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.