Ten parties pledge to end discrimination<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Ten political parties signed a pledge to end all forms of
\ndiscrimination here on Thursday, including against Indonesians of
\nChinese descent.<\/p>\n
They, however, offered no real plan on how to eliminate
\ndiscrimination, leading to the suspicion that the pledge was
\nlittle more than a political ploy to attract the political and
\neconomic support of the some six million Chinese-Indonesians
\nahead of elections.<\/p>\n
The country will hold a legislative election on April 5,
\nfollowed by a direct presidential election on July 5, with a
\nrunoff on Sept. 20 if necessary.<\/p>\n
Roy BB Janis of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said his party consistently
\nbacked initiatives to end all forms of discrimination.<\/p>\n
\"We must, however, improve the quality of interaction between
\nindigenous Indonesians and the ethnic Chinese as part of our
\nefforts to end discrimination,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Chinese-Indonesians have historically been convenient targets
\nfor social unrest due to their perceived control of the country's
\neconomy and their alleged reluctance to assimilate with
\nindigenous Indonesians.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the National Awakening Party (PKB),
\nSyaifullah Yusuf, said his party always upheld pluralism and
\nrejected discrimination.<\/p>\n
All 24 political parties contesting the legislative election
\nwere invited to sign the pledge, but only 10 showed up.<\/p>\n
There was no explanation given for the absence of the other
\nparties.<\/p>\n
Those parties that sent representatives to the event were the
\nPDI-P, the PKB, the Democratic Party, the Indonesian Justice and
\nUnity Party (PKP Indonesia), the New Indonesia Alliance Party
\n(PIB), the Marhaenism Indonesian National Party (PNI
\nMarhaenisme), the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), the Socialist
\nDemocratic Labor Party (PBSD), the Indonesian Democratic Vanguard
\nParty (PPDI) and the Indonesian Unity Party (PSI).<\/p>\n
A supporter of the Freedom Bull National Party (PNBK) also
\nsigned the pledge.<\/p>\n
During a discussion before the signing, a member of the
\norganizing committee, Rev. Ronny Sigarlaki, said there were still
\nabout 48 discriminatory regulations that affected Chinese-
\nIndonesians.<\/p>\n
Indradi Kusuma, secretary of the Forum for National
\nCommunication and Unity, urged the government to issue a law
\nending racial and ethnic discrimination.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives has prepared an
\nantidiscrimination bill, which is still awaiting deliberation.<\/p>\n
Human rights activist Albert Hasibuan said the newly amended
\n1945 Constitution and several conventions Indonesia had adopted
\nprovided a legal basis for the recognition of human rights.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, all laws and regulations must follow the
\nConstitution,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Political scientist Ikrar Nusa Bakti from the Indonesian
\nInstitute of Sciences said continued discrimination in the
\ncountry showed the problem was not only a matter of regulations,
\nbut also was related to a lack of political will.<\/p>\n
\"The government has allowed Chinese-Indonesians to celebrate
\nthe Chinese New Year, but that is not enough. There are still
\nnumerous discriminatory regulations. It is the time to revoke all
\nof these regulations,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ten-parties-pledge-to-end-discrimination-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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