China does not want to act on Medan riots

JAKARTA (JP): A visiting Chinese official stressed yesterday that his country does not have the slightest intention of meddling in the recent workers' riots in Medan, North Sumatra, although the riots have revealed some anti-Chinese sentiments.

"Do not force onto others what you do not want others to force on you," Wang Guang Ying, the deputy chairman of the Chinese parliament, said quoting Confucius while speaking to reporters.

After meeting with President Soeharto at the Merdeka Palace, Wang said Beijing will not intervene in the domestic affairs of Indonesia, including the riots in Medan.

He made the remarks in response to questions about the statement made by the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman last Thursday expressing Beijing's concern over the turn of events in the northern Indonesian city.

A trader of Chinese descent was killed in the riots earlier this month as workers ransacked and looted shops owned by Chinese Indonesians.

Theo Sambuaga, a leading legislator with the ruling Golkar party, has warned that such a statement could be construed as an attempt to interfere in Indonesia's domestic affairs.

"I don't think that statement was intended as an intervention. It simply showed China's concern and this is a reflection of the close ties between the two countries," said Wang, who also heads the China-Indonesia Institute of Economic, Social and Cultural Cooperation.

Wang was accompanied during the meeting by businessman Sukamdani S. Gitosardjono, who also heads the Indonesian equivalent of the institute in Jakarta.

Indonesia and China restored their diplomatic ties in 1990 following Beijing's assurances that it would not meddle in Indonesia's domestic affairs.

The ties had been frozen in 1967 when Indonesia accused China of complicity in the abortive coup attempt by the Indonesian Communist Party in 1965. China denied the accusations, but nevertheless, gave the assurances in 1990 to pave the way for the reestablishment of their bilateral ties. (emb)