Groups concerned over Parti establishment

JAKARTA (JP): An ethnic Chinese Moslem foundation, Haji Karim Oei, expressed concern here yesterday over the recent establishment of a Chinese political party, fearing that such an ethnic-based party would only aggravate animosity toward those of Chinese descent.

In a statement read at a news conference by deputy chairman H.M. Ali Karim, the foundation maintained that such political parties were "not in line with the spirit of 1928's Youth Pledge".

Ali was referring to the historic youths oath of 1928 when nationalist youths laid the foundation of nationhood by declaring themselves to be of "one motherland, one nation and one language: Indonesia".

"The foundation followed with deep concern the establishment of political organizations that are based on ethnicity and ancestry... Such a political organization is established simply out of emotion," Ali said.

Bambang Wiwoho, a nonethnic Chinese who is secretary-general of the foundation, said he was disturbed about any possible repercussions which the establishment of the party may cause.

"It's not right to fight for our aspirations in an exclusive manner," Bambang remarked.

Also attending the occasion was well-known soothsayer and astrologer Putri Wong Kam Fu alias Leoni Fatima, who said: "It (the establishment of the party) was not the correct time to do so".

Wong, who is also a member of the foundation, did not say when she believed the "correct time" would be, but was convinced that the presence of an ethnic Chinese political party would bear "harmful repercussions" to most ethnic Chinese who know nothing of politics.

The news conference was held yesterday in direct response to the establishment of the Chinese-Indonesian Reform Party (Parti) on June 5, the first ethnic-based political party to emerge in the current atmosphere of openness sweeping the country.

"We want to defend our rights and create true harmony among Indonesian citizens," said one of Parti's founders, Ponijan -- director of the Widyatara language school -- during the launching of the party.

Ponijan said the party would demand that the government start treating citizens of Chinese descent fairly in political, economic, social and legal matters.

"The government has so far discriminated against us. It, for instance, (uses a code to) differentiate us on our identity cards," Ponijan asserted.

Yesterday, Wong charged that the party founders should have consulted with leading ethnic Chinese figures before using the word Tionghoa (Chinese) in the name of its party,

"If anything goes wrong with such a party, won't it be all Chinese who bear the brunt?" Wong asked.

The ethnic Chinese minority has often become a target during various upheavals in the country, largely because it dominates the economy.

Last month, hundreds of Chinese shops were among those targeted by looters and arsonists during the riots here which saw over 5,000 buildings damaged or burned.

But with the new government pledging democratic reform, a small coalition of ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs said that now was the time to take to the political stage.

Chinese-Indonesians make up only about 4 percent of the country's 202 million population. (aan)