Chinese-Indonesians ready for elections
Chinese-Indonesians ready for elections
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Chinese-Indonesians are ready to participate in this year's
legislative and presidential elections after the New Order regime
shut them out for 32 years, a seminar concluded.
Lee Cho Hui, the chief editor of the International Daily News,
said Chinese-Indonesians were not only prepared to vote but also
become actively involved in campaigning for certain political
parties.
"The political awareness of Chinese-Indonesians has been
increasing," he said through an interpreter.
Lee was referring to some Chinese-Indonesians who had been
named legislative candidates, either for the House of
Representatives (DPR), provincial legislatures (DPRDs) or the
Regional Representatives Council (DPD).
The International Daily News is a Jakarta newspaper that
compiles news related to Chinese people from around the world.
Lee presented his paper in Chinese before more than 700
participants at a seminar titled Ethnic Chinese and the 2004
elections held by the Chinese-Indonesian Organization (INTI) in
Jakarta.
On the sidelines of the seminar, a Chinese-Indonesian
participant told his friends proudly of his brother who became a
campaign manager of a political party in North Sumatra.
Several other participants discussed the nomination of fellow
Chinese-Indonesians in the legislative election.
INTI chairman Eddie Lembong said Chinese-Indonesians, who
account for 3 percent to 4 percent of Indonesia's population of
216 million, would play a significant role in the upcoming
elections.
"A single vote counts," he said, adding that voters would
determine the future of the country.
However, Eddie called on Chinese-Indonesians not to vote along
ethnic lines.
"If there are 100 Chinese-Indonesian candidates, should we
vote for them? I would say no. We should vote for the people best
able to serve the country," he said.
Eddie suggested that the Chinese community take into account
party platforms and track records as well candidates' integrity
and track records.
"If the Chinese-Indonesian candidate is a crook, don't vote
for him," he said.
In his keynote speech, economist-cum-activist Faisal H. Basri
said Chinese-Indonesians should vote for parties and
legislative/presidential candidates who would fight against
discrimination.
"I understand Chinese-Indonesians face state discrimination.
You were exploited by political parties during the previous
elections. Now, make sure that you vote for the right president
who can guarantee to put an end to the SBKRI," he said.
SBKRI is a citizenship document required by Chinese-
Indonesians before they can be officially recognized as
Indonesian citizens. An SBKRI is needed before many other
documents can be processed, including passports, business
licenses, credit applications and even applications for
university enrollment.
Indonesia banned anything related to Chinese culture in the
country following the aborted coup blamed on the Indonesian
Communist Party, which then had ties with the Chinese communist
party.
Former president Abdurrahman Wahid revoked in 2000 the
presidential decree on SBKRI, but the government has until now
failed to repeal its operational regulations.