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.