Succes of Chinese may incite racism

Succes of Chinese may incite racism

JAKARTA (JP): The economic success of ethnic Chinese
businessmen in Indonesia is causing material jealousy, and this
may disrupt national stability.

"The success of ethnic Chinese businessmen in the economic
sector, especially those in the big cities, has caused a large
material gap," Maj. Gen. Hari Sabarno, the Armed Forces' (ABRI)
assistant of socio-political affairs, said here yesterday.

Speaking at a seminar on Indonesian-Chinese Trade and
Investment Relations, Hari saw the ethnic Chinese businessmen's
domination of the economy as a potential threat to national unity
since it remained a vulnerable source of racial sentiment.

When left unresolved, the material disparities will create
social turmoil among the people, he remarked.

During the final session of the two-day seminar at the Sari
Pan Pacific Hotel, the discussion of the panel turned to the
issue of the ethic Chinese in Indonesia.

The panel was made up of noted scholar Abdurrachman Wahid,
China's ambassador to Jakarta Qian Yongnian and the chairman of
the Association of Indonesia-China Economic, Social and Cultural
Cooperation (AICESCC) Sukamdani Gitosarjono.

Of the total population of over 180 million, there are an
estimated five to six million ethnic Chinese living throughout
the country. Though they hold Indonesian citizenship, their
domination of the state economy has caused hostility to be
directed against them.

Ethnic Chinese conglomerates such as Liem Sioe Liong, Eka
Tjipta Widjaja, Prajogo Pangestu and Rachman Halim are but a few
of those which tower over the nation's economy.

Privileges

According to Hari, the ethnic Chinese have enjoyed special
privileges in business since the time of Dutch colonial rule,
allowing them to gain quick control of Indonesian commerce.

Because of their domination of the economy, which has extended
through the 49-years of Indonesian independence, a brewing anti-
Chinese sentiment still looms, evoking racial and sometimes
religious tension.

"The exclusiveness of Indonesians of Chinese descent who band
together in enclosed groups, combined with the unaccommodating
attitude of other Indonesians, create these tendencies," Hari
explained.

Sukamdani acknowledged the potential for conflict in this area
when he said "our people are very prone to jealousy."

He called on the general public to change their attitudes and
accept the achievements of the ethnic Chinese and treat them the
same way as other Indonesians.

"We have to rightfully acknowledge their success in the
economic field," Sukamdani said. He added that Indonesians of
Chinese descent should be judged by where they were born, not
where their ancestors were from.

Abdurrachman concurred, saying that he himself had Chinese
blood but now considered himself to be fully Indonesian.

I can still identify my Chinese ancestors who probably came
some 17 generations before me, said the popular Moslem scholar,
more affectionately known as Gus Dur.

In his typical fashion, Gus Dur said that both Chinese and
non-Chinese have something to gain by learning to be compatible
with each other.

"We should facilitate assimilation without forcing it," he
said.

Convention

Elaborating his views on Chinese-Indonesians' ties with their
ancestral homeland, Hari pointed to last year's Second World
Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention as a prime example of how
culture plays a commanding role in economic and even political
relationships.

Evaluating on the conference, Hari said the accords and
statements made during the Convention psychologically yielded to
a disagreeable response from non-ethnic Chinese.

He felt that the conference clearly demonstrated the strength
of the Chinese ethnic solidarity.

"It is clear why the Indonesians of Chinese descent find it
difficult to fully assimilate with the Indonesian culture," Hari
said.

He urged close attention to the matter since Indonesia has for
the last decade opened trade links with the People's Republic of
China.

"We have to make concerted efforts so that the ethnic Chinese
here feel that they are Indonesian nationals and not 'overseas
Chinese' who, when dealing with businessmen from China, are
compelled to succumb to their motherland," Hari added.

Ambassador Qian Yongnian said that his government has no
political or economic aspirations whatsoever towards the ethnic
Chinese in Indonesia.

"In our economic and trade dealings with Indonesia we do not
discriminate between Chinese and locals," he asserted.(mds)