Chinese-Indonesians want their role recognized

Chinese-Indonesians want their role recognized

Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The struggle of Chinese-Indonesians to revive their national
identity will succeed only if the country acknowledges their
contributions in development and gives them full rein to develop
any sector, including politics, a seminar concluded on Saturday.

Titled The Roles of Chinese-Indonesians in Indonesia's
History, the discussion underlined the fact that, for centuries,
Indonesians of Chinese descent had been labeled as a community
that had economic power but had made no contributions to the
country's history.

The absence of such a recognition, especially in history books
and history courses, has created a misperception about this
community, including the impression that the Chinese-Indonesian
community was comprised of giant conglomerates.

"The fact is, conglomerates constitute only a small part of
the community while most of us are in the low to middle classes
of society," said Benny G. Setiono, chairman of the Jakarta
chapter of the Tionghoa Indonesia Association (Inti).

Most speakers and participants in the seminar organized by
Suara Pembaruan daily were Chinese-Indonesians.

Asvi Warman Adam, researcher at the Indonesian Institute of
Science (LIPI), said that Chinese-Indonesians had contributed
much in developing the country since the colonial era. The
community, he said, introduced several skills and techniques in
areas such as agriculture, naval construction, trade, and
culinary arts.

Siauw Tiong Djin, chairman of the Committee Against Racism in
Indonesia, said that Chinese-Indonesians had also rebelled
against the Dutch colonial administration by establishing the
first educational foundation in 1900, in Jakarta.

Chinese-Indonesians also established the Sin Tit Po daily, The
Sun daily, and the Sin Po daily, all of which often printed
articles written by national heroes Soekarno, Mohammad Hatta, and
Tjipto Mangunkusumo.

Siauw added that politicians such as Liem Koen Hian and Yap
Tjwan Bing were members of the Preparatory Committee for
Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI), which established the political
foundation of Indonesia.

Politicians like Tan Ling Dji, Tjoa Sik Ien, Oei Gee Hwat, and
Siauw Giok Tjhan also joined Amir Sjarifuddin and Sjahrir in the
Indonesian Socialist Party and made several contributions to the
1946 Citizenship Law, which allowed foreigners born in Indonesia
to acquire Indonesian citizenship.

"So, why don't we Indonesians appreciate the Chinese-
Indonesians in our history by putting them in the history books?"
Siauw said.

Siauw added that the inclusion of Chinese-Indonesians into
history books would also help the country address those problems
faced by the community.

"Chinese-Indonesians cannot be separated from Indonesia. Their
problem is a national problem and should be addressed by all
Indonesians," he said. The government has repealed a number of
laws deemed discriminatory against Chinese-Indonesians, but many
more are still in place.

Asvi, however, reminded that it took five or ten years for the
public to change their perception about Chinese-Indonesians
because the community's image had been planted during the New
Order regime.

Siauw urged the young generation of Chinese decent to be
actively involved in any activities that could eliminate
discrimination against them.

He also said that Chinese-Indonesians should enter top levels
of government such as the executive, legislative, and judicial
branches, and should also become involved at the grass-roots
level, such as in non-governmental organizations or social
organizations.

"By entering into politics, Chinese-Indonesians can gain
significant bargaining power in the nation's decision-making
process and put an end to racial discrimination in policy," Siauw
said.