Ministry seeks explanation of racist policy in Garut regency<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The central government has asked for a detailed explanation from
\nGarut administration over its policy that has required the
\nChinese community in the regency to pay the debts of a
\nbusinessman from that ethnic group.<\/p>\n
Director General of Regional Autonomy Oentarto SM said on
\nThursday that Garut Regent Dede Satibi would have to submit an
\nofficial report to the Minister of Home Affairs regarding the
\ncontroversial directive.<\/p>\n
\"The regent is obliged to report what is going on in Garut as
\nthe case is rather sensitive,\" Oentarto told Antara.<\/p>\n
He was responding to reports that the Garut administration had
\nshifted the burden of debt payment to all ethnic Chinese from a
\nman identified only as Acun, who had, since 1998, raised funds
\nmostly from military and police officers to finance his business.<\/p>\n
A meeting attended by the Garut administration secretary,
\npolice chief and district court chief on July 3 recommended that
\nall Chinese residents in the regency pay the unpaid debts of
\nAcun.<\/p>\n
Oentarto said the case ought to be brought before the civil
\ncourt or, if possible, be settled out of court.<\/p>\n
\"The use of force is not the way to solve the case if legal
\nsettlement fails,\" Oentarto said, adding that the policy
\nreflected that the Garut administration did not understand the
\nlaw.<\/p>\n
He warned of possible excesses, including ethnic conflict,
\nresulting from the policy.<\/p>\n
A group of ethnic Chinese in the regency protested the ruling
\nwhen they were invited to a meeting with local government
\nofficials to discuss Acun's debt settlement on July 12.<\/p>\n
Following the meeting they sought help from the Indonesian
\nLegal Aid Foundation and influential youth groups the Indonesian
\nIslamic Students Movement (PMII), the Association of Islamic
\nStudents (HMI) and the Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement
\n(GMNI).<\/p>\n
The organizations have lashed out at the Garut administration,
\nbranding it a racist institution.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministry-seeks-explanation-of-racist-policy-in-garut-regency-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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