Chinese-Indonesians seek role in politics
JAKARTA (JP): After being muted politically for over 30 years, Chinese-Indonesians are staging a comeback to fight for their interests and those of the nation.
Such determination was reflected at least in a political debate on Sunday among legislative candidates of Chinese descent, organized by the Chinese-Indonesian Reform Party (Parti). The party is not contesting the June 7 general election.
According to Parti chairman Lieus Sungkharisma, the program was organized to help introduce the public to the 10 nominees for the House of Representatives.
"It's to show that Chinese-Indonesians have a zeal for politics," Lieus told The Jakarta Post after the debate.
At least 300 people attended the event, exceeding the 100 invited guests, he said.
"All the legislative candidates addressed their parties' concern about the Chinese-Indonesian issue, and pledged their support for the elimination of all discriminatory regulations that have so far marginalized ethnic groups."
Taking part in the debate were Eddy Sadeli of the Murba Party, Malijan of the Democratic Catholics' Party (PKD), Usman Effendy of the United Development Party (PPP), Surya Salim of the National Democrats Party (PND), Bambang Sungkono of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Daniel Abbas of the Indonesian Unity in Diversity Party (PBI) and Musweri Mi'in of the Islamic Community Party (PUI).
Lieus said renowned economist Kwik Kian Gie of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), businessman Enggartiasto Lukito of the Golkar Party and K. Sindhunatha of the National Mandate Party (PAN) failed to show up.
"The purpose of the program was to introduce those candidates to Chinese-Indonesians here. An interesting fact we discovered was that candidates of Chinese descent have been given 'good numbers' on the list."
Lieus was referring to the position on the legislative candidate list; those with a higher number on the list increase their chances of winning a legislative seat.
Lieus, a youth activist of the Golkar-affiliated Indonesian Youth National Committee, said the five-hour program was "too limited" for the candidates to detail their programs to the audience.
"But almost all shared the concern for the abolition of regulations that ban use of the Mandarin language, Chinese culture and other discriminatory rules."
The invitation to the debate was addressed in both the Indonesian language and in Chinese characters.
Under former president Soeharto's New Order era Chinese- Indonesians were systematically barred from entering the military and the bureaucracy.
During President B.J. Habibie's one-year rule, a presidential instruction was issued in 1998 for ministers and chiefs of the bureaucracy to scrap all discriminatory practices.
The House of Representatives recently ratified a 1965 anti- discrimination convention.
According to Parti, Chinese-Indonesians number 10 million (or 5 percent of the total country's population) and seven million of them are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections.
"In Jakarta alone, there are around 1.8 million Chinese- Indonesians," Lieus said.
He said Chinese-Indonesians must realize the political power they could attain if they were properly represented. (aan)