IAIN to cooperate with Chinese-Indonesians<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid (left) speaks at a
\nceremony at the State Institute of Islamic Teaching (IAIN) in
\nCiputat, South Jakarta. Representatives of the institute,
\nincluding rector Azyumardi Azra (third left), signed on Thursday
\na memorandum of understanding on collaborative work with Chinese-
\nIndonesian Association (INTI) chairman Edy Lembong (fourth left).<\/p>\n
The memorandum centered on increasing a better understanding
\nof the Chinese community in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
At the ceremony, Nurcholish stressed that efforts to bring
\nabout ethnic equality in Indonesia needed to be strengthened.<\/p>\n
Being a Muslim scholar, Nurcholish stated that people who
\nfollowed the Islamic faith should shed all ill feelings toward
\nthe Chinese, and reconciliatory efforts between Muslims and the
\nChinese community should be encouraged.<\/p>\n
\"One must remember that some of the founding fathers of Islam
\nhere were Chinese, and Islam was a faith followed in China even
\nbefore it came to Indonesia,\" Nurcholish told the audience.<\/p>\n
During colonial days, the activities of ethnic Chinese were
\nlimited to trade. During former dictator Soeharto's 32 years of
\nleadership, a large number of rulings were issued controlling the
\nroles and movement of ethnic Chinese.<\/p>\n
After the fall of Soeharto, and especially during former
\npresident Abdurrahman Wahid's short spell in office, several
\nregulations were revoked.<\/p>\n
Even as President Megawati Soekarnoputri declared in February
\nthe Chinese New Year a public holiday, experts and activists here
\ndemanded that her administration revoke over 60 rulings that
\ndiscriminate against Indonesians of Chinese descent.<\/p>\n
The government, however, has been dragging its feet in
\nreviewing discriminatory rulings, saying there were many other
\nimportant issues to attend to.<\/p>\n
Edy Lembong said on Thursday that law enforcement had also
\nbeen weak, considering that so far none of those instigating
\nviolence against Chinese-Indonesians had been brought to justice,
\nwhich inferred that it was acceptable to attack the homes of
\nIndonesians of Chinese descent. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/iain-to-cooperate-with-chinese-indonesians-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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