), Lo Siang Hien (Lo Ginting, SH), Ong Hok
\nHam, Harry Tjan Tjoen Hok (Harry Tjan Silalahi) and Ong Tjong Hay
\n(K. Sindhunata).<\/p>\n
The second group, Badan Permusyawaratan Kewarganegaraan
\nIndonesia (Baperki), proposed that the ethnic Chinese could
\nintegrate with the indigenous group and remain loyal to the
\nRepublic of Indonesia while maintaining their Chinese identity.<\/p>\n
Baperki -- later banned by the government for allegedly siding
\nwith the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) -- received the backing
\nof then president Soekarno.<\/p>\n
Baperki, chaired by Siauw Giok Tjhan, also enjoyed the support
\nof former state minister Oei Tjoe Tat.<\/p>\n
The assimilation policy has been implemented for more than 30
\nyears and is adhered to by most Chinese-Indonesians. Nonetheless
\nit has failed to abate the indigenous community's acts of racist
\nincitement against the Chinese.<\/p>\n
Despite the adoption of assimilative measures by Chinese-
\nIndonesians, last year's riots and the sporadic burning and
\nlooting of Chinese-owned shops are examples of prevalent racist
\nsentiments. (emf\/gis\/ego\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/history-blamed-for-assimilations-failure-1447893297",
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