Showing posts with label Chinese Diaspora. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chinese Diaspora. Show all posts

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Mungkinkah Terulang Lagi?


Sabtu, 15 Mei 2010 | 03:52 WIB
Oleh: Salahuddin Wahid (Wakil Ketua Komnas HAM 2002-2007; Pengasuh Pesantren Tebuireng)

Dua belas tahun berlalu sejak Tragedi Mei 1998, salah satu tragedi kelam yang pernah menimpa kita. Total ada 1.338 orang tewas dan 92 wanita Tionghoa mengaku diperkosa walaupun sampai hari ini masih disangkali negara.

Warga yang tidak mengalami mungkin sudah banyak yang melupakan peristiwa keji itu. Akan tetapi, bagi korban dan keluarganya hal itu akan tetap ada dalam ingatan walau ada yang bisa memaafkan. Apalagi, perjuangan keluarga korban untuk memperoleh keadilan tidak mendapat perhatian memadai dari pemerintah.

Kita pun sudah melupakan siapa yang harus bertanggung jawab dan apa penyebab timbulnya kerusuhan itu. Komnas HAM melakukan penyelidikan pro justicia kasus tersebut pada 2003 dan menyerahkan laporan ke DPR dan Kejaksaan Agung. Akan tetapi, sampai saat ini tak ada langkah tindak lanjut apa pun.

Penyelidikan Komnas HAM mengungkap fakta bahwa peristiwa itu tidak terjadi tiba-tiba dan kebetulan, melainkan dipersiapkan dengan matang oleh kekuatan yang berpengalaman dan tahu persis apa yang harus dilakukan. Pelaku di lapangan juga bukan sembarang orang, mereka terlatih dan mampu secara fisik dan mental. Tim Komnas HAM tidak mampu mengungkap siapa kekuatan di balik kerusuhan itu. Hanya Kejaksaan Agung yang bisa mengungkap lewat penyidikan.

Tak bisa disalahkan kalau banyak pihak menduga mereka yang punya pengalaman, kemampuan, dan terlatih itu terkait dengan militer, seperti oknum TNI, desertir, atau tentara bayaran (kalau ada). Namun, kita gegabah kalau menuduh oknum TNI sebagai dalang atau pelaksana kerusuhan itu tanpa bukti.


Dugaan keterlibatan

Walau sudah menduga apa jawabannya, mengikuti pikiran kritis yang agak liar, dalam sebuah diskusi tidak resmi beberapa tahun lalu saya memaksakan diri bertanya kepada seorang mayor jenderal TNI yang pada 1998 aktif di lembaga intelijen TNI. Apakah betul tidak ada oknum TNI yang terlibat dalam tragedi itu? Mengapa intelijen TNI tidak mampu mendeteksi potensi kerusuhan itu?

Mayjen tersebut tentu membantah ada oknum TNI yang terlibat, tetapi mengakui bahwa intelijen TNI dan Bakin tak mampu mendeteksi atau kecolongan. Pihak perencana dan pelaksana itu lebih unggul dibandingkan dengan lembaga intelijen dan kita tidak tahu apakah lembaga intelijen yang sekarang sudah jauh meningkat.

Lalu saya tanyakan apakah betul kesimpulan berikut: kalau tidak ada oknum atau desertir TNI yang merencanakan dan menjalankan kerusuhan itu, mungkinkah ada pihak lain yang punya kepentingan, kekuatan, dan kemampuan juga melakukan kerusuhan yang sama?

Artinya, jika suatu waktu pihak itu merasa sudah tiba saat yang tepat untuk melakukan tindakan keji (lagi) dan ada kebutuhan memaksa, maka pihak tersebut akan bisa melakukan dan pihak intelijen kita tidak mampu mendeteksi.

Sang Mayjen tidak menyetujui kesimpulan saya, tetapi jawabannya tidak meyakinkan. Maka, tidak ada salahnya saya mengangkat masalah itu kepada masyarakat. Mungkinkah kerusuhan terulang lagi pada masa depan? Apakah faktor sosial-politik- ekonomi memicu pihak pelaku kerusuhan? Apakah faktor semacam itu kini sudah tampak gejalanya? Mungkinkah kita menengarai dan mewaspadai pihak yang berpotensi melakukan?

Kita perlu mengungkap semua teka-teki itu bukan hanya mencari siapa yang bertanggung jawab, tetapi lebih kepada upaya mencegah terjadinya kembali kerusuhan keji itu. Dengan demikian, sangat layak kalau kita mendorong Kejaksaan Agung agar menyidik kasus Mei 1998 dan kasus-kasus terkait. Presiden, yang pada 2005 sudah berjanji kepada orangtua korban kasus Trisakti, perlu mendesak Kejaksaan Agung untuk menyidiknya.


Jangan kecolongan lagi

Situasi sosial-ekonomi- politik saat ini belum dianggap bisa memicu kerusuhan. Kekecewaan rakyat memang meningkat, tetapi jauh di bawah kondisi tahun 1998. Kita harus selalu mewaspadai perkembangan dan jangan sampai kecolongan lagi. Ketidakpercayaan kepada aparat penegak hukum harus ditanggapi dengan langkah nyata memperbaikinya.

Akan tetapi, kalau ada kerusuhan lagi, apakah keturunan Tionghoa kembali jadi sasaran? Amy Chua, profesor dari Yale University, mengakui ada kemungkinan cukup besar, seperti diungkapkannya dalam buku World on Fire, How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability, 2003. Menurut dia, keturunan Tionghoa selama pemerintahan Orde Baru telah mengalami aneka kebijakan: ganti nama, larangan memakai bahasa Tionghoa, larangan merayakan Imlek, dan larangan menganut agama orang Tionghoa. Kekerasan Mei 1998 membuktikan bahwa kebijakan itu gagal.

Lebih lanjut, Amy Chua menganalisis, kelompok minoritas Tionghoa adalah kelompok market-dominant minorities yang kaya raya berkat sistem ekonomi pasar. Ini yang menimbulkan rasa iri hati dari kelompok mayoritas yang miskin. Ketidakpuasan itu ditambah kekurangmampuan dan kurangnya kapasitas kepolisian menjaga keselamatan pihak yang membutuhkan sehingga memperberat situasi.

Oleh karena itu, perlu dijalankan kebijakan ekonomi yang betul-betul memihak rakyat, khususnya di daerah perkotaan yang amat rawan dihasut dan berpotensi ikut-ikutan terlibat dalam kerusuhan. Pendekatan Pemprov DKI dan banyak kota besar lain, seperti penggusuran terhadap pedagang tradisional demi kepentingan pemodal yang umumnya kalangan Tionghoa jelas seperti menumpuk jerami kering yang mudah terbakar. Pemerintah kota besar bisa belajar dari Wali kota Solo yang bersedia berunding lebih dari 50 kali dengan pedagang untuk mencari kesepakatan merevitalisasi pasar tradisional.


Saturday, October 03, 2009

Request for Effective Aid for Indonesian Earthquake Victims

An earthquake with 7.6 on Richter scale hit West Sumatera on September 30, 2009 at 17:16 hours Western Indonesia Time. The source was said to be originated at 57 km northwest of Pariaman, with 71 km in depth. It triggered other natural catastrophic disasters that claimed thousands deaths and missing persons. On October 2, 2009, CCEVI sent the letter to the Prime Minister (cc to Michael Ignatieff) about sending effective aid for these earthquake victims. On the same day CCNC also sent the letter to the PM as a token of support and solidarity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October 2, 2009

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

Re: Emergency Aid for Earthquake Victims in Padang and the West Sumatra Region

Canadians Committed to Ethnic Voice in Indonesia (CCEVI) is a registered, non-profit organization whose members consist of concerned individuals committed to promoting human rights in Indonesia. We are writing you today, on behalf of our members whose families and friends are earthquake victims, to request that government emergency aid be provided in an effective and efficient way.

CCEVI appreciates the Government of Canada's willingness to offer humanitarian assistance, and asks that you consider the following to ensure aid effectiveness:

Financial aid should be channelled through local non-government-organizations that are directly involved with the crisis and day-to-day activities on site. If this is not possible, we encourage Canada to channel funds through Canadian international development and relief agencies in Indonesia. We strongly recommend that aid not be channelled through government agencies at the local, regional or national levels. Emergency aid should be allocated for efforts to save lives, provide medical treatment as well as temporary evacuation from the disaster zones. Long term financial aid should be coordinated with the local authorities responsible for disaster recovery and rehabilitation of their areas.

We thank you in advance for your favourable response and action to help the victims.

Respectfully yours,
Marcus Kwee & Nancy Slamet
Co-chairs of CCEVI

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October 2, 2009

Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

By fax and by email

Dear Prime Minister Stephen Harper:

Re: Request for Emergency Aid to the Victims of Earthquake in Indonesia

I am writing on behalf of the Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC) to urge the Canadian Government to provide generous aid to the victims of earthquake victims in Padang and the West Sumatra Region of Indonesia. The 7.9 Richter scale earthquake which struck the region on Wednesday was followed by a powerful aftershock on Thursday. We would urge our Government to provide generous humanitarian aid to the affected region by funding humanitarian aid agencies and local non-governmental groups to ensure that donations are directed to those in need.

Canada has recognized expertise in disaster relief. For example: Canadian manufacturers could provide pre-fabricated housing and water sanitation systems and community-based groups that could assemble medical teams and medicines. At the community level, CCNC is supporting appeals from local community and diaspora groups such as Canadians Committed to Ethnic Voice in Indonesia (CCEVI). We believe that Canadians will support and appreciate a generous aid response from the Canadian Government.

