Ethnic groups exchange views on differences

JAKARTA (JP): A discussion on the relationship between elements of the population who are of Malay and Chinese descent held on Saturday served to highlight deep divisions between the two communities when feelings of exploitation and bias were expressed very emphatically.

The discussion brought together people from many walks of life, and it was through their spontaneous comments that these deep rooted feelings were revealed.

Organized by Tulor Teatra and chaired by social activists Debra Yatim and Eka Budianta, the discussion was intended to give both sides an opportunity to exchange views on the sensitive issue.

Generally the non-Chinese regarded their Chinese compatriots as "economic animals", while Chinese-Indonesians felt they were too often treated as second class citizens.

Ubay, a factory worker from Bekasi, West Java, was not shy to admit that his experience of working for ethnic Chinese employers had made him adverse to them.

"Frankly speaking, I am strongly anti-Chinese because as a factory worker I have never been well-treated or fairly paid by my Chinese bosses," he claimed.

Ubay said the ethnic-Chinese tended to think only about profits and often used security officials to settle labor disputes.

An ethnic-Chinese, Metta Dharmasaputra, said he was once mistaken as a Sundanese by some new acquaintances and was amazed at how people talked and made generalizations about the Chinese community in the country.

"It was a fascinating experience. I have known since my childhood that it is extremely difficult to live as a Chinese person here," said Metta, who works for a publishing company.

Metta pointed out that despite the underlying misconceptions, his friends and neighbors eventually accepted him and treated him as one of their own, but only after he had demonstrated his sincerity to them.

"I studied in state schools and always tried to act as a real Indonesian," he said, without explaining how a "real" Indonesian acts.

Introspection

Bowo, a factory worker, said that if Chinese-Indonesians felt they were discriminated against they should look into the mirror because some introspection would help them to become aware of their position.

"In normal times they were very powerful and abused people for profit," he charged. "Now things have suddenly changed and tragedy befalls, then they suddenly scream for justice".

The issue of ethnic tensions between the Chinese-Indonesian community and those of Malay descent came to the fore when the former were targeted by mobs during the mass rioting which hit major cities across the country last month.

In Jakarta, commercial areas and shops operated by Chinese- Indonesians were looted and burned. Reports that many Chinese women were raped and sexually assaulted during the calamity have also emerged.

In the wake of the riots there has been increasing debate on the role of those of Chinese descent in Indonesia. During the Soeharto era, public debates on such issues were considered taboo.

While the ethnic Chinese make up only 4 percent of the population, they dominate the national economy.

Debra Yatim yesterday questioned the humanity of all Indonesians for allowing and committing the atrocities which occurred during the riots.

"What is wrong with us?" Debra said.

Similarly, internationally acclaimed writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer said that he was outraged by the incidents.

"I do not understand why a nation like ours, which is so proud of our Pancasila ideology, could commit such uncivilized crimes," Pramoedya said.

He pointed out that while events over the past few years had served to exacerbate the perceptions, the root of the problem goes back several centuries to Dutch colonial times.

He argued that while all suffered under Dutch rule, the non- indigenous population, particularly the Chinese, were often granted a favored status to allow them to run the commercial sector on a day-to-day basis.

What is regrettable, Pramoedya said, was that the national government, especially under Soeharto, had adopted similar practices, thereby widening the economic gap between Chinese- Indonesians and the rest of the country's population. (prb)