Ethnic groups exchange views on differences

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)