If we can be of further assistance to your officials, please contact our Executive Director Victor Wong at (416) 977-9871.

Sincerely,
Colleen Hua
National President

cc. Hon Bev Oda
Hon. Jason Kenney
Hon. Lawrence Cannon
Hon. Alice Wong
CIDA
CCEVI

******************************
Victor Wong
CCNC Executive Director
national@ccnc.ca
(416) 977-9871 (tel)
CCNC: www.ccnc.ca
PanAsian Network: www.ccnc.ca/panasian
Health Equity Council: www.healthequitycouncil.ca
No To Hate: www.notohate.ca

Friday, May 15, 2009

Refleksi Tragedi 13-15 Mei 1998 - Kapan Ada Keadilan untuk Korban?

Para korban dan keluarganya pasti belum bisa melupakan Tragedi 13-15 Mei 1998 di Jakarta. Meski sudah 11 tahun berlalu, tragedi itu tetapmenjadi misteri yang menyisakan elegi bagi para korbannya.

Memang keberadaan negeri ini sudah lama kehilangan makna. Bagi para korban HAM, negara sudah lama absen. Ketika tragedi kelabu itu terjadi, tangisan, teriakan, dan jeritan frustrasi para korban tidak pernah didengar oleh negara, oleh pemerintah waktu itu, pemerintah yang menyusulnya kemudian sampai pemerintah di era sekarang.

Memang sudah dibentuk Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia berdasarkan UU No 39/1999 tentang HAM dan UU No 26 Tahun 2000 tentang Pengadilan HAM. Menurut Komnas HAM, telah terjadi perkosaan secara masal, sistematis, biadab, dan keji terhadap para wanita etnis Tionghoa di tengah kerusuhan 13-15 Mei 1998 di Jakarta. Pemerintah Habibie juga sudah membentuk Tim Perlindungan Wanita terhadap Kekerasan, juga ada Tim Gabungan Pencari Fakta yang dibentuk pada 23 Juli 1998. Rekomendasi kedua tim tersebut tidak pernah ditindak-lanjuti. Jadi, sampai sekarangpara pelaku Tragedi Mei itu tak satu pun yang ditangkap atau diadili.


Komnas HAM Tak Berdaya
Komnas HAM yang dulu atau sekarang telah berupaya memanggil para mantan jenderal yang dianggap mengetahui atau bertanggung-jawab atas beberapa kasus pelanggaran HAM masa lalu, tapi pemanggilan itu selalu gagal. Polemik antara para mantan jenderal dan Komnas HAM pun tak terelakkan. Semisal Menhan Juwono Sudarsono malah balik "menggugat" kewenangan hukum Komnas HAM.

Pernyataan Menhan (yang mewakili pemerintah) menunjukkan bahwa sesungguhnya komitmen pemerintah menegakkan HAM masih kecil, sementara iklim politik masih didominasi spirit anti-HAM. Padahal, pengungkapan kasus pelanggaran berat HAM yang terjadi di tanah air seperti "TragediMei 1998" memerlukan komitmen dari pemerintah. Tanpa ada komitmen dan good will langsung dari presiden, kasus tersebut bakal terkubur.

Para pelanggar HAM, apalagi dari kalangan militer, sudah bisa dipastikan akan menolak dituduh sebagai penanggung-jawab pelanggaran HAM dengan beragam argumentasi dan rasionalisasi. Mereka akan mengatakan bahwa kesalahan terletak bukan pada diri mereka.

Yang menyedihkan justru ada rasionalisasi bahwa para korban HAM dalam peristiwa 13-15 Mei 1998 itu tidak pernah ada, karena tidak pernah bisa dibuktikan. Apalagi, jika dikaitkan dengan perundang-undangan pemerkosaan di negeri ini. Bagaimana membuktikan bahwa korban sungguh diperkosa?

Seperti dikatakan advokat senior Surabaya, Trimoelja D. Soerjadi, dalam beragam kesempatan bahwa setiap kasus yang terindikasi melibatkan militer, seperti Tragedi Mei, tidak pernah akan bisa diselesaikan dengan memuaskan. Artinya, para pelaku tetap bisa menghirup udara kebebasan. Tak ada keadilan bagi para korban. Hal ini juga terjadi pada kasus pelanggaran HAM lain, mulai Peristiwa 1965 dan Tragedi Mei 1998.


Rekonsiliasi Sejati
Meski demikian, penulis menganjurkan para korban Tragedi Mei untuk berani memaafkan, meskipun memaafkan bukan berarti harus melupakan. Harus selalu dicari ruang untuk mengingat peristiwa buruk seperti Tragedi Mei 1998. Dengan demikian, usul islah atau rekonsiliasi jangan pernah diabaikan meski ada yang bertanya untuk apa rekonsiliasi.

Tentu ada beberapa hal yang perlu dilakukan agar rekonsiliasi terwujud. Pertama, harus diakui adanya pelanggaran berat HAM dalam Tragedi Mei1998. Itu berarti ada pelaku yang harus bertanggung-jawab. Kedua, keadilan harus ditegakkan. Artinya, pelaku harus mendapatkan sanksi hukum. Dengan demikian, luka hati korban dan keluarganya mendapatkan pemulihan. Setelah proses hukum ditegakkan, antara korban dan pelaku harus diupayakan perdamaian, supaya kebencian dan dendam tidak hidup terus sepanjang tujuh turunan.

Uskup Desmond Tutu, ketua Komisi Kebenaran dan Rekonsiliasi Afrika Selatan, menulis bahwa rekonsiliasi sejati mengekspos kekejaman, kekerasan, kepedihan, kebejatan, dan kebenaran, bahkan terkadang dapat memperburuk keadaan. Ini adalah perbuatan berisiko. Meski begitu, pada akhirnya akan ada pemulihan nyata setelah menyelesaikan situasi yang sebenarnya. Rekonsiliasi yang palsu hanya dapat menghasilkan pemulihan palsu (lihat buku: No Future Without Forgiveness, 1999).

Akhirnya untuk negara dan pemerintah, sekali lagi hutang-hutang pada para korban harus dilunasi. Tocqueville (1805-1859) mengingatkan: "Karena masa lalu gagal menerangi masa depan, benak manusia mengelana di tengah kabut". Kabut dari peristiwa gelap masa lalu itulah yang harus disingkap negara demi keadilan pada para korban, termasuk korban Tragedi Mei.

Selama orang terus mencari alasan guna lari dari tanggung jawab terhadap para korban HAM dan kekuasaan negara memberi perlindungan terhadap sikap pengecut ini, sehingga para pelaku terus menikmati impunitas diatas derita para korban HAM, negeri ini tetap akan susah mencapai masa depan. Sebab, pelanggaran HAM di masa silam selama terus dibiarkan justru menjadi kabut yang menghalangi perjalanan bangsa ini ke depan.

Kabut itu harus disingkap dan para korban dijamin mendapatkan keadilan yang setimpal. Dengan demikian, kita bisa menyongsong masa depan tanpa ada yang dikorbankan lagi.

Oleh: Mustofa Liem PhD, Dewan Penasihat Jaringan Tionghoa untuk Kesetaraan
Dimuat di: Jawa Pos (Rabu, 13 Mei 2009)

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Black May 1998: 10th Commemoration

Nancy sent the invitation of the 10th commemoration of May 1998 tragedy in Indonesia to the network…

Dear CAGI, ASNT, SI and fellow activist friends,

I hope that this message finds you all well, and that you're all enjoying this beautiful spring weather.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the May 1998 riots in Indonesia during which thousands were killed and many women and children were raped. Although a decade has passed, we are still seeking justice for these horrific crimes.

I'm writing to invite you to attend a memorial service and panel discussion on Thursday, May 15th at 7pm in the Debates Room of Hart House at the University of Toronto. This event will feature a presentation by our guest speaker from Indonesia, Eddie Lembong. He will talk about the 1998 riots and the ongoing challenges that Chinese-Indonesians face in the country. Eddie will be joined by other presenters who will engage in a conversation with him about these issues.

On Friday, May 16th at 6:30 pm, you are invited to join Eddie and others for dinner at the Scarborough Grand Seafood Restaurant.

Please see the attached flyers for more details.

I look forward to seeing you at these events & ask that you kindly circulate this invitation to your networks.


The content of the flyer:

Canadians Committed to Ethnic Voice in Indonesia (CCEVI) presents:
Drs. Eddie Lembong
Founder of PT Pharos Indonesia, Perhimpunan INTI, Yayasan Nabil

1998 – 10 days that shook Indonesia
2008 – Still Searching for Justice


“Life long learning doesn’t only enrich and slow down dementia, but also extends the horizon and wisdom of life. Reading is an effective way of learning.”

May 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of the 12-14 May 1998 Indonesian tragedy where riots took place in cities across the country. Many people were burned alive and at least 66 women and children, mainly Chinese Indonesians, were raped. This has resulted in the resignation of the late President Suharto and the downfall of his New Order administration.

In 1999, less than one year after the internationally condemned anti-Chinese riots took place in May 1998, Eddie Lembong founded Perhimpunan INTI (the Chinese-Indonesian Association). It became clear from the May ‘98 tragedy that the racial divide between Chinese and native Indonesians, inherited from the colonial period, is an impediment to the nation’s progress and development. From generation to generation the Indonesian Chinese have suffered various forms of discrimination and violence.

Perhimpunan INTI is also conscious of the fact that a compounding factor to the Chinese Indonesian dilemma is the prevalent perception among the Indonesian people that Chinese Indonesians are not contributing their fair share in commitments and obligations toward the nation.

