Nonindigenous students

Nonindigenous students

It seems unlucky to be nonindigenous Indonesians. We cannot
forget their losses and suffering (physically and mentally)
during the mid-May riots.

There was article in Pos Kota, July 18, reporting that there
is a limit on the number of nonindigenous students permitted to
study in government higher learning institutions. In the report,
the minister of education and culture said: "Structurally, the
students hailing from the nonindigenous group are superior. This
will pose a danger to indigenous students to the effect that the
indigenous students will be pushed aside by their nonindigenous
mates."

For Indonesia to become a prosperous country it will need
professionals and qualified people, disrespecting their ethnicity
and religion. How humiliated they must feel to be refused
permission to study in their motherland, a place where they were
born, have grown up and have a desire to learn!

I wish the nonindigenous to be mentally strong in this matter.

RITAWATI WIHARDJA

Jakarta