Mega urged to do more to end discrimination

Mega urged to do more to end discrimination

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri's decision on Sunday to declare
the Lunar New Year or Imlek a national holiday beginning 2003 is
a step toward bridging the divide between the ethnic Chinese and
indigenous Indonesian communities, Chinese Indonesians say.

They, however, call on the Megawati administration to follow
the ruling with legislative reform to address remaining
inequalities.

"The significance of Imlek being declared a national holiday
is that it is an act of political recognition of Chinese
Indonesian citizens," National Mandate Party (PAN) legislator
Alvin Lie told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Alvin said past exclusionary policies had left the legacy of a
social divide between ethnic Chinese and other Indonesians.

"The problems we have now date back to the Soeharto
government, when the separation of ethnic groups was defined by
the government. We must remove these barriers in order to improve
relations between the different ethnic groups in Indonesia," he
said.

"Ethnic Chinese now have to free their minds from past trauma
and exercise their rights and duties as Indonesian citizens, and
contribute to society in the same walks of life as indigenous
Indonesians; in business, politics and as civil servants."

However, Indonesian National Unity Faction (FKKI) legislator
Astrid S. Susanto said the declaration of Imlek as a national
holiday would entrench ethnic separatism rather than promote
unity.

"I don't think there is a need to create more national
holidays. I wonder if there are tribal groups who want to have
their own holiday -- should we make more national holidays for
them?" Astrid asked.

Harry Tjan Silalahi, a researcher from the Centre for
Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), disagreed, stating
the move to make Imlek a national holiday would ease resentment
among the ethnic Chinese community and facilitate a more
inclusive society.

"Chinese Indonesians feel humanized by the government
decision. The decision will raise the sense of belonging of
Chinese Indonesians toward this country," he said.

Harry said the right to express aspects of Chinese culture and
traditions was an essential step in reconciliation between the
ethnic Chinese and indigenous Indonesian communities.

"The government should give Chinese Indonesians freedom of
religion, and room to perform Chinese cultural activities such as
the barongsay in the public sphere," he said.

Notwithstanding the symbolic importance of declaring Imlek a
national holiday, Alvin said reform had stalled since former
President Abdurrahman Wahid overturned Decree No. 14/1967 banning
activities related to Chinese culture and Confucianism in 1999.

Alvin called on Megawati to adopt a firm approach to ensure
the democratic rights of all citizens regardless of ethnicity.

"The main issue is not related to whether there is a holiday
or not. Our main concern is that the government abolish all
regulations and policies that are discriminatory toward Chinese
Indonesians," he said.

There are currently 50 laws and ordinances deemed
discriminatory on the grounds of ethnicity, including the
requirement for Chinese Indonesians to produce certificates of
citizenship (SKBRI) every time they apply for official documents
such as identification cards and passports.

"The Megawati government must phase out the requirement for
Chinese Indonesians to have a certificate of citizenship, which
they have to produce when applying for official documents," said
Lieus Sungkarisma, chairman of the Chinese Descent Reform Party
of Indonesia.

According to Paulus Widiyanto of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the government is currently
assessing those laws in need of revision in order to eliminate
discrimination.

Former President Soeharto banned public display of Chinese
culture and denied citizenship to recent migrants after Beijing
was accused of involvement in an attempted coup blamed on the
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965.

Although the ethnic Chinese community comprise less than 3
percent of Indonesia's 215 million population, their dominance in
many areas of the country's economy has bred hostility among some
of the less affluent Indonesian citizens.

Discriminatory Laws and Regulations

1. Presidium Cabinet Instruction No. 37/1967 about Main
Government Policies on People of Chinese Descent
2. Presidential Decree No. 14/1967 on Religion, Beliefs and
Culture of People of Chinese Descent
3. Justice Minister Decree No. JB/1978 about a Certificate of
Citizenship for People of Chinese Descent
4. Justice Minister Decree No. MO1441/1983 about a certificate of
citizenship based on dual citizenship between RI and People's
Republic of China
5. Culture and Educational Minister Decree No. 170/1975 about
assimilation directives in education
6. Home Affairs Minister Decree No. 455.2/1998 about the
management of temples
7. A letter from Social and Welfare Minister to the Minister of
Home Affairs No. 764/1983 about policies related to the Confucian
community
8. Internal Memo from the Ministry of Information No. 2/1988
about the banning of publications and advertisements using
Chinese characters