Eddie Lembong, a Nation Builder and Philanthropist, Respected Academic and Visionary, is going to share opinions with us in discussion with other panelists.


Public Events Program

“Remembering May 1998, Understanding the Present,
Paving the way for a better Future”

The integration of Chinese–Indonesians into a Multicultural Indonesia: Towards a Solution


Wednesday, May 14, 2008
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Press Conference
CCNC Board Room, 302 Spadina Ave., 5th Floor, Toronto, ON M5T 2E7

Thursday, May 15, 2008
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Memorial Service followed by Panel Discussion:
1998: 10 days that shook Indonesia
2008: still searching for Justice
Hart House, Hart House Circle, entrance from Wellesley St. or College St.
Closest TTC: Museum Subway Station

Friday, May 16, 2008
6:30 PM
Dinner Together with Mr. Eddie Lembong
Scarborough Grand Seafood Restaurant, Dragon Center, 23 Glen Watford Dr. Unit 9, North East Midland & Sheppard.
Ticket $30 / person. Ticket can be purchased from Jason Liang (416) 856-2128; Seh Ching Wen (416) 888-8119; Ayrini Undyantara (416) 494-2844

Visit our websites:
www.ccevi.org or www.ccevi.webs.com – e-mail: ccevi@hotmail.com

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

The Indonesia's Way: A brand new form of discrimination against Chinese

In Indonesia, if you (in this case anybody that holds public service positions) can make things "difficult" to get money, then you'd do everything in your power to make sure your channel of "easy money" will not cease. And, the Chinese-Indonesians are those sapi perah (money-making machine), kelinci percobaan (guinea pig), kambing hitam (scapegoat), and kambing congek (one who is present but doesn't count as taking part) - depending on the situation - that are easily (and most of the times legally or politically justified) coerced to accept their "fate".

There are several positive notes on the good will to reduce discrimination but there is no penalty or punishment to enforce the regulations. Ya, itu lagi... kalau ada yang bisa dibikin susah, kenapa dibuat gampang?

Below is what we still need to fight from continuing....


Discrimination is not over for Chinese-Indonesians. Several brand new restrictions have been declared for the Chinese in the country since the end of last year.

It is now "illegal" for Chinese-Indonesians to sign a cheque or to have an insurance policy. The Civil Code and the civil litigation procedure law is no longer valid for the ethnic group. The implications are, among others, that they can not file complaints, or be complained about, in state courts for tort or breach of contract, remedies and others.

At the end of last year, The 2006 Resident Administration Law was enacted. Article 106 of the law revokes several Dutch colonial laws in the administration of resident matters, including those on the conducting of civil registration for several important events in a life of a person, i.e. birth, marriage, divorce and death. This registration has significant legal implications in areas such as inheritance rights.

The revocation of the Dutch colonial laws was a blessing because they discriminated and segregated residents into three different groups: European, Eastern Foreigner and Indigenous. Each of them was administered under different laws. Biological identification decided which law should be implied. A Caucasian with Taiwan citizenship should be registered as European and not Eastern Foreigner. That was part of the history.

The problem is, however, that the 2006 law incorrectly revokes a regulation that actually should not have been scrapped. What was revoked by article 106 C was a regulation that brought into force several laws in business for the Chinese: The Civil Code, the trade law, the bankruptcy law, the civil litigation procedure law, the firm law and the adoption law. These regulations were well known as Staatsblad 1917-129.2. Before 1917, these laws only applied to the Dutch and Europeans.

However, after these laws were accidentally revoked, they were no longer effective for the Chinese. As the Chinese play a significant role in business, it will be a "business jam". In short, it's a catastrophe.

How could this blatant discrimination happen? Has the dream of non-discriminatory treatment just evaporated?

What the 2006 law should revoke is the colonial law widely known as Staatsblad 1917-130, or the Regulation for Civil Registration for the Chinese. This regulation is stated the birth certificate of every Chinese person in Indonesia. And it is also written as the legal basis for civil registration ordinances in every regency and municipal administration. Please note that as the Staatsblad 1917-130 has not been revoked, it still is in full power to force the Chinese into a different registration scheme. And that is discrimination, at least segregation.

The case is just the same for article 106 E that revokes Staatsblad 193-74, a regulation on marriage for Christian Indonesians in Java, Minahasa and Ambon. This Staatsblad had already been revoked by Article 66 of the 1974 Marriage Law.

What the 2006 law should revoke is known as Staatsblad 1933-75, or the Regulation for Civil Registration for Christian Indonesians. Again, just like Chinese, this regulation is stated on the birth certificate for every Christian Indonesian and used by every regency government. Still, it has been wrongly typed.

Suppose this flaw was not a result of negligence. The lack of proficiency in the Dutch language could be the primary cause, as the colonial era is long over.

On the other hand, should those who drafted the law on resident administration have intentionally formulated the law as it is now, then it is a disaster for our nation and character building. It is a reconnaissance of minority groups. The present careless regime theoretically has full power to continue discrimination.

Carelessly or intentionally, the Home Ministry must be responsible at least for an immediate revision for the law.

By: Ivan Wibowo, Jakarta
The writer is a member of the Advocate-Youth Chinese Network. He can be reached at ivanwibowo@gmail.com


Saturday, May 14, 2005

Black May 1998: 7th Commemoration (3 of 3)


CCEVI and Past Events

CCEVI and Its Mission
Canadians Concerned about Ethnic Violence in Indonesia (CCEVI) is a registered, non-profit organization. The members consist of concerned individuals, local and national groups, committed to end the ethno-racial and faith-motivated persecution and discrimination in Indonesia.

Indonesians of Chinese descent, in particular, have endured systemic discrimination for more than 40 years. They are subjected to having distinct identification codes, restricted admittance to state universities and civil service jobs. They are forced to abandon their Chinese names, the use of Chinese language and the practice of Chinese cultural activities. With their choices limited, many Chinese Indonesian end up in trade which further fules ethnic resentments. Social, economic and political unrest inevitably turn into violence against the Chinese minority.


Formed in June 1998 ~ in the wake of the May 1998 tragedy ~ CCEVI seeks to:

  • assist and support persecuted minority groups across all ethnicity and religions, in particular those without credible government protection;

  • promote human rights and social justice for all in Indonesia

  • demand equal rights before and under tje law and equal protection and benefit of the law, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability;

  • advocate to have the perpetrators of crimes against humanity brought to justice;

  • raise social awareness of the plight of ethnic/religious minorities in Indonesia, through continuous dialogue with the Canadian government and the United States;

  • lessen the suffering of people in Indonesia as a result of poverty, natural disasters and ethnic conflicts.


Freedom from Persecution...
... is a fundamental human right for everyone. In Indonesia, however, many people have been killed and many more are living in fear simply because of who they are and because of the ethnic or faith group they belong to. Some of recent "incidents" are:
  • May 1998 - The Rape of Jakarta
    Considered the worst riot in Indonesia, it resulted in 2,244 deaths, 91 injured and 31 missing. This tragedy is distinctive in its blatant and systematic attacks against Chinese Indonesian; looting and burning of their property and even targeted murders. Even worse were reports that as many as 152 women and children were gang-raped, 20 of whom died.


  • January 1999 - Maluku
    Forces interested in destabilizing the government, exploited the latent pre-existing tensions between the Muslim and Christian population which erupted intoviolent conflicts that spiraled out of control. These conflicts were further fueled by the arrival of the military-trained and supported 'Laskar Jihad' from Java.


  • June 2000 - Poso (Sulawesi)
    In Poso, vicious fighting between the newly arrived Muslim migrants and members of Christian communities started in June of 2000 and continued throughout 2001. Hundreds of people were killed and massacred because of this faith based violence. As happened in Maluku, the government's security forces came too late and were ineffective.


  • February 2001 - Sampit (Borneo)
    The ongoing feud between the native "Dayak" and the immigrant "Madurese" groups has sparked one of the worst ethnic clashes in Indonesia's history. Almost 200 people were reported dead and many more injured; about 20,000 people, msotly women and childre, fled their homes in fear for their lvies.

Our Activities to date
Raising Public Awareness

  • organised annual memorial services for victims of the May 1998 riots and all victims of ethnic and religious based violence;

  • participated in demonstrations against violence in East Timor

  • organised fundraising events to help victims in Maluku and Sampit

  • arranged educational tours of prominent Indonesian human right activists such as:
    • Pramoedya Ananta Toer (May 1999)
      An author and outspoken critic of the government, Pramoedya is an advocate for freedom of expression. During President Soeharto's regime, he was jailed because of his writings which were deemed critical of the government; his books were banned in Indonesia.


    • Father Sandyawan (May 2001)
      Father Sandyawan and his "Team of Volunteers for Humanitarian Causes" had been instrumental in assisting the victims of the 'May 1998' tragedy, Aceh, maluku and Sampit. He reported and testified before various human rights commissions including the Congress of the United States.


    • Dr. Siauw Tiong Djin (May 2002)
      Dr. Siauw is Chairman of the Australian based Committee Against Racism in Indonesia (CARI) founded after the May 1998 riots. He authored a biography of his late father, Siauw Giok Tjhan, the founder of Trisakti University in Jakarta and BAPERKI, a socio-political party for the representation of Chinese Indonesians in the 1950s.


    • Dr. Frans Tshai (June 2003)
      Dr. Tshai is chairman of "The Struggling Unity in Diversity Party." In the past 3 years he and his friends have been fighting for the abolishment of discriminatory laws against the Chinese Indonesians.

