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