Political will needed to eliminate racial discrimination

Political will needed to eliminate racial discrimination

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Eliminating discrimination against Chinese-Indonesians will take
a long time and require not only the revocation of some 60
discriminatory rulings, but also a commitment by all sides to
promote tolerance, assimilation and equality, according to
analysts.

The analysts appreciated the official recognition of the
Chinese New Year, but said the real problem was the unequal and
discriminatory treatment of so-called nonindigenous citizens.

Frans Winarta, a lawyer, said revoking discriminatory
regulations would not guarantee equality unless all groups in
society were committed to accepting Chinese-Indonesians as part
of a pluralistic society.

"But refusing to revoke the discriminatory regulations, under
the Roman Statute of the Human Rights Tribunal, means the
government could be considered as committing a state crime
against its citizens," Frans said.

For the first time in the country's history, the government
declared Chinese New Year, or Imlek as it is popularly known
here, a national holiday.

Indonesians of Chinese descent account for approximately 3
percent, or around six million, of the country's 215 million
population. However, they control over 60 percent of the
country's economy.

Following the abortive coup in 1965, which the government
blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), the government
introduced rules and regulations aimed at curbing the movement of
Chinese-Indonesians in the country. PKI had a strong affiliation
with the Chinese Communist Party.

Some of the discriminatory laws include the requirement for
Chinese-Indonesians to acquire a citizenship certificate,
popularly known as SKBRI.

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid revoked some of the
discriminatory regulations, but around 60 laws and decrees of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) are still in place.

Myra Sidharta, an observer of Chinese society, said
eliminating racial discrimination would take a long time, as it
did in the United States, often thought of as the most democratic
country in the world.

She said the process would be lengthy and difficult because
discrimination here had its roots in the Dutch colonial era.

During colonial times, participation by Indonesians of Chinese
descent was limited to the area of trade only.

"Many people still have the misperception that the ethnic
Chinese are businesspeople and second-class citizens, making them
rich and perfect targets for extortion," she said.

She said that besides revoking the some 60 discriminatory
regulations, the nation's political and religious leaders should
set a good example in their dealings with people of other races,
ethnic groups and religions.

She said the country's leaders should demonstrate their
respect for social diversity and promote cooperation and
friendship among different races, ethnic groups and religions.

Juwono Sudarsono, former head of the Communication Body for
the Appreciation of National Unity, suggested the relevant
authorities hold a dialog about how to eliminate discrimination
in the private sector and the bureaucracy.

"The government should provide equal opportunities for all its
citizens, including ethnic Chinese, to enter the bureaucracy, the
military and other state institutions such as the House of
Representatives and the judiciary," he said.

He said the discriminatory policy favoring indigenous citizens
in Malaysia was not a good example for Indonesia.

"(Malaysian Prime Minister) Mahathir's policy might have
worked for 15 years, but I am not so sure it will be relevant in
the next five years. I am quite confident that the model
implemented in Indonesia will be more effective in eliminating
discrimination and promoting diversity in the long run," he said.