HK residents seek full investigation into May violence
HK residents seek full investigation into May violence
HONG KONG (AP): More than 300 people marched to the Indonesian
consulate in Hong Kong yesterday to demand a speedy and full
investigation into the violence against ethnic Chinese during
riots in May.
The protesters fanned themselves in the sweltering heat with
plastic fans emblazoned with the Chinese character "shame" to
depict their feelings about alleged sexual assaults against the
ethnic Chinese in Indonesia.
The protest was organized by Hong Kong's Democratic Party --
the country's major opposition party.
In Jakarta, President B.J. Habibie said yesterday about 1,200
people were killed in May's violence which, he said, had
"streaked the face of the nation" with shame.
Most victims were members of the ethnic Chinese minority,
targeted for their relative wealth and made scapegoats for
Indonesia's economic disaster. Hundreds of Chinese homes and
business were attacked and burned by rampaging mobs.
Despite repeated announcements from the Indonesian government
of heightened security on Aug. 17 -- Indonesia's Independence Day
-- rumors have spread of possible renewed attacks against the
ethnic Chinese in Indonesia.
"Whether the talk of planned attacks is genuine or rumor, the
terror instilled in the Chinese community is real enough," said
an editorial in Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
Lee Kuen, an Indonesian expatriate living in Hong Kong, said
she told all her relatives in Indonesia to keep out of the
streets on Monday.
"I told them to lock the doors," said Lee.
Democratic Party spokesman Albert Ho said he hoped the
Indonesian government could "stop the aggression against the
Indonesian Chinese and restore social order."
Chong Yi-min, a 50-year-old businessmen said he felt "pain in
his heart" whenever he saw pictures of the May riots.
Chang Shih-chun, an Indonesian-born doctor who spoke before
the protesters, accused Jakarta of tolerating the anti-Chinese
sentiment, saying the violence would never have happened if the
government had been "more concerned."
"It's been going on for years," Chang said. "And it isn't
going to stop under Habibie."
Outrage over the May attacks has galvanized ethnic Chinese
worldwide, sparking protests outside Indonesia's representative
offices abroad.
Students at the prestigious Beijing University have reportedly
put up posters all over the campus accusing China's government of
reacting apathetically to the rapes.
Habibie has reportedly ordered Indonesian officials to ask
intelligence officers from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the
United States to take part in an official investigation into the
rapes.