Reap what you sow
Many riots have taken place recently in our country: the May 1998 riots, racial in character, the Ketapang and Ambon riots with religious overtones, and the ethnic conflict in Sambas. These incidents have saddened us and made us wonder: What is actually happening in our society and what are the causes?
This reminds me of my experience applying for my child's birth certificate through the hospital where my child was born. The office gave me a list of the requirements for the application:
A. For Indonesian nationals.
- Photocopy of family registration card.
- Original copy of the birth declaration issued by the hospital.
- Photocopy of both parents' IDs.
- Photocopy of marriage certificate.
Registration within 60 days.
B. For Indonesians of foreign extraction.
- Photocopy of family registration card.
- Original copy of the birth declaration issued by the hospital.
- Citizenship certificate of both parents.
- Photocopy of change of name certificate of both parents.
- Photocopy of parents' IDs.
- Photocopy of parents' birth certificates.
- Photocopy of marriage certificate.
Registration within 15 days.
The office informed me that the requirements were determined by the Registrar's Office.
The difference between the lists A and B prompted me to look for further information. It turned out that the cost was different. The application under B cost twice as much as A.
It is interesting to note that there is a special numbering system to differentiate community groups on birth and marriage certificates. I discovered, for example, that the number 1933 is applied to indigenous Christians, and 1917 to citizens of foreign extraction.
I was stunned. What is the meaning of all that?
A different number for each group has the rational objective of obtaining population data. But the difference in time and cost is discriminatory, and counterproductive to the current reform climate.
It is still fresh in my mind that, after the May 1998 riots, President B.J. Habibie clearly told the media that there would be no more discriminatory acts in our society. This contradicts the reality faced by the community. Ten months have passed since the President's statement, but so far there has been no proof of it.
Discrimination entails compartmentalization of our society and is one of the basic reasons that we are easily influenced by SARA-tinted rumors (referring to ethnic, religious and racial matters). The government, with its policies, serves as an example for the community to act in a discriminatory manner. Various policies to overcome the many SARA-related riots will only provide deceptive and temporary results if the government does not pay attention to the essence of the matter.
For years we have sown the seeds of discrimination, now we reap the crop of riots.
H. SUDARJANTO
Cinere, West Java