Chinese-Indonesians hold new year hope

Millions of Chinese-Indonesians, like other Chinese communities around the world, will celebrate the Lunar New Year, Imlek, on Tuesday.

The Year of the Rabbit celebration in Indonesia is expected to be the sweetest in over 30 years because the fall of former president Soeharto has raised hopes among Chinese-Indonesians for improved respect of their ancestral culture and basic human rights.

The Jakarta Post reporters Aloysius Unditu, Emmy Fitri, K. Basrie, Lukman Natanagara, Primastuti Handayani, Sugianto Tandra and Sylvia Gratia Miranda Nirang examine the issue in this cover story. Related articles on Page 5.

JAKARTA (JP): Chinese-Indonesians hope the Year of the Rabbit brings a brighter future. This hope has been growing since the winds of change began to blow after Soeharto's fall from grace in May last year.

They are hopeful the reform movement will change their treatment at the hands of the government and the public.

This hope is not without reason. The Habibie administration is moving to revoke several racist policies, both written and unwritten. The moves have won wide praise, especially from the ethnic Chinese, who have been discriminated against for 30 years.

This minority ethnic group, which makes up an estimated 5 percent of Indonesia's population of 205 million but plays a dominant role in business, has begun to make good use of the reform movement.

As the country's political euphoria continues, some Chinese- Indonesians have established the Chinese-Indonesian Reform Party (PARTI), and more members of the ethnic group are entering the political jungle.

The government has vowed to end its controversial policy of placing a distinguishing stamp on Chinese-Indonesians' identification cards. Plus, the administrative procedures which Chinese-Indonesians must complete to receive a passport have been reportedly simplified.

The President also issued Decree No. 26/1998, which stipulates that the term pribumi (indigenous) and nonpribumi (nonindigenous) no longer be used in Indonesia, and all citizens be treated nondiscriminatorily.

"Yes, there is a change, absolutely," Chandra Setiawan, chairman of the Confucian Supreme Council in Indonesia, asserted.

"It's a giant step. It's a milestone. Since the reform movement began, I have seen a growing courage among Chinese- Indonesians to show their ethnic identity," said Lieus Sungkharisma, the chairman of PARTI.

The traditional Chinese barongsai dance has been performed in public during various events across the country, including the inauguration of political organizations.

For decades, Chinese culture in Indonesia was systematically oppressed. Cultural shows and Chinese characters were banned, except for use on certain documents.

Chinese-Indonesians, dubbed the "economic beast" for their dominant role in trade, feel that all these restrictions have made them the helpless preys of corrupt officials and an angry public.

Their community was the main target during the May 1998 riots which hit major cities across Indonesia. Their properties were attacked, burned and looted. Many Chinese-Indonesian women were assaulted and raped.

"This is the best time to build our country like our founding fathers intended it to be," said H.S. Dillon, chairman of the state-sponsored Communication Forum for National Unity.

He urged Indonesians from all ethnic backgrounds to bury their racist sentiments.

"You may hate criminals, be they ethnic Chinese, Batak, Javanese or any other ethnicity, but please never hate Chinese- Indonesians because they are ethnic Chinese," Dillon, who is also a member of the National Commission on Human Rights, said.

Eky Tandyo, 35, an ethnic Chinese photographer, extolled the virtues of the government's efforts to abolish racist regulations.

"It's great when your culture is suddenly recognized after being suppressed for so many years. It's a miracle," he said.

There are still many racist policies and practices which Habibie's administration, or its successor if this year's planned general election ushers in a new government, will have to abolish.

One of the latest appeals from the Chinese-Indonesian community is for the government to recognize Confucianism as an official religion along with Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Showing his ID card, Chandra, a lecturer at a private business institute in Jakarta, said that he had no choice but to accept the officials' decision to state his religion as Buddhism, even though he practices Confucianism.

"I hate that. How can I say my religion is Buddhism when I am Confucian?" he said.

"Because Confucianism is not recognized as a religion here, any Confucians who wed are not allowed to have their marriage registered with the office of marital affairs," he said.

Many Chinese-Indonesians also want the government to allow them to use their Chinese names, and to use Chinese characters and languages in their social lives.

They look with longing at the ethnic Chinese in neighboring Malaysia, who are treated as the equals of bumiputera (the indigenous).

Chinese-Malaysians, for example, can establish their own parties, hold important positions in the Cabinet and parliament, and celebrate the Lunar New Year without government restrictions or fear of provoking the anger of indigenous citizens.

"Here in Indonesia, we can't hope for that much. We just want fair treatment and to have our rights duly respected. We don't want to be treated in a special way like we were in the past. We're not tenant citizens," Lieus said.

"We also hope that the government and the public alike are willing to give us roles in any activity, such as the social service. I guarantee that they will be happy with our participation," Lieus, who is also an executive of the Indonesian Youth Committee, said.

It is believed among the ethnic Chinese community that the government is sincere in eliminating its racist policies.

"I have seen many changes implemented by the Habibie government. But the implementation by low-ranking officials is still a big question for us. If the change in policy is not properly implemented, the government's image could be tarnished," Lieus said.

Many in the community are still waiting to see if the authorities will appoint qualified Chinese-Indonesians to top positions in the government and Armed Forces.

"I know of a Chinese-Indonesian who held the position of subdirector for 20 years. He was never promoted," said Dillon.

Candra Wijaya, badminton's 1997 World Champion in men's doubles, went through a bitter experience when he applied for a passport to represent Indonesia at the championships.

"I hope there will be no more discrimination. All I want is for us to live together peacefully and safely. Every citizen must receive equal treatment under the law."