Advocacy and Lobbying
  • continued participation in DFAIT (DEpartment of Foreign Affairs and International Trade) Human Rights Consultations since 1999;

  • participated in Canadian government's special task force in 1998 on the crisis in Indonesia in 1998;

  • submitted findings to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and to the International Trade sub-committee on Human Rights in 1998;

  • met with officials from the United Nations and Canadian government to advocate for assistance to the victims in Indonesian since 1998:
    • United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
    • United nations High Commissioner for Refugees
    • Minister of Immigration, Canada
    • Secretary of Sate for Asia Pacific, Canada

Support and Resettlement
  • helped fund the provision of a Canadian-trained trauma counsellor to work with female victims in Indonesia, immediately following the May 1998 riot;

  • advised the Canadian government of the need to rpovide refuge for victims of violence in Indonesia;

  • provided documentary evidence and expert witness testimony in the determination of refugee claims from Indonesia;

  • provided settlement and integration assistant to Indonesian families seeking refuge in Canada.

Supporters of CCEVI include:
  • Burman Chinese Canadian Assocaition
  • Canada Hong Kong Link
  • Chinese Canadians Association of Scarborough
  • Chinese Canadian Integration Society
  • Chinese Canadian National Council
  • Chinese Community Centre of Ontario
  • Karuna Community Services
  • Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic
  • Mississauga Board of Chinese Professionals & Business
  • Ontario Indonesian Chinese Association

Friday, May 13, 2005

Black May 1998: 7th Commemoration (2 of 3)


Modern Holocaust in Indonesia
The following pictures provided by Tim Relawan (The Volunteer Team for Humanitarian Causes) speak very vividly about what took place during May 13-15 Holocaust in Indonesia.


UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women Report on Indonesia

45. During the events of May 1998 and the riots in Jakarta, there were many reports of rape of ethnic Chinese women. The Special Rapporteur's information corroborated the findings of the fact-finding commission set up to study the events.There was mass rape but the numbers are hard to determine since the Chinese community appears to be terrorized by the events and victims are reluctant to come forward. The Special Rapporteur spoke with victims, none of whom felt safe enough to report their cases to the police. The Special Rapporteur was also given video footage of the riots that show the military forces standing idly by as the riots continued, sometimes accepting drinks from the looters. Witnesses of these incidents corroborated the findings that the riots were instigated by outside provocateurs who invited the mobs to loot and destroy Chinese property. In addition, the events appeared to have taken place in different places at the same time. There is therefore enough evidence to suggest that the riots may have been organized. A thorough investigation of the riots is necessary and the perpetrators must be identified and punished. Unless this takes place, large segments of the Indonesian community will continue to live in fear and insecurity. [Read more...]


Other Documentation on May 1998 Riot in Indonesia


Sign petition for attorney general to bring justice to May 1998 riot victims
Asian Human Rights Commission - Urgent Appeals
20 June 2002

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has prepared an online petition to call on the attorney general of Indonesia to finally act to deliver justice to the victims of the May 1998 riot, an incident infamous throughout the world for severe sexual violence targeting Chinese Indonesians. You can sign this petition, which is available in English and Bahasa Indonesia and which already has about 300 signatories, at the following site:
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/indonesia/index.html. [Read more...]

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Black May 1998: 7th Commemoration (1 of 3)


Background

It's already seven years passed the tragedy of May 1998. In the past six years CCEVI (Canadians Concerned about Ethnic Violence in Indonesia) has held event and multi-faith memorial to remind us that justice has not been reached especially for the victims and their families. There was a deep sorrow, a humiliating moment, a dark alley in Indonesia's contemporary history when violence struck, again, by men towards their own brothers and sisters during May 13-15, 1998. Even today, I can still play intense emotion and clear pictures on those days. I will put some coverage focusing on this issue to refresh our memory and to keep our struggle for justice... We owe this to those innocent victims. We owe this to future generations in Indonesia.


Mass Rapes in the Recent Riots: The Climax of An Uncivilized Act in the Nation's Life

A Report by Volunteers for Humanity
July 13, 1998
"About 11.30 a.m. I saw some people among the crowd stopping a car and forcing the passengers to get out, and then they dragged two girls out from the car. They began to take off their shirts and raped them. The two girls tried to fight back, but it was in vain." (An eyewitness, Muara Angke, May 14, 1998).

The above is a true report, concerning only one of hundreds of rapes that happened during the riots in mid-May, 1998. The wide scale of these rapes, as reported up to the present time, is demonstrated in the tables and testimonies contained in this document. After the riots statements were made denying that the rapes occurred. It is now time to silence these statements. [Read more... in PDF format]


The Final Report of the Joint Fact-Finding Team (TGPF) on the May 13-15, 1998 Riot
October 23, 1998

Based on the joint decision of the Secretary of Defense/Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia, the Secretary of Justice, the Secretary of Internal Affairs, the Secretary of States, the Secretary of Women's Roles, and the Attorney General, the Joint Fact Finding Team (TGPF) has been formed on July 23, 1998. This joint team worked in finding and presenting facts, instigators and the background of the events on May 13-15, 1998. TGPF consists of the elements of the government, Komnas HAM (National Human Rights Commission), LSM (NGOs), and other mass organizations. Since its founding within three months TGPF has carried out its duties that terminated on October 23, 1998. [Read more...]


Excerpts of Joint Team's Findings on the May Riots
(Source: The Jakarta Post, November 3, 1998)

Jakarta (JP): The following are excerpts from the final report prepared by the joint fact-finding team (TGPF) on the May 13 to May 15 riots in Jakarta, Solo, Surabaya, Medan and Palembang which was released here on Tuesday evening.

1. The root cause of the May 13 to May 15 riots was the interaction of two key processes, namely the process of struggle on the part of the political elite in connection with the problem of maintaining the power of the national leadership and the process of rapid economic and monetary deterioration. Within the struggle between the political elites there were key agents in the field who played an important part in the riots. In connection with this, the meeting at the Kostrad (Army's Strategic Reserves Command) headquarters on May 14, 1998, should be seen as competent to disclose the roles of the actors within the struggle that led into the riots.

2. The May 13 to May 15 riots was the culmination of a series of violent events, such as kidnappings (which in reality had been committed as far back as 1974, in the form of intelligence operations which could not be effectively supervised) and the Trisakti incident. The TGPF is convinced that the Trisakti incident was the trigger of the riot. They May 13 to May 15 riot cannot be separated from various further by-product impacts manifesting themselves in widespread fear among members of the public and eroding confidence in law enforcement.

3. First-hand data and facts show that there were three patterns to the riots.


  • First, the riots were of local, sporadic, limited and spontaneous nature. They took place within a relatively brief period and inflicted losses and claimed victims on a relatively small scale. The riots under this pattern occurred because, objectively, in view of the social, economic and political conditions then pertaining, it was impossible to prevent the unrest from breaking out.

  • Second, there was a relationship between different scenes of the riots, with (evidence of) similar methods of operations. Provocateurs of this type played a more prominent role than those in the riots of the first type. They did not come from the location where the riot broke out. The there was the similarity or even uniformity in the time and the order of events. As riots of this type occurred on a major scale in several locations, there was an indication that they occurred consecutively and sytematically. However, no indication has been found to the effect that the riots of this type were premeditated and broke out on a wider scale rather than simply occuring locally and consecutively. There is a missing link in the effort to prove that these riots occurred because of an objective situation. The riots of this type occurred on a big scale and were found in all locations.


  • Third, there were indications that the riots occurred deliberately. The element of deliberateness was bigger than the objective condition then pertaining. Riots of this type were generally similar to those of the second type, but the element of exploitation of the situation in these riots was more obvious than in those of the second type. In this third type, it is assumed that the riots was created as part of a political struggle at the level of the elite. As is the case of the riots of the second type, in these riots there were several missing links, namely evidence or information referring to the obvious relationship between the elite and the masses.

4. According to first-hand findings, there were many parties involved in the riots that were seeking personal or group benefits. It can further be concluded that all parties involved played at all levels. This conclusion is an affirmation that all parties were involved, from local hoodlums and mass organizations to groups within the Armed Forces. They gained benefits not only from their deliberate efforts to exploit the riots but also by means of their inaction. It is in this context that it is concluded that the Armed Forces, that shouldered the responsibility to prevent the riots from breaking out, did not take sufficient action to ensure this.

5. The exact number of the lives lost nationwide cannot be revealed because of the weakness in the monitoring system and in the reporting procedure. More lives of common people were lost than any other group. Most of them were burned to death. They cannot just be blamed by stigmatizing them as looters. In the same way, the value of material losses cannot be ascertained, they can only be estimated.

6. On the basis of the facts found and the information from witnesses/expert witnesses, sexual violence was committed, including rapes, during the May 13 to May 15 riot. From a number of cases which have been verified, it may be concluded that sexual violence was committed against rape victims, victims of rapes with torure, victims of sexual assaults and torture, and victims of sexual harrasment. The victims were Indonesian residents of various backgrounds, but mostly of ethnic Chinese origin.

7. It has yet to be ascertained whether the sexual violence that occurred was premeditated or mere excesses of the rioting. No facts have been discovered about the aspect of religion in the sexual violence. It is also concluded that the instruments of positive laws are inadequate and are therefore not responsive enough to enable all rape cases discovered or reported to be legally processed soon.

8.These riots were able to spread because of inadequate safeguarding measures to prevent, restrict and overcome the perpetration of a series of acts of violence, which could have been anticipated and which later evolved on an escalated scale. It can be concluded that the vulnerability and weaknesses in security operations in Jakarta particularly were closely linked to the entire process of the political-military struggle, which the operational commander of Greater Jakarta must be held to account for.

