Ethnic Chinese out to forge new ties

JAKARTA (JP): Prominent Chinese-Indonesians reasserted on Thursday their intention to become a true part of the Indonesian community, vowing to overcome the history of violence which has swirled around their community.

Senior journalist Jakob Oetama and politician K. Sindhunata discussed the issue of discrimination against the ethnic Chinese community during the launching of a book, Masalah Tionghoa di Indonesia (Problems of the Chinese Community in Indonesia), by Junus Jahja. The author is known for promoting the assimilation of the ethnic Chinese into the Indonesian community. The other speaker at the event, which was held at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, was former minister of transmigration Siswono Yudhohusodo.

Jakob said the May 1998 violence against the ethnic Chinese community was a blessing in disguise, because the community took measures to prevent a reoccurrence of such violence, including establishing neighborhood security patrols.

The period following the resignation of former president Soeharto also brought the ethnic Chinese community new freedom of expression and the opportunity to decide their own destiny, Jakob said.

"These developments reflect the intention of the Chinese community (to become part of society as a whole)," he said.

Jakob stated the hatred against ethnic Chinese for their involvement in corruption was unfair, saying, "it takes two to tango," referring to the involvement of native Indonesians in the corruption.

An executive of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Sindhunata, described his personal struggle to help his community assimilate. He underlined the government's inconsistent policies toward the ethnic Chinese, which contributed to the inconsistent treatment of the community.

He also said all societal groups were interrelated. "If Indonesians cannot absorb and understand the cultural characteristics of a minority group, we will experience even more problems in the future."

Sindhunata said PAN chairman Amien Rais' pledge to reopen Chinese schools if he won the presidential race would not be a solution to the problems faced by the ethnic Chinese community.

He said in 1967 he supported the closing of Chinese schools and promoted the Indonesian language, while discouraging the use of the Chinese language.

However, he endorsed the teaching of Chinese and Japanese in high schools, citing the important role the languages played in the region compared to French and German.

Siswono said law enforcers failed to maintain their impartiality in handling issues related to the ethnic Chinese minority. He said he once met a group of ethnic Chinese youths who complained about being portrayed as corruptors, adding that the Bank Bali scandal was just the latest example.

He emphasized the need for those in power to treat Chinese- Indonesians, as well as other minority groups, with honesty and compassion.

"Has our feeling toward (minority groups) reflected love, or are we only expecting them to love us," he asked.

Junus Jahja said Indonesia's younger generations appeared to be more able to accept each other, though economic gaps still hindered assimilation.

"The Chinese have been cornered by the growing perception that Chinese businessmen are to be blamed for the economic and monetary crisis," he said.

He regretted regulations which directly or indirectly set the ethnic Chinese minority apart from the rest of society.

He said it was unfortunate various political parties exploited Chinese cultural manifestations such as the Barongsai (dragon dance) to win the vote of the ethnic Chinese. He said this phenomenon reminded him of the Chinese chauvinism of the mid- 1950s.

He pleaded for Indonesians to forget the past and concentrate on assimilating. "Let bygones be bygones." (06)