Athletes protest discriminatory laws

Athletes protest discriminatory laws

JAKARTA: Former athletes, mostly those of Chinese descent, and leaders of the People's Consultative Assembly are calling on the government to repeal laws and regulations that discriminate against Indonesians of Chinese descent.

The issue was discussed on Tuesday at a meeting between Assembly leaders Amien Rais, Husni Thamrin and Jusuf Amir Feisal and former and present professional badminton players headed by veteran Tan Joe Hok.

Joe Hok disclosed that as an Indonesian citizen he was upset each time government officials demanded to see his certificate of Indonesian citizenship (SBKRI).

"Essentially, this is one form of extortion," Amien said.

Also present at the hearing were, among others, Liem Swie King, Verawati Fajrin, Hendrawan, Chandra Wijaya, Ivanna Lie, Imelda Wiguna and Icuk Sugiarto.

Both Amien and Tan Joe Hok said that the decision to repeal discriminatory laws needed political will on the part of the government. -- JP