Indications of security vulnerability and weaknesses in different gradation in other cities where riots also broke out were also linked to the political-military struggle at the national level.

9. It is affirmed that the cause and effect of a series of incidents of violence culminating in the outbreak of the May 13 to May 15 riots can be perceived as an effort geared toward the creation of an emergency situation which would require the invocation of extra-constitutional powers in order to keep the situation under control with the preparation toward this having started at the highest decision-making level.


Recommendations

Based on the above conclusions, the TGPF presents the following policy and institutional recommendations:

1. The government must conduct further investigation into the root causes and main perpetrators of the May 13 to May 15, 1998, riots and then draw up and publish a white paper on the role, responsibility and inter-relationship of all parties connected with this unrest. The government must conduct further investigations into the May 14, 1998, meeting at the Kostrad headquarters to reveal and ascertain the role of Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto and other parties in the whole process which precipitated the riots.

2. The government should follow up cases which may be judicially connected with regard to the involvement of civilians and military personnel in the fairest manner in order to uphold legal authority, including speeding up the judicial process now going on in the kidnapping cases and the Trisakti case. As regards the kidnapping of activits, Lt. Gen. Prabowo and all those involved in the abductions must be brought before a military tribunal. Further investigations must also be made to uncover the full story surrounding the shooting of the Triskati University students.

3. The government should provide security guarantees to witnesses and victims and set up a permanent agency assigned to implement a witness protection program.

4. The government should rehabilitate and provide compensation to all victims and their families and assist their families in processing the victims' legal documents. The government also should help with the reconstruction of gutted buildings, commercial establishments and social facilities.

5. The government shoudl immediately ratify the international antiracial and discrimination conventions and realize their implementaion in permanent legal products, including the implementation of the antitorture convention.

6. The government should eliminate all forms of hoodlumism developing in all kinds of environments, layers and professions in society pursuant to the prevailing laws.

7. The government should immediately formulate a law on state intelligence which shall confirm the main responsibility, functions and scope of the implementation of intelligence operations in authorized government/state agencies so that the interests of state security can be protected and on the other hand human rights respected. Of no less significance will be that intelligence operations can be effectively supervised by supervisory institutions so that they will not turn into instruments to pursue the political interests of certain parties.


Closing

The May 13 to May 15, 1998 riot was a tragedy that tarnished the dignity and honor of human beings, the nation and the state. The government and the community must earnestly take every step to prevent the recurrence of further rioting like this. It is of great urgency that the attention and solidarity of all parties should be manifested in concrete terms to the victims and their families so that the restoration of violated rights may be realized together. Our honor as a civilized nation is also determined by the extent our nation can put right its weaknesses and shortcomings and by the speed with which we remove fear and bring into reality peace and security for everyone without exception.

Monday, October 25, 2004

Black May 1998: 6th Commemoration (39 of 40)


SBY Through Chinese Eyes
By Jeffrey Robertson
Asia Times (Thursday, October 14, 2004)


An ex-military, US-educated president may seem like a stroke of strategic luck for Washington. But looking at Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, or SBY, through Chinese eyes reveals a different story.

Yudhoyono, Indonesia's first president chosen through direct elections, has a staggering popular mandate. After a gruelling eight-month campaign marked by tempestuous debate, the odd intrusive interview and no less than three electoral contests, Yudhoyono has the confidence of the Indonesian people - but what are his policies?

The majority of commentators have noted that the election campaign was run largely on character rather than policy detail. And indeed, few details exist beneath the catch-phrases of fighting corruption, restoring economic growth, invigorating job creation, improving education and enhancing security. Even fewer details exist regarding foreign policy.

Foreign policy for Indonesia, like other regional states, is growing more and more difficult to perform. It is an increasingly treacherous high-wire act that necessitates balance between an economically important China and a demanding, security-focused United States. With China laying down the foundations of what may become a future regional dominance, and the United States interested in the region only as an extension of an overt focus on the Middle East, where does Yudhoyono stand?

The election of a US-educated military stalwart in Indonesia conjures up images of happy faces in Washington, salivating at the chance to further squeeze the links of al-Qaeda hidden in the world's most populous Islamic state. Yudhoyono has visited the US no less than five times for military education and maintains good relations with political and military leaders in Australia.

Indeed, on the face of it, Yudhoyono seems to be everything the US could have hoped for. He graduated at the top of his class at the national military academy, trained with US forces - including a stint in jungle warfare in Panama, commanded an infantry battalion, served as a chief military observer with the UN peacekeeping force in Bosnia, and impressed the US with his stern condemnations of terrorism as President Megawati Sukarnoputri's coordinating minister for politics and security. To an analyst in Washington, Yudhoyono holds all the punch of a 1970s military strongman a la Pinochet, with the decorations and trimmings of democracy to boot.

However, there is evidence to suggest that unless US diplomacy can be revived from its recent fit of unilateralism, Yudhoyono may yet prove to be a feather in China's strategic cap.

Throughout the election campaign, Yudhoyono touted foreign policy as an extension of domestic policy. Key domestic policies of fighting corruption, invigorating job creation and fixing the education system were expressed in foreign policy terms, such as the attraction of greater foreign direct investment, Indonesian competitiveness and the promotion of trade.

Importantly, Yudhoyono also has focused on security as a domestic problem - not one specifically requiring international cooperation. For a country such as Indonesia, this makes sense. From Jakarta, the perceived threat to Indonesian security does not come from international terrorist groups with limited local support but from long embedded, regionally popular secessionist groups, which threaten the very territorial integrity of the archipelago state.

For countries such as China and Indonesia, where the threat to security is often domestic in nature and political violence remains on the mind as a recent phenomenon, the threat of international terrorism cannot be accorded the same status as it is in the West.

Indeed for many Indonesians, the Bali and Australian Embassy terror bombings, both of which focused international attention on the country, do not compare to the threats they face every day, including communal violence fanned by regional, ethnic and religious tension, secessionist violence, or the lingering potential of a military coup.

It is this level of understanding that is absent in US approaches to combating international terrorism in the region. It is a level of understanding that may prove crucial in improving China's role in the region - along with its near-equal ability to offer economic incentives.

From all accounts, Yudhoyono is above all a pragmatist. His learned, academic nature, and his military experience, combined with his humble, devout Islamic background make him a man unlikely to embrace bold change. This gives China the upper hand.

The US seeks immediate change in Indonesia's efforts to control international terrorism within its borders. This potentially includes the outlawing of Islamic fundamentalist group Jemaah Islamiyah, greater controls on religious schools and action to ensure the conviction of prosecuted terrorists. US and Australian approaches in these areas have in the past placed undue pressure on Indonesian governments, essentially weakening their position to carry out the desired changes.

China's aims in the region are more long-term. It seeks to promote China's position on territorial integrity - specifically regarding Taiwan, continue pragmatism regarding the South China Sea territorial disputes, establish a secure and stable regional energy resource and more closely integrate the economies of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). These aims are conveniently congruent with Yudhoyono's policy aims and, if anything, will empower him and China to achieve more.

Without a change in US diplomacy, the choice for Yudhoyono will be between the immediate and unpopular dogmatism of the "crusade" on terror, or the long-term pragmatism and shared understanding of a rising China.

After the appointment of his cabinet early this month and a formal acceptance speech during his inauguration on October 20, the next indicator will be which way Yudhoyono heads on his first major foreign visit - East or West?

Note: Jeffrey Robertson is a political-affairs analyst focusing on Australian relations with Northeast Asia. He currently resides in Canberra, Australia.

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Black May 1998: 6th Commemoration (38 of 40)


Chinese in Indonesia can breathe easier
By Leo Suryadinata
A senior research fellow at the Institute of South-east Asian Studies
The Straits Times [Singapore] - Commentary (Monday, September 27, 2004)


Now the dust has settled, one interesting question is how the ethnic Chinese voted in both rounds of Indonesia's presidential election.

In the first round, all five candidates - Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri, Mr Wiranto, Dr Amien Rais and Mr Hamzah Haz - vouched that they would, if elected, treat the Chinese justly and equally. They would also rescind any existing discriminatory laws and policies.

Responding positively to these overtures, the Chinese were, however, also aware some candidates may be friendlier to them than others. These did not include three of the five: Mr Wiranto, Dr Amien and Mr Hamzah. Mr Wiranto was rumoured to have been involved in the May 1998 anti-Chinese riots; Dr Amien was no longer considered a 'nationalist' but an 'Islamist'; and Mr Hamzah, an Islamist, was least appealing to the Chinese.

By contrast, Mr Bambang, the coordinating security minister in the Megawati Cabinet before he was sacked and de facto leader of the new Democrat Party, had a relatively clean image. Trained in the United States, he was seen as a moderate Muslim who favoured a secular Pancasila state.

However, he formed an alliance with the Crescent and Star Party, an Islamist set-up that advocates syariah law for Indonesia. Also, he selected as his running mate Mr Jusuf Kalla, a rich Muslim businessman and strong advocate of nativist policies that favour the pribumis, or sons of the soil.

Perceived to be anti-Chinese and anti-Christian, Mr Jusuf was quoted during the campaign as saying the new government may reopen debt issue cases involving Chinese tycoons. Mr Bambang, however, insisted he is a pluralist and will treat all ethnic groups equally.

