Ugly racism

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