Chinese-Indonesians stream into Padang with fears of unrest
Chinese-Indonesians stream into Padang with fears of unrest
PADANG, West Sumatra (JP): Hundreds of Chinese-Indonesians,
worried about being targeted in another bout of racial riots in
Jakarta and Medan, have been arriving in this province.
Their numbers have been on the rise over the past week. Hotels
in Padang and the cool holiday resort of Bukittinggi have
reported a dramatic surge in occupancy rates.
Idham Radjo, owner of Maninjau Indah Hotel, said rooms started
filling up a week ago.
"The surge bewildered me at first, but then I realized that
they were frightened people seeking a safe place to stay during
the campaigning," he said.
West Sumatra Police chief Col. Dasrul Lamsuddin, who has
closely watched the influx of Chinese-Indonesians, said on
Saturday he had recorded more than 700 people coming from Jakarta
and Medan.
The minority ethnic Chinese have in the past been targeted in
times of hardship. The latest big anti-Chinese riots broke out in
major cities across the country in May last year.
Dasrul said the authorities had taken all necessary measures
to protect Chinese-Indonesians seeking a safe haven in West
Sumatra.
"They will get protection like any other Indonesian citizens
in the province," he told journalists.
In case unrest cannot be prevented, the authorities have
prepared three large halls to accommodate them.
"I believe that rioting is very unlikely to occur in West
Sumatra given that the Minang (West Sumatra natives) have no
racist sentiments. They accept migrants," Dasrul said.
West Sumatra is the proud home of the Love Friends
Association, which promotes racial harmony.
Association chief Ferianto Gani expects "thousands" more
Chinese-Indonesians to come to West Sumatra if the authorities
are able to prove that the area is indeed safe.
Ferianto said West Sumatra is a good choice because it is safe
and living costs are relatively low. For example, in the Maninjau
Lake tourist resort, one can rent a homestay room for Rp 5,000
per night and even less for a longer stay.
"Going to West Sumatra is certainly better than going
overseas," he said. "Chinese-Indonesians are accepted here
because they mingle with locals. Many of them speak the Minang
dialect."
Discrimination
On a related issue, the Muslim-based United Development Party
(PPP) promised in the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak on
Saturday that it would scrap all laws that discriminate against
ethnicity and religion.
For example, Law No. 14 of 1967, a legacy of the authoritarian
New Order regime, explicitly discriminates against people of
Chinese descent and people from eastern provinces, said Usman
Effendy Yong Kiem Sang, an executive of PPP's West Kalimantan
chapter.
The law bans, among other things, the use of Chinese
characters and language in public. It prohibits Chinese-
Indonesians to perform cultural events.
"If such laws are maintained, religious and ethnic conflicts
will only worsen," he said. (28/pan)