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)