Ethnic Chinese heroes
I am writing in response to Mr. Sumarsono Sastrowardoyo's letter in The Jakarta Post of Sept. 23 entitled: Shane.
This nation is really unlucky. In order to discover the names of the country's heroes, a respectable citizen like Sumarsono Sastrowardoyo has to comb and inspect gravestones at cemeteries. As a civilized nation we should have books or complete historical records which describe the greatness of the nation's history.
It is strange that school books on history used in grade up to high school never refer to the role of ethnic Chinese freedom fighters. It is not surprising that our progeny is ignorant of the fact that among the participants of the 1928 Youth Pledge there were at least four ethnic Chinese: Ong Kay Siang, John Liauw Tjoan Hok, Tjio Jin Kwie and Kwee Thiam Hong.
Our children are also not informed that among the 60 members of the Board for the Preparation of Indonesia's Independence (BPUPKI) there were four ethnic Chinese, Tan Eng Hoa, Liem Koen Hian, Oei Tiang Tjoei and Oei Tjong Hauw. The 1945 Constitution we use now is a product of this board. Thus, there were Chinese Indonesians among our founding fathers.
Some of the ethnic Chinese fighting in the revolution were Rear Admiral John Lie, Tong Djoe, Tony Wen and Djauw Kie Siong. On Aug. 28, 1998 the Indonesian government recognized Tong Djoe's services during the clashes with the Dutch colonialists. He once got shot by the Dutch, dived into the sea and hid on a small island to be rescued by fellow republican guerrilla fighters. Tong Djoe, now 72, has received the Jasa Pratama medal for his dedication to the country half a century ago.
Even more interesting is the story of Lie Eng Hok, a pioneer of independence. He was caught by the Dutch in 1927 because he had been one of the brains behind the revolt of the Banten people against the Dutch in 1926. The Dutch government sent him to Boven Digoel, Irian Jaya. He got five years jail. Among fellow prisoners there were 10 other ethnic Chinese. Following his release from Boven, Digoel Lie Eng Hok settled in Semarang and died there in 1961. He was buried in a public cemetery. In 1986, 25 years after his death, the government decided to dig up his remains and rebury them at the Giri Tunggal Heroes' Cemetery.
I would appeal to Mr. Sumarsono not to take the trouble to inspect one by one the gravestones of our ethnic Chinese heroes. He can mentally digest the story above. There may be other Tong Djoes and Lie Eng Hoks who must wait for recognition and who will upon their death be interred at a burial place called a heroes' cemetery.
Mr. Sumarsono should open his eyes and especially his heart and refrain from further enhancing evil prejudices. He should not promote a cynical attitude toward Chinese Indonesians. All men whatever their ethnicity are the same in their potential for good and bad. That's why people feel the need to commit themselves to establish a country in order that the government that becomes the representative of the people controls and sees to it that persons with nasty behaviors do not make victims out of good fellow citizens.
HANDOYO
Semarang, Central Java