Chinese contribution

This letter is in response to Mr. Sumarsono Sastrowardoyo's letter on Sept. 23 entitled "Shane".

Pak Sumarsono, several months ago a friend of mine showed me a very interesting old book entitled "Boekoe Resmi Peringatan 6 Boelan Republik Indonesia" (Official publication marking six months since the founding of the Republic of Indonesia). I copied one of the articles (page 44) which reported briefly that back in November 1945, the Chinese residents together (shoulder to shoulder) with the Indonesians fought against the British for the Indonesia Merdeka (Indonesian independence) in Surabaya. The article showed a very harmonious relationship between them all. Should you need more information, I recommend you to talk to people of the older generation. You might also go straight to the National Library to find old publications like the above- mentioned book.

It would also be useful to read Mr, Christianto Wibisono's analysis "Tragedi BCA and non-pri" (BCA tragedy and non-indigenous people) in Suara Pembaruan on June 1, 1998, and also Mr. Yap Tjwan Bing's autobiography "Meretas jalan kemerdekaan" (pioneering the path to freedom), an autobiography of a freedom fighter, Gramedia 1988.

With regard to Poh An Tui, as far as I know, this organization was basically similar to Hansip (Civil defense scheme). It was organized to safeguard the neighborhood against crimes (theft, burglary etc.), not against the Indonesian freedom fighters.

Pak Sumarsono, if you have spare time, would you please also read Sam Po Kong dan Indonesia written by Prof. Kong Yuan Zhi and edited by Mr. Hembing Wijayakusuma. I hope it will enrich our understanding of the Indonesian nation and culture formation in the past.

While we are looking for the truth about the past, there are people out there who happen to be Chinese and are now doing and contributing something to our country. You might recall a doctor in Medan who built schools and dedicates his life to poor people. Some other people do this in different ways. Let us do something for a better Indonesia. Today must be better than yesterday, and tomorrow shall be better than today.

To Mr. Ning M. Widjaya, would you please calm down a bit. I believe Pak Sumarsono is just trying to disclose the truth about our history, and is not trying to confront the ethnic Chinese.

After all we are brothers and sisters. We are just stopping by to drink. Life is very short. Let's make Indonesia a better and peaceful place for us and our descendants.

RUDY KUSWORO

Jakarta