New party open to all: Founder

New party open to all: Founder

JAKARTA (JP): The newly formed Chinese-Indonesian Reform Party
(Parti) denied accusations yesterday that it was ethnically
exclusive and that the use of Tionghoa (Chinese) in its name did
not reflect any disloyalty against the country.

"If any other name was used, it would be meaningless. Why
can't we all just learn to be honest and be who we are?" one of
the party's founders, lawyer Gunawan Tjahjadi, told The Jakarta
Post.

He maintained that the party was being "open, unpretentious
and honest".

Gunawan further pointed out that Parti's membership was open
to all members of society, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.

He said the only membership requirement was a commitment to
reform and equality.

Members of the Haji Karim Oei Moslem Chinese Foundation
expressed concern Wednesday over Parti's establishment, saying it
was an ethnically based political party.

They said they feared that such a party would create "harmful
repercussions" for all Chinese-Indonesians.

The Chinese-Indonesian minority has often been targeted for
violence during times of economic hardship, largely because it
dominates the economy.

Chinese-Indonesians make up only 4 percent of the country's
202 million population.

Gunawan pointed out that his party placed Pancasila and the
1945 Constitution as major components of its founding principles.

He said Indonesia must learn to fully accept Chinese-
Indonesians as a part of the large mozaic makeup of the country.
(aan)