Chinese contribution
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