Becoming part of Indonesia
Becoming part of Indonesia
From Sinar Pagi
Assimilation, or the Indonesian pembauran, can be taken to mean a mixture, referring to relationships among people within a country. This is particularly true for Indonesia whose population has many ethnic groups and various nonindigenous people, the majority of which are Indonesian citizens.
History has witnessed that both the indigenous and nonindigenous people have been united, although many people in the community have different perceptions concerning nonindigenous members of our society.
Who are the nonindigenous people? They were originally foreign nationals who came to Indonesia and lived here for decades, even centuries, and through a natural process have had offspring who make up what we now call nonindigenous people.
Another question arises. What about their traditions, cultures and names in their new environment? These aspects of life proceeded peacefully and transparently in accordance with the law of nature. If this phenomenon is understood without prejudice by the community of the receiving country, harmonious relations among fellow citizens, in the true sense of the word, will be a given.
It is a fact that in Indonesia we know of various kinds of nonindigenous people in relation to their countries of origin, such as Indians, Pakistanis, Arabs and Chinese. There has been no problem with the issue of assimilation, mainly through cross marriages and the use of their original ethnic names. Changing foreign names into indigenous names -- be they Chinese, Arabs, Indians or otherwise -- will have no meaning if they do not change their attitude and way of life in accordance with local customs.
The concerns of the indigenous people that the nonindigenous people's traditions and culture may develop to the extent that they will dominate the local mores are groundless and should be eliminated. Every nation has laws to govern the lives of its people to ensure it does not undermine the sovereignty of the country.
SOEPRODJO
Jakarta