Harmony amid diversity

If publication of Masli Arman's work on July 30 represents the newly expressed freedom of the press in Indonesia, it truly represents a turn for the worse in political, cultural and social terms, analogous to the country's recent economic turmoils. His short-sighted, insular and bigoted views in vilifying the Chinese demonstrate, thinly veiled, the same sort of hatred and distrust shown by Germans in the 1930s against Jews. Furthermore, they demonstrate disregard for the very principles of Pancasila upon which limited peace and prosperity have been fostered since Indonesia's independence.

Examples abound in world history of ethnic strife. Scapegoating of the Chinese population in Indonesia has been popular this century and contributes to such strife. Nowhere, and in no era, have such ethnic prejudices contributed to the strength or progress of a country or a society. Rather, much of the strength, success, originality and color of life in the United States, as well as in Australia, where Mr. Arman has lived, is built upon the ethnic and cultural diversity in those countries.

Indeed, such diversity brings with it some problems of association and prejudice; but an enlightened approach and constructive engagement of these issues encourages harmony amid diversity. This, in turn, permits the true benefits of such diversity to be enjoyed by all. Mr. Arman's approach, on the other hand, encourages divisiveness, which will divert potentially useful human energies from rebuilding the current political-economic chaos to petty infighting, and worse, physical harm and destruction.

Living in harmony amid diversity should be strongly encouraged, while assimilation should be abhorred. This was recognized by Indonesia's founders as they stressed acceptance of other religious and cultural beliefs in the doctrine of Pancasila. Forced assimilation, however, is the mark of a weak and paranoid people. It is to lose the spirit and the color that enhance and strengthen a multicultural society.

Each country's Chinatown contributes to a country's culture and provides an anchor for Chinese communities around the world. This should be encouraged here too, just as the Javanese wayang kulit (leather shadow puppets), Batak music, Balinese dances, etc. are encouraged.

The assertion that speaking Chinese contributes to separatism is equally insular and false. Walk through neighborhoods of New York City and you will hear Polish, German, Italian, Yiddish, Spanish, Chinese, and a host of other languages. English, of course, remains the native tongue. Closer to home, Singaporeans pride themselves, and have found strength, in their diversity. Malay, Tamil, English and Chinese can easily be heard in crowds throughout the prosperous city-state. Similarly, Bahasa provides a unifying communication for Indonesians of all cultural, religious and ethnic origins. But Dutch being spoken by a group of older pribumi (indigenous Indonesians), or the Moslem call to prayer are hardly interpreted as separatist.

As the world's economies become more intertwined, as traveling around the world is measured in hours rather than weeks, the need to recognize and embrace the cultures and traditions of other peoples should, at the same time, become more urgent and more easy. I would hope that this would be true among Indonesians, of all descent, as it should be around the world.

STEPHEN LEIBOVIC

Jakarta