Ugly racism

I read Arief Budiman's article on 'Indonesia and Malaysia face racism allegations' (The Jakarta Post, April 19, 1996). I have no reason to disagree with him. Racism is a very sensitive issue in Indonesia and anywhere else in the world. Arief Budiman has brought up the issue in a decent way. His observations are true. I believe, however, that all the government's policies are based on good intentions and the state's effort to avoid racial problems. When the people are more open minded, I am sure things will be improve. If there are unwritten policies and double standards based on racial prejudice, they must be eliminated because this attitude cannot be tolerated. The state must protect and respect the rights of every citizen equally.

The government should encourage people to better understand and think positively about different ethnic groups. Instead of criticizing and blaming, let us look at the brightest side of Chinese Indonesians -- as a national asset that can help the national economy grow. Disregarding who came first to this country, for the historians and the anthropologists know more about this, we could also consider Chinese Indonesians as part of the great diversity of ethnic groups in the archipelago such as the Javanese, the Sundanese, Balinese, Betawi, Dayak, Menadonese, Timorese and Batak.

The world will go beyond race. There will no longer be a place for a racist to live. If everyone in the world has his mind clean from hatred and fear of other races then ugly racism will die.

JENNY LAURITZ KHOENG

Jakarta