De Jong responds
De Jong responds
Referring to Mr. Wasmuth's letter (The Jakarta Post, Sept.
29). First of all, to set things right, The Jakarta Post
published my letter without my knowledge or consent. Using a
facsimile is a quick way of communication which is why I
corresponded by fax. My letter was not intended to start
arguments about opinions. However being done that way, how do you
know whether or not I am of `pribumi stock' (primitive indigenous
people)? Actually what do you understand of the word `pribumi?'
There are about 50 ethnic groups in Indonesia who make the
"oneness and greatness" of the Republic of Indonesia. I have the
feeling that I am not one of the one percent (about 1.9 million
of Indonesians).
Your remark about primitive people reminds me of a certain
European country, where a group of people did obtain the power to
realize their "solution" for "indigenous primitive" people and
others considered undesirables. To add to your knowledge: over 85
percent of the Indonesian people, above the age of ten years do
read and write. Hundreds of thousands do read English. Thousands
upon thousands have furthered their education in foreign
countries, for which they had to learn English better than you or
me. It would be a poor show and a financial disaster for The
Jakarta Post if they only have "expatriates" as subscribers.
Again I challenge you to give an objective explanation about
"colonialism." You for certain must read Resolution 2200A (XXI)
of December 1966 of the United Nations.
A further thought: thousands of Indonesians even have foreign
family names!
Responding to Mrs. Sumarsono (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 3). Yes
Mrs. Sumarsono, I do know about all the things that happened (and
still happens). I abhor the idea that a certain nation or race
can subject another nation or race to such things.
My own brother was killed in the late days of World War II
because of his nationality and race and yet he was not bearing
arms. And please read Multatuli's Max Havelaar.
At no time did I mention "the good old colonial days."
I do know that "native" Rajas, sultans and their families
treated their subjects as slaves. And I know that Java certainly
had a very high culture in the period when they were still
wearing skins in Europe and were bashing each others "brains" out
with stone tools.
I would like to discuss your opinion further. We can discuss
the hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of Indonesians used by
the Japanese in World War II and who died, or the millions killed
outright by the Germans, or the depopulation of Cambodia by the
Khmer Rouge (and the war is still going on). I doubt you get a
"kick" out of the mediocre Indonesian "war" movies, even in view
of your sorrow and anger about facts in the past. Please read
too, the brave articles by eminent Indonesians published in this
paper.
Over 80 percent of Indonesians are farmers. They have very,
very low incomes. The government is trying within its means to
help. But even the farmers' bright children are disadvantaged
because they do not have the money to pay for the education,
while "big bellied" (any color) powerful men who earn billions of
rupiah are humiliating their own `bangsa' (people).
In response to Mr. Aloysius Haryono (The Jakarta Post, Oct.3),
anger "sounds" through his reply, for which I did not ask (the
reply). Javanese people are well known for their politeness.
However, there was no inkling of it in his published letter. It
is dood neer vallen. In simple English "drop dead." Yes, Pak
Haryono, I am well read, foremost on objective facts. I have
learned one thing: not to measure yesterday's mistakes by today's
standards.
Why is it, Pak Haryono, that you think that two questions do
not deserve to be answered? Is it that this too is a part of your
condescending attitude? How about the fact that Indonesian
independence was won by political means, by "colonial" educated
Indonesians? How about today's Laws (including Hukum Adat)?
Capt. R.W. DE JONG
Bogor, West Java