Indigenousness

Indigenousness

From Bisnis Indonesia

Lutfi Heyder's letter in Bisnis Indonesia, June 8 (The Jakarta
Post June 15), is interesting and I am very grateful to him for
not discriminating against us. He shows that by employing
Chinese-Indonesians in his business.

As an Indonesian of Chinese descent, I would like to express a
number of thoughts on the indigenous/nonindigenous relationship.

I have seen that several of my friends have assimilated
themselves. They fulfill the criteria set by Lutfi Heyder,
although perhaps with some shortcomings.

At the time of the riots, the immoral masses did not look
whether the victims were citizens who had assimilated themselves
or who had committed collusion.

Most of the victims were nonindigenous citizens who did not
understand the increase of staple food prices, the fall of the
rupiah, etc.

This distinction between indigenous and nonindigenous, doesn't
it come directly from the government? Take, for example, marking
nonindigenous citizens' identification cards.

When the riots were raging in Jakarta, many inhabitants of
Bumi Serpong Damai, Villa Melati Mas and Kelapa Gading (housing
complexes with a strong resident diversity) put notices like
Milik Pribumi Murni (owned by pure indigenous people) in front of
their houses. Who discriminates?

Indonesians of Chinese descent do not ask for special
protection but they do ask for the right to lead a decent life as
human beings.

Name and address

known to the editor