Indonesia for all
As in his first, Masli Arman's second letter on Nov. 16 made a very tendentious, unrealistic and xenophobic analysis in launching a debate with Leo Suryadinata. With his inaccurate and very outdated data (from a 1930 census) Masli made a projection covering 68 years solely based on personal views.
It is highly regrettable that Masli did not contact the Central Bureau of Statistics which has the latest data on the composition of Indonesia's population. It was fortunate that Sia Ka Mou, in quoting Frans H. Winarta, had the data so that Masli's very irrational writing was refuted in a letter to The Jakarta Post on Nov. 20.
Mr. Arman, you may have had an unpleasant experience with an ethnic Chinese that you cannot forget easily. You should know that everybody certainly experiences similar episodes with a person of whatever ethnicity in this world if, in daily life, he often comes into contact with many people of different ethnicity. It is up to us what attitude to take.
If you respond with a negative tendency, there will be only hate left. This is seen from your examples of ethnic Chinese behaving themselves in a bad way. The episodes were actually very incidental but you have made a generalization of them (your article in the Post of July 30, 1998). None of the examples were good.
You should know that God never created an ethnic group that has only bad characteristics. Likewise, God never made an ethnic group in this world with solely good traits.
Your writings are very dangerous at this time because they could give rise to hate of the ethnic Chinese, which in turn could trigger new riots. You should remember that Indonesia does not consist of one ethnic group only, like Hitler's ideals with his Naziism which fought for race purification.
The Republic of Indonesia was established to unite all existing ethnic groups in the archipelago. It certainly includes the ethnic Chinese, who have also played a role in the struggle of this nation.
You may not know that four ethnic Chinese joined in the Youth Pledge (Sumpah Pemuda) in 1928. They were Ong Kay Siang, John Liauw Tjoan Hok, Tjo Jin Kwie and Kwee Thiam Hong. Furthermore, there were five ethnic Chinese who participated in shaping the basis of our nation, i.e. Liem Koen Hian, Oey Tiang Tjoei, Oei Tjong Hauw, Tan Eng Hoa and Yap Tjwan Bing, who became members of the Investigating Body of Efforts for Preparation of Indonesia's Independence.
There were many more ethnic Chinese national figures in all fields, in the revolution era Rear Adm. John Lie, Tong Djoe (still living, recipient of the Jasa Pratama award), Tony Wen, Djauw Kie Siong. There are well-know national figures such as Wongso Suseno, Rudy Hartono, Yap Thiam Hien, Ong Hok Ham, Ivana Lie, Susi Susanti, Alan Budikusuma, Arief Budiman, Christianto Wibisono, Kwik Kian Gie, Sofyan Wanandi, Imelda Wigoena, Verawati Fajrin and many others.
Therefore, once again, it is strongly hoped that you will not produce other writings that are solely based on ethnic sentiment that may give rise to dictatorial tendencies of the majority toward minorities.
THEODORUS WIDODO
Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara