Chinese-Indonesians plead for end to discrimination

Chinese-Indonesians plead for end to discrimination

SURABAYA (JP): Some 200 local Chinese-Indonesians met with
members of the Supreme Advisory Council here on Wednesday to
plead for the abolition of government policies which
discriminated against them.

During the meeting, held at the Taman Sari restaurant, the
Chinese-Indonesians told council members H. Achmady, Soelarso and
Yudho Paripurno that the reform era should be accompanied by fair
and just treatment for all.

Among the Chinese-Indonesians present were Alim Markus from
the Maspion Group, university professor Lukas Widiyanto and
representatives of some non-governmental organizations such as
Ali Soegondo of the National Anti-Discrimination Association and
Rahardjo of Bhakti Persatuan Foundation.

Thomas, from the Coordinating Board for National Unity (Bakom
PKB), cited a policy that limited Chinese-Indonesians to only 20
percent of the student population at state universities as an
example of a discriminatory regulation that should be abolished.
"The limitation is counterproductive now that we're living in an
era of openness and free competition," he said.

He also criticized a policy that discouraged Chinese-
Indonesians from entering the Armed Forces or becoming civil
servants. "Such discriminatory policies are then considered to be
the norm by other citizens," he said. "Assimilation becomes even
more difficult to reach because of such legal obstacles."

Bakom PKB is an organization which has been actively
campaigning for the assimilation of Chinese-Indonesians into
Indonesian society. Its name was recently changed to the
Communication Forum for National Unity.

Rahardjo spoke more critically. "Dear council members, when
you return to Jakarta, please tell (President B.J.) Habibie and
all Armed Forces leaders: What do they want from us Chinese
people? Do they want to kill us all, flush us out, or do they
want to make the best use of us, for the sake of the nation?"

He also decried how every change in national leadership was
always accompanied by unrest targeting the Chinese-Indonesian
community.

The group, however, agreed that home for them would always be
Indonesia and that they should continue to struggle to assimilate
with "indigenous" Indonesians. "We can't all flee to China.
Neither can we stay here if we maintain Chinese citizenship
because it would only cause enmity," he said. "Please tell that
to Pak Habibie."

Hermawan of the Forum of True Humanity and Brotherhood called
on both civilian and military leaders to handle the Chinese-
Indonesian issue cautiously, and not to issue statements that
only hurt people's feelings.

"Often there are conflicting and confusing statements," he
said.

Achmady said the meeting was meant to collect opinions so the
council could provide the President with constructive advice for
the establishment of sound and just policies for the community.
(nur)