The Chinese were apparently unconvinced. Throwing their support behind Ms Megawati, who is seen as a secularist and one friendlier to the Chinese - she even declared Chinese New Year a national holiday and the Chinese had not been worse off in her administration - it was a case of better the devil you know than one you don't. Even her running mate, Mr Hasyim Muzadi of the Nahdlatul Ulama, was considered by Chinese to be a moderate Muslim.

Of course, it would be wrong to suggest all Chinese Indonesians voted for Ms Megawati. The older generation, especially businessmen, and those who are culturally more Chinese, did support her, but those who are more integrated into Indonesian society, the better-educated and those who aren't in big business tended to support Mr Bambang, whom they perceive as someone who will not only improve Indonesian security and economic conditions but is also a nationalist who will be fair to all ethnic groups.

Then came the run-off election on Sept 20. This was quite similar to the first round, except for the Australian embassy bombing in Jakarta on Sept 9. For many, the blast suggested Ms Megawati was unable to handle the security issue.

Nevertheless, terrorism was not the main issue. The economy, corruption, education and unemployment took centrestage. Again, both candidates campaigned for the Chinese vote.

Mr Jusuf went to Glodok, Jakarta's Chinatown, last month to talk with some Chinese businessmen, during which he insisted he was not anti-Chinese, but to no avail. Moreover, Mr Bambang's alliance with the radical Islamic parties, Partai Bulan Bintang and Partai Keadilan Sejahtera, coloured his candidacy.

Then there was his military background, which worried those who recalled the May 1998 anti-Chinese riots many believed were supported by the armed forces.

This is not to say Mr Bambang was without Chinese supporters. A young and respected economic analyst, Mr Lin Che Wei, openly endorsed his candidacy. In fact, Mr Bambang's party even included a newly-elected Chinese Member of Parliament.

However, Ms Megawati had more Chinese supporters. In her party were at least four newly-elected Chinese MPs, including big businessman Murdaya Poo. A few days before the run-off election, a Hakka organisation even went to visit Ms Megawati to express support.

In the event, the Chinese vote wasn't enough to improve Ms Megawati's fortunes. She still lost.

Some Chinese are now worried a Bambang administration may introduce affirmative action policies stacked against their interests.

But many observers feel that since his immediate task would be to create more jobs and draw in foreign investment, Mr Bambang will need the full cooperation of Chinese business. It's probably fair to surmise that, in the short term at least, he is unlikely to adopt any policy inimical to his objectives and programmes.

The Chinese can breathe easier - for now.

Black May 1998: 6th Commemoration (35 of 40)


Minority participation and democratization
By Christine Susanna Tjhin, Jakarta
The Jakarta Post - Opinion (Friday, September 3, 2004)

Since the legislative election in April, more Chinese-Indonesians have undoubtedly been engaged in the country's democratization, and this degree of enthusiasm is a new precedent for their future participation.

In the past, the only "participation" expected concerned economic activities. The reconstruction of the Chinese-Indonesian identity was shaped much by such economic preferences, which led to the stereotypical stigma that the ethnic group, which comprises 2 percent of the Indonesian population, makes up 70 percent of the economy.

Although no valid proof exists to indicate the precise economic power of Chinese-Indonesians -- nor any to calculate the economic power of other ethnic groups in Indonesia -- this "popular" stigma has stuck.

The notion of Chinese-Indonesians holding economic power has held sway for as long as the nation's history, particularly since the colonial era. However, this stigma was amplified in the late 1990s during the Asian financial crisis by the laziness and bombastic tendencies of some former journalists, who quoted incorrectly Michael Backman's 1995 work on Indonesian conglomerates.

Backman investigated the market capitalization of 300 companies and found that 73 percent of the companies' total market capitalization was owned by Chinese-Indonesian conglomerates. Market capitalization, however, is not the national economy, because it excludes state-owned enterprises, multinationals and foreign companies that provide far greater contributions. Still, the damage had been done and attempts to rectify the fallacy were mostly futile, and the effect of this long-held "popular" stigma peaked during the tragic events of May 1998.

In the context of the 2004 general elections, elites who needed funds thought it would be profitable to lure the support of Chinese-Indonesians with trivial promises of enforcing the abolishment of the Chinese-specific Indonesian citizenship certificate, or SBKRI, and of eradicating discrimination -- but without appreciating the actual potential of the Chinese-Indonesian community in contributing to democratization.

Speaking of the Chinese-Indonesian community and democratic development in terms of the unproven sums of money they might have and could donate is superficial and potentially damaging. Why not look at Indonesians of Chinese descent with glasses of a different shade?

Since the 1999 presidential election, Chinese-Indonesians have relatively been more confident in expressing their political aspirations. Some encouraging signs are: one, increasing membership of Chinese in political parties; two, an increase in the number of political discussions and seminars hosted by Chinese-Indonesian associations with assertive members; and three, informal presidential campaign teams that generated various social activities in different localities.

Each of these activities showed the physical and public presence of Chinese-Indonesians. This presence, at this early stage of democratic consolidation, has been enough to erode the apolitical stigma, and regular media coverage of their presence has helped greatly in drawing a different picture of the Chinese-Indonesian.

Even if it is not yet comprehensive -- at least to the general public -- their political participation has increasingly become evident.

However, this presence is not supported adequately at times by quality substance. In an earlier piece (The Jakarta Post, March 29, 2004), I illustrated some drawbacks -- in particular the participation of youths. Some of these drawbacks still exist, yet improvements have also emerged, as was evident in an event hosted on Aug. 22 by the Chinese-Indonesian Reform Party (PARTI), which showed Chinese-Indonesian youths' increasing participation in politics.

If the event covered in my March piece reflected the Chinese community's mood toward the legislative election -- namely, party-oriented debates -- the August event reflected their mood toward the presidential election. Encouragingly, many legislative candidates who had failed to win a seat were still willing to campaign for presidential candidates.

In the August event, a pro-Megawati team and a pro-Susilo team were engaged in a debate. Due to variety of factors, the Mega-Hasyim team was bigger -- but this may not automatically mean that the Chinese-Indonesian community favors Mega-Hasyim more.

There are issues far more complicated and critical than which candidate Chinese-Indonesians prefer.

The most heated topic raised by youth representatives was the Kalla factor and the possibility of affirmative action for Chinese-Indonesians. This was even more hotly debated than the SBKRI issue. That they are still complaining predominantly about the antidiscrimination and SBKRI issues shows a limited ability to link their arguments to mainstream human rights discourses against all forms of discrimination. Additionally, the debates often slipped into petty arguments over individual style, gestures or word choice.

Beneath the surface of the hot topic of affirmative action is an inherent rejection of all forms and shapes of discrimination. However, most Chinese-Indonesian political figures are either not very eloquent in translating this fundamental issue into their debates and speeches, or are not fully aware of it.

If the first is the case, it is only a matter of experience -- of engaging more in and familiarizing themselves with mainstream issues. If the latter is the case, however, then there is little quality in the greater political participation of Chinese-Indonesians.

Some Chinese-Indonesian may cast their votes this September for the candidate who could ensure no more -- or the least -- discrimination against Chinese-Indonesians and/or who could provide the stability necessary for better economic prospects.

This existing mindset is narrow, but perhaps at this point, this is understandable, given the previous situation and intimidation. Still, this critical lack must be changed.

A greater participation of youths in mainstream political and/or social movements may be the only hope for change.

Fortunately, some of the above-mentioned signs also indicate mainstreaming, in particular among the informal campaign teams -- which were initiated by Chinese-Indonesians and became more diverse in the process. Some even have a structured cooperation between different regions, although they are largely based in Jakarta. Such inter-ethnic engagement brings about positive developments in the quality of current and future political participation.

Many issues remain for the Chinese-Indonesian community to tackle, particularly women's political participation. This, however, does not detract from their readily embracing a greater role in the country's democratization.

Despite the shortcomings, the stereotypical accusations of Chinese-Indonesians being apolitical will soon become invalid as their participation continues to grow. Skepticism that rule their political participation as insignificant because of their small numbers will also soon become invalid. Chinese-Indonesian participation will become one of the determining factors of democratization, precisely because they are a minority.

While the country moves toward greater decentralization and consequently, the increasing relevance of local politics, Chinese-Indonesian participation in areas with a bigger distribution of the minority group will provide worthy examples for national politics.

Democratization is not a monopoly of the majority. Lessons learned from minority participation are vital contributions to the overall democratic engagement.

The writer is a researcher of the Department of Politics and Social Change at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

TEMPO's Special Report: Chinese Indonesians (14 of 14)


In Defense of the Ill-fated

A people's lawyer by choice (in spite of the poor salary), she refuses to be called a fighter for basic human rights.

Like a leech, the horrible memory sticks to Ester Indahyani Jusuf's mind. She had been married only three months when Jakarta was ravaged by riots in May 1998. In her sleep, she was haunted by nightmares about what an eyewitness from North Jakarta had told her: "A long-haired man set fire to a tire shop. The sky turned black and the flames spread everywhere. Two people were locked in the building by the long-haired man. Their bodies were scorched." Ester felt depressed, knowing that the two unlucky people were Indonesian citizens of Chinese descent.

The May tragedy of six years ago triggered a new awareness for Ester. Born with the name Sim Ai Ling, she hated the perpetual policy of discrimination prevailing when the New Order regime was in power. But she also chided the reticence of the Chinese. To Ester, the root of the problem lies within. "The tendency of seeing the ethnic [Chinese] as being far superior must be abolished," she said. Ester has acted on her own words by embarking on a difficult road: unraveling history.

