Chinese-Indonesians seek role in politics

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)