China concerned about May riots

China concerned about May riots

BEIJING (Agencies): China expressed "concern and sympathy" Monday for ethnic Chinese people attacked in bloody riots in Indonesia and called on Indonesia's government to prevent further violence.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Tang Guoqiang noted that the Indonesian authorities are investigating the May riots that led to President Soeharto's resignation.

Rioters targeted ethnic Chinese, resented for their dominance of Indonesia's commercial life, and looted their homes and businesses. Campaigners for women's rights charge that rape was used to terrorize the Chinese community.

"The Chinese side expresses its concern and sympathy toward the Indonesian Chinese who suffered during the riots," Tang told reporters in response to a question about reports that ethnic Chinese women were raped.

"As a friendly neighbor of Indonesia, the Chinese government hopes that the Indonesian government will adopt effective measures so that Indonesian people of all ethnic groups, including Chinese, will live and work in contentment, and continue to make contributions to the social development and economic prosperity of Indonesia," Tang said at a briefing.

According to Reuters, China carefully censored news reports of the riots and of Soeharto's downfall, informing its citizens of a change of government in Jakarta amid the Asian financial crisis without discussing the role of protests or of misrule.

Beijing's reticence about Chinese caught up in the Indonesian turmoil stems from complicated factors, including China's rejection of foreign criticism of its handling of protests and ethnic troubles as well as memories of rioting in Indonesia in the 1960s.