Comments on Chinese-Indonesians' fleeing

Comments on Chinese-Indonesians' fleeing

JAKARTA (JP): The major riots that hit Jakarta, Surakarta,
Medan and several other cities in May have worsened the crisis
which has dogged Indonesia since July last year.

The violence, which is still continuing to a lesser extent,
and uncertainties plaguing the country have scared away many
wealthy people, especially the ethnic Chinese -- who are often
used as scapegoats in times of national hardship.

Although no official statistics are available, it is
understood that many Chinese-Indonesians have moved overseas to
seek employment or start business in the aftermath of the riots.
They may never return.

We asked several people close to the issue to share their
thoughts with on emigration with The Jakarta Post. Here is what
they had to say.

Prajogo Pangestu, timber tycoon: I was in Jakarta during the
May riots. I saw no need to flee the country like many of my
relatives and friends did. I have a good business here which I
have developed over a long time, so I want to stay here as long
as possible.

But I think it is a persons right to go or stay wherever they
want. They are free to go to anywhere they choose, especially if
they feel unsafe at home.

Abbas Adhar, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Wood
Panel Producers (Apkindo): To be honest, I never have respect for
people who run away from trouble. My feelings are the same for
those who have left the country during the current economic
crisis. Why didn't they do that when the country was safe and its
economy still sound.

I'm not saying this because I am a pribumi (native
Indonesian). But it's not fair (to flee abroad) because we have
developed our businesses here, benefited from the country and
enjoyed facilities extended by the government. So it is wrong to
leave the country when it is in trouble. Those people think only
about themselves. Don't they know that their departure has caused
the country even more trouble?

Witarsa, a Jakarta entrepreneur: Mob violence has scared not
only Chinese-Indonesians. It has scared everybody who feels their
property may be targeted. After Jakarta and other major cities
were looted and set ablaze, many people fled because they felt
unsafe in Indonesia.

Although I am a native Indonesian, I am worried about the
situation and I, too, want to migrate. If I could migrate,
Australia would be my first choice. I know Australia pretty well
because I used to work there for several years.

The monetary crisis that developed into a full-scale political
and economic crisis has left Indonesia increasingly impoverished.
What business do you think is viable at this time?

I'm afraid more people who have the capital, skills and
professionalism will leave if the crisis is prolonged.

It is feared that demonstrations and mob violence will
escalate ahead of the November session of the People's
Consultative Assembly and next year's general election.

Teddy Nurcahyawan, a Chinese-Indonesian who runs a foreign
language school in Jakarta: People fleeing abroad in times of
tension at home is something usual.

They will live overseas on a temporary basis. Those who want
to live there permanently need to make careful preparations. I
have heard that many Indonesians have property in other
countries.

They will return to Indonesia once they are sure that
Indonesia is safe again. The government should do something too
draw them back and not just offer verbal assurances.

Syamsir Alam, a postgraduate student at Pittsburgh University
in the U.S., where he lives with his wife and three children:
Fleeing abroad is the Chinese-Indonesians' spontaneous response
to the violence in which they were targeted.

Thirty Indonesians, including those of Chinese descent, who
are studying in Pittsburgh watch every development at home on the
television, internet and newspapers.

We also spare dollars to help destitute people in Indonesia.

We think living here (in the United States) is better at the
moment because it is peaceful and our children can get better
education.

Hendro, an executive of an international Non-Governmental
Organization: Riots, arson and looting in Jakarta and other
cities have devastated our hope and left us in a very difficult
situation.

Chinese-Indonesians have tried to assimilate with native
Indonesians, but the results have not been encouraging so far.

There is no way to stop wealthy people from fleeing abroad but
those who are less affluent would be lucky enough if they have
enough money to move to other province such as Bali or West
Kalimantan.

Hotma Timbul Hutapea, a lawyer of the Jakarta Legal Aid
Institute: We would suffer a great loss if the Chinese-Indonesian
community left the country.

If such a thing happened, they would take away their money,
skills and distribution network.

If one family, for example, has Rp 1 billion, what would
happen if 500 or 1,000 families left the country?

I know that there are some businesspeople of Chinese descent
who were Soeharto's cronies and gained undue benefits from the
former president when he was in power. But I think those leaving
the country don't belong to that category.

How do we get them to come back? It depends on the country's
political situation.

Probably if Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid, the leader of
Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem organization) or Megawati Soekarnoputri
(ousted leader of the minority Indonesian Democratic Party)
became president, they would return to the country. (gis/kod/jun)