Ester was born in Malang, East Java, 33 years ago. A simple girl of Chinese descent, she was fortunate in that she had parents who were forward-looking. Her father, Immanuel Jusuf, was a teacher, her mother, Maria Tjandra, an ex-teacher. Since her childhood, this hoakiau (overseas Chinese) family was constantly on the move before ultimately settling down in Jakarta. Little Ester got along nicely with the neighbors when the family lived at Condet. "I even attended an Islamic kindergarten there," she recalled.

Upon graduation from the University of Indonesia School of Law, Ester entered the legal world. However, although she had the chance, she did not choose the road of the professional lawyer. Instead, she joined the Social and Political Rights Division of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH). This was in line with the message that her father had handed down to her: she should work for the defense of the poor. Being a "people's lawyer" was a new experience for Ester. Previously, she engaged only in church activities. "My father used to say I was too much of a church bench eater," she recalled laughingly.

Work at LBH did not pay much. One afternoon, she had only a few hundred rupiah left. She had not eaten all day and did not have money left for transport home. When the day started to fade out, she prayed that somehow she could have a meal and go home. "Lo, I ran into Mas Teten Masduki (now chairman of Indonesia Corruption Watch-Ed.). He invited me to have dinner with him," she said. She was saved from starvation that day. To top her luck, the driver of the city transport vehicle she was riding home with was so happy about his exceedingly good earnings that day that he allowed her to travel without paying.

While working at LBH, Esther discovered corrupt practices at the court. She also repeatedly had occasion to rub against the powers that be. For instance, when she was legal counsel for the People's Democratic Party (PRD), who were charged with masterminding the July 27, 1996 riots. "She is serious and highly dedicated," observed Surya Tjandra, her colleague at Jakarta LBH. In Surya's eyes, Ester was one of the most vocal among the young lawyers during that difficult time.

After her marriage to Arnold Franciscus Purba, a student activist of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Ester's struggle became even more focused. Arnold, who was affectionately called Ucok, was a "hard-line" activist. He was jailed for protesting a visit by Home Affairs Minister Rudini to the ITB campus in 1989. "Ucok has always given me inspiration," Ester said. Her husband died three years ago of a liver ailment, leaving her with their two sons.

Together with Ucok, Ester initiated the establishment of the Solidaritas Nusa Bangsa (Solidarity of Land and Nation), an institution that came into being shortly after the May 1998 riots. It fights racist policy practices, among other things by unraveling the May 1998 riots and defending the victims. The institution's activities have earned it various awards, including one from the Human Rights Forum, the Yap Thiam Hien Award, and one from the Asoka International Foundation. "But don't write that I am a human rights fighter," Ester said.

Life as a widow with two children to take care of does not dampen Ester's spirit. Just of late, she made a daring move by taking up the issue of the 1965 political tragedy. Millions of communists and Sukarno followers perished in that bloody stage of history. Two years ago, as part of a national reconciliation effort, Ester took part in the digging up of mass graves of former Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) members in Wonosobo, Central Java, and Blitar, East Java.

From the scattered bones, Ester seems to have deduced the crux of the problem. Said she: "The anti-discrimination resistance came to a complete halt in the aftermath of 1965."

TEMPO's Special Report: Chinese Indonesians (13 of 14)


Champion of Sundanese Arts
For Tan De Seng art is an obligation.

With his aging fingers, Mohammad Deseng, alias Tan De Seng, teases out the suling (traditional bamboo flute) piece Surupan 62. Behind him, the slender curving fingers of Fitri Juliani Cintania-his daughter and second child-plucks the strings of the kecapi (traditional stringed instrument). All of a sudden, the sweet tunes of Raja Mantri can be heard, with an almost otherworldly serenity.

Deseng, 60, is like a champion in the cause of Sundanese art. At the end of 2002, along with his friends, Liang Tze Hai and Ibu Lim Chay Hin, he founded traditional arts-training center Padepokan Pasundan Asih. They work on various things: dance, music, group vocals and even theater. In Deseng's rented house in Jalan Malabar, Bandung, which serves as the headquarters of the establishment, there are a collection of various musical instruments such as flute, kecapi, and drum.

What could possibly have pushed this fifth of Tan Tjin Hong's and Yok Mbok Jie's eight children elect to so diligently champion the cause of Sundanese art? "I was born in Sunda, and live among the Sundanese," says the father of three. Furthermore, when the final hour is upon him, according to this aki (grandfather) of one, he would like to be laid to rest in Priangan soil. For this reason, "Pushing Sundanese art has become my duty," says the man born in Gang Tamim in the area of Pasar Baru, Bandung.

Deseng began learning the Sundanese traditional flute around the age of 5. His first teacher was Tan De Tjeng, his own older brother, who also coincidently enjoyed the arts. He also had the opportunity to learn with a bricklayer, employed in the renovation of their house. Unfortunately Deseng does not remember his name. This graduate of Tsing Hoa High School in Jalan Champelas, Bandung, subsequently became the student of a number of flute maestros such as Ki Oyok and Mang Suarta.

At 9 years old he began learning to play the kecapi. There is a story about that: at that time his friend Adjat Sudradjat asked him to be taught to play guitar. Deseng had certainly been a formidable guitar player since his early childhood. As it turned out, Adjat's aunt was Etty Handa, a Cianjuran vocalist, who was also quite well-known at that time. Deseng eventually learnt the kecapi from Adjat's family.

Deseng even later visited high level kecapi players such as Ebar Sobari, Mang Ono, Sutarya as well as puppeteer Abah Sunarya. With his penchant for playing guitar, kecapi and suling, along with several friends, he established himself in various cities around West Java. With the guitar, he was active in the groups of Haming Youth, Young Brothers, Palmor, and Marya Musika. For the kecapi-suling, he formed the group Bhakti Siliwangi.

In 1985, after successfully teaching his daughter Fitri Juliani Cintania to play the kecapi, and her younger sister as a vocalist, Deseng formed the group Patanjala. Deseng's wings have gradually spread far and wide, even as far as Japan. His newest group is, of course, the Padepokan Pasundan Asih. With an original cast of only three or four people of Chinese origin, its membership now numbers in the hundreds.

Despite the barongsai (lion dance) being permitted to be performed again, Deseng and his group stay loyal to the kecapi and Cianjuran flute. He is grateful for the reform era, but says "We have to have art and culture belonging to the place where we live and born." Apart from keeping up performances, Deseng has also built a mini-studio for recording.

Hundreds of recorded cassettes are stored neatly. There is jaipong, ketuk tilu, Indian Sundanese, Sundanese kliningan, rampak sekar, gendang pencak, and the like. In principle, it is all in Sundanese. It is not a surprise, therefore, if among Sundanese art lovers, Deseng is often referred to as being more Sundanese than the Sundanese themselves.

TEMPO's Special Report: Chinese Indonesians (12 of 14)


Schools without Boundaries

Sofyan Tan has cleared a path for integration through the world of education. His concept of `foster parents' is a valuable help in the process.

I used to think that all Chinese were rich!" said Mona, a grade five student in Medan, speaking to TEMPO two weeks ago. Classmate Maggie weighs in, "In the village, my older brother would often be asked for money. I was afraid of them," says this small girl with the slanted eyes, reminiscing.

But that's all in the past now. Since attending school together at the Sultan Iskandar Muda School in the area of Sunggal, Medan, these two girls of Batak and Chinese origin, have come to see that their traditional view of social relationships regarding the Chinese and other ethnic groups-always a thorny point-does not correspond to reality. These days they can play together; there is no feeling of awkwardness or fear. "What's more, is that here we can tease each other," jokes Maggie.

It was Sofyan Tan, a man of Chinese origin, who succeeded in building this togetherness in Sunggal. He was the trailblazer for integration in that school, finally culminating in teachers and students alike of different ethnic origins and religions sitting side by side, from kindergarten right up to secondary school-level. Javanese, Batak, Malays, as well as both Chinese and Tamil descendants have joined together as one and are forming intimate friendships.

Since childhood, Tan, 44, has united with other "indigenous" or local citizens in Sunggal, north of downtown Medan. It was his father, a mere tailor, who repeatedly pushed him to integrate with other ethnic groups as fellow citizens. This "sense of community" experience during childhood proved a great teacher in areas of human character and purpose in the forming of human relationships. "Integration is based on common feeling shared by two sides, rather than just one-sided," he asserts. He also believes that only with mutual respect, trust and common needs, can life go forward in a wholesome way, without negative sentiments of suspicion on both sides creeping in.

This father of four, who has long since aspired to build this integrated school, had already set his activities in motion in 1987, when he was still completing his own studies at the Medical Faculty of the Methodist University in Medan.

Upon graduating, Sofyan had no difficulty deciding not to open his own doctor's practice. Instead, together with his friend Soekirman, he longed to continue his previous project: an integrated school. Since then, in Medan, Sofyan has been known as an integrator between the different ethnic groups. In recognition of his efforts, he was honored in 1990 as the National Young Pioneer of the Year for Social Solidarity by the government, and was awarded the Fellowship Ashoka Award in 1989.

In the dirty township of Sunggal, the Sultan Iskandar Muda School stands united with a settlement comprising several ethnic groups. The school now boasts a main building of four floors, measuring 8,000 square meters. There are 32 classes: nine classes for senior high school, eight for junior high school, 12 for primary school, and three for vocational high school. Behind this building there is a mosque, a church, and a Buddhist temple. In the middle is a plaque, standing between two fruit trees, bearing an inscription symbolizing unity without differentiation between one another.

This school is now host to 1,017 indigenous pupils, as well as 483 students of Chinese and Tamil origins. Because there are also many Chinese pupils among students struggling to afford the cost of education, Sofyan has implemented a foster parent program. Parents of "indigenous" children who can afford to, are obliged to take on a foster child of Chinese descent and vice-versa. "This is one of the methods of integration we employ," says this former chairperson of the North Sumatran Gemabudhi.

