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)