Hatred and racism

I read the article by Masli Arman on July 30 with disgust and astonishment. Here is a man who self-proclaims to be open-minded and western educated, yet is indeed a prejudiced and misinformed hate-monger.

His examples of mistreatment by ethnic Chinese-Indonesians to indigenous Indonesians are taken mainly from rumors, which are in turn, most probably spread by anti-Chinese elements. In one part, he confused Chinese-Indonesians with Singaporeans. If I were to state one by one the mistreatment indigenous Indonesians have done to their fellow Chinese-Indonesians, I doubt if the entire 12 pages of this paper would have enough space to take it in. Arman has foolishly used several cases of isolated incidents to represent seven million ethnic Chinese in this country.

He is a good example of what the marginalization, scapegoating and systematic discrimination of the ethnic Chinese by the New Order government has produced. There is so much hatred and racism in him that he is totally confused between facts and myths, and between specific cases and generalizations. He is only capable of venting his anger and jealousy.

Arman is entitled to his freedom of expression in this era of reform. But I believe his view and attitude are not supported by a majority of indigenous Indonesians. Most indigenous Indonesians, as well as Chinese-Indonesians for that matter, are tolerant, humble and honest people.

AGUS WIDJAYA

Jakarta