Mon, 29 Apr 1996

On Indonesians of Chinese descent

I find Mr. Masli Arman's statement in his letter Racism revisited (The Jakarta Post, April 23, 1996) confusing when he says that (to quote from his letter) "The great majority of indigenous Indonesians do not object to seeing Indonesian Chinese becoming wealthy as long as they think, feel and act like Indonesians."

What should be construed as "thinking, feeling and acting like Indonesians?" What standard yardstick is to be employed? Then, what about some other Indonesian Chinese who happen not to be well-off? Do they "think, feel and act like Indonesians?" Then, what about Indonesians of other descent? Any guarantee that they "think, feel and act like Indonesians?"

As for Presidential Instruction No. 14/1967, I think it should be understood in the political and historical context in which it was used.

LIE HUA

Jakarta