The teachers, consisting of 93 locals and 16 of other ethnic origins are no different to the students. They all blend in freely and even mixed marriages also occur. Relationship between student and teacher provides the main role model for ethnic integration and visions of unity. Sofyan has also implemented this within his own family. His younger sibling's spouse is from Java, while his cousin has taken a Sundanese wife.

Sofyan admits that there are still many Chinese families who refuse to send their children to mixed schools for a variety of reasons. There are those who consider it better to send them to a school within a certain community, and those who experience trauma. "My task is to change thought processes of skepticism and stereotyping through this school," he states.

TEMPO's Special Report: Chinese Indonesians (11 of 14)


Dark-Skinned Lion from the South

Lion dance performances, concerts featuring Chinese traditional musical instruments, and Chinese songs in nasyid, are now quite commonplace.

In the present reformation era, ethnic Chinese Indonesians may evoke immediate association with lion dance performers that can jump high in a flash. The lion dance performer, about 3 meters above the ground, raises the head of the lion and its front legs and all of a sudden changes the rhythm of his movement to pounce on a bundle of vegetables hanging from a pole.

One afternoon in mid-July, the audience watching a lion dance performance at the Jakarta Fairground held its breath. The star performer was a youngster with a Malay face, a very flexible body and a high level of acrobatic skill. What really captivated the audience was the way he allowed his body, head down, to swing in the air like a pendulum as he hooked his left leg at the pole. This movement mesmerized the audience but the lion head he played showed a smile. The mouth of the lion was open and its right eye was ogling in a funny and attractive way.

That was the Lion from the South. The springing movement of the head showed great agility while the body did not move that much as it had to provide a balance from behind. The attraction came to its peak when the lion jumped to gobble an envelope containing some money-usually called lay see. The Lion from the South often appears with its great humor. It swallows envelopes that are tied to a bundle of watercress, which is a gift for the lion. The Lion from the South differs from the Lion from the North, which shows aggressive movement and has a strong instinct to fight. During the Old and the New Order eras, the Lion from the North, played with various aggressive martial arts techniques from northern China, was dominant. The lion dance groups from Ambarawa and Semarang usually have this characteristic.

Outwardly, the Lion from the South is a figure of a lion that has a scaled body and two or four legs. The lion figure is played by dark-skinned youngsters with round eyes and curly hair and, of course, also by young yellow-skinned people with slanted eyes. Oscar Kam Hok Kan, who is of Fujian origin and has been organizing a lion dance troupe since 1975, refers to the presence of indigenous and non-indigenous youngsters in his troupe as the manifestation of the country's motto of "Unity in Diversity." Behind the Jatinegara Market in East Jakarta, Oscar, now in his 60s, organizes and trains some 40 youngsters in his lion dance troupe called Bel Pas (an acronym comprising "bel" from "belakang"-behind-and "pas" from "pasar"-market). This lion dance troupe has strong teamwork and often performs in many events. Its members are from different ethnic groups and have various professional backgrounds, ranging from market hands, kiosk owners, to pupils and university students.

Today the Lion from the South is no longer alone and separated from its surroundings. Sucipto, 57, a martial arts teacher and the owner of Genta Suci, a wushu or Chinese martial arts school that oversees the L'ung Chio Dragon Lion Dance Troupe, for example, has also said that the members of the dragon lion dance troupe are of diverse backgrounds. "Mostly they live around my house," he said. Then he talked about regeneration. His father organized the dragon lion dance troupe and now his son, Herry Siswantoro (Lim Swie Kiong), has been involved in running the troupe since the 1990s.

Every day, in the training ground of this troupe, somewhere in Cimanggis, Depok, West Java, young people aged between 8 and 25 years, are busy doing exercises to ensure that they can easily make their gong wu movement, lift weights and maintain their flexibility. In fact, in an open building measuring 7x20 meters, these young people also practice Chinese martial arts in spaces among iron poles and punch bags. Martial arts are not the main program, though. Basic movements are gradually choreographed in the composition of a lion dance movement. At first they perform on the floor, then on benches and finally on poles. "Performing a lion dance on poles is quite difficult," said Sucipto, née Lim Tiong Giok, a third Dan Kyokushinkai black belt and now seriously learning wushu.

Times have indeed changed and the lion dance performers have now jumped over the fences that protect but at the same time surround them. In Jombang, East Java, lion dance performances more frequently take place than "kuda lumping" show (plait-work horse that men dance into a trance). The lion dance performances are usually held in an open field and in the town square. Three years ago, Jombang, dubbed the town of "santri" (students at Islamic boarding schools) was home to a national lion dance competition.

A lion dance troupe now no longer displays its skills only at Chinese Buddhist temples or Chinese temples. Their performances are no longer a mere traditional rite to ward off evil. The lion dance has slowly merged with the outside world, including the business world. Since 1998, the lion dance has been performed in many other events besides the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration, in malls and plazas. Recently, the figure of the Lion from the South along with the deafening sound of the drum and cymbals also appears in ceremonies marking the opening of an automobile expo, in the inauguration of plazas, during the launch of new products, and of course, in the celebration of Indonesia's Independence Day.

Take, for example, L'ung Chio Dragon Lion Dance Troupe, which is managed by Sucipto and his son. This troupe, which won second place in the 2001 Lion Dance National Championship in Jombang and was named the best troupe in the Jakarta Open Lion Dance Competition in 2001, performs up to twice a month. This troupe is one that receives a lot of orders, and is also quite expensive to hire. One has to pay Rp5 million for a 10-minute performance on 3-meter-tall poles. The troupe has performed in almost every major plaza and mall in Jakarta. Last year, the lucky star of the troupe was indeed shining bright.

"This year we have received fewer orders to perform," said Herry Siswantoro, 28. The reason, he said, is that there are more lion dance troupes today. This means that there are more troupes offering a greater diversity of attractions. But this is a new business and of course, big names do not fade easily. In late August this year, the troupe will perform in a grand religious gathering along with Aa Gym at the headquarters of the elite police force, the Mobile Brigade (Brimob), in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java. The troupe will also perform in many other events, including in a number of Chinese temples in Jakarta, a practice that has been going on since the times of the founder of the troupe.

Since Suharto stepped down from power, fragments of Chinese culture, banned during the New Order, have enjoyed a new lease of life. Old troupes, such as art troupes, have been revived. "This revival is manifested with the performances of the lion and dragon dances and Chinese dances," said Harry Tjan Silalahi, a senior researcher at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta. The freedom that ethnic Chinese lost for three decades has now returned.

The portrait of ethnic Chinese in Indonesia reflects the change in Chinese painting, which has now begun to abandon objects in nature such as goldfish, birds or bamboo trees. The freedom of expression has for three years now seeped into the works of Chinese artists on display in Indonesia. Last year, 16 contemporary Chinese artists such as Fang Lijun, Zhang Gong, Yue Mijun, and Shen Xiaothong, displayed their works at the Indonesian National Gallery and Edwin's Gallery in Jakarta.

The reformation means the freedom to import traditional Chinese paintings and instruments. Guzheng, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument with 21 strings, is the most popular instrument now played everywhere. In shape and in terms of the wealth of notes, it is close to a kecapi, a traditional Indonesian stringed instrument. A guzheng produces pentatonic notes (do-re-mi-so-la) and when it is played, it is placed on a table, on the floor, or in the lap of the player. However, this instrument has enjoyed a warm welcome. It is played during the opening of a property expo, the launch of a new product, or even the inauguration of a shopping center.

Guzheng enjoys great popularity, especially after the 12 Girls Band demonstrated the flexibility and the greatness of this instrument in July this year at Hailai Discotheque in Ancol, Jakarta. The pretty girls in this band play traditional Chinese musical instruments, including guzheng. They have formal music education and can demonstrate their skills playing traditional, pop, and even western classical music. A guzheng expert can employ a certain technique to make this instrument produce notes beyond the pentatonic range. Eni Agustian, 28, a guzheng teacher, usually plays the famous Meteor Garden theme song, Yue Liang Dai Biau Wo De Xin, a song now very popular in China, or even Bengawan Solo. Eni learned to play this instrument in Taiwan, Singapore and also in Shanghai Music Conservatory. Today she can see the world, something unimaginable to her before.

At Kawai Music School, where Eni teaches, 42 students-aged between 7 and 60 years-were training their fingers, playing old and new songs. Some of them were ethnic Chinese but others were indigenous Indonesians. Eni Agustian is very enthusiastic about this development, especially because she has 17 special students, who come from Penabur Kindergarten, Jakarta. She said she saw a contrast. In the past, during the New Order era, only a handful of people learned to play guzheng. They were found in major cities like Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang, and Medan, but none of them dared to appear in public because of the ban imposed by the New Order. To learn how to play guzheng is a secret move: moving from one house to another and the teacher hid his or her ability.

The world, however, has changed drastically. Just like the lion dance troupe above, Eni also has a tight schedule: she performs up to five times a month, mostly during the inauguration of shopping centers. "Besides, I also play in the church along with the church band," she added.

Indonesia is indeed changing. You can witness how Bengawan Solo is played on guzheng. Then there is a nasyid (a group singing verses from Al Qur'an) chanting the prophet's salawat or invocation containing verses from Al Qur'an in Chinese music. Even two years ago, Snada, a nasyid group, released an album, Neo Solawat, in which their top salawat is sung in Chinese and with a Chinese music style.