Indonesian lawmakers want explanation from Lee
Abdul Khalik
The Jakarta Post
26 Sep 06
Angry lawmakers are demanding a public apology and explanation from
Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew after he reportedly said
the minority Chinese-Indonesian community was being systematically
marginalized.
"The statement is full of lies. We are very upset because it has
disgraced Indonesia. We will ask the government to send a letter of
protest to Lee," Djoko Susilo, a member of the House of
Representatives' Commission I overseeing security and international
affairs, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Djoko, who represents the National Mandate Party (PAN), said there
was no longer discrimination or systematic marginalization of the
ethnic Chinese here.
"Now, the minority Chinese has access to all positions, even in the
military. We even have ministers and lawmakers from the ethnic
group."
According to reports, Lee told a forum in Singapore it was vital
for the Chinese majority state to stand up to its majority Muslim
neighbors, Malaysia and Indonesia.
He said the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia toward Singapore had
been shaped by the way the countries treated their own ethnic
Chinese minorities.
"Our neighbors both have problems with their Chinese. They are
successful. They are hard working and, therefore, they are
systematically marginalized," Lee was quoted as saying.
Malaysian leaders also have reportedly demanded an apology from
Lee.
Another lawmaker from Commission I, Amris Hassan of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), criticized Lee's remarks for
the danger they posed to Indonesian unity as well as ASEAN's good
relations.
"It is very dangerous for our unity because the false feeling of
some people here will be justified, and they will think that
marginalization really exists. Beside obstructing our bilateral
relations, the remarks also hinder the process of establishing the
ASEAN community."
Amris said Lee should issue a public apology, rectify his statement
and explain what he meant not only to Indonesian leaders but also
to the Indonesian people.
Indonesians of Chinese descent account for approximately 3 percent,
or around six million, of the country's 220 million
population.
Then president B.J. Habibie issued a decree ordering government
officials to treat all Indonesians the same after he took power in
1998. In 1999, he renewed the call by issuing a decree banning
discrimination against Indonesians based on their origins.
It was during the presidency of his successor, Abdurrahman Wahid,
that Chinese-Indonesians were allowed to practice their faith and
have cultural performances in public.
However, almost a decade after the antidiscrimination regulations,
reports continue of persistent discriminative administrative
policies in obtaining birth certificates, ID cards, family card and
a citizenship certificate (SBKRI).
"We should analyze Lee's statement carefully because I think this
time his remarks were not a slip of the tongue," Hariyadi Wirawan,
an international relations expert at the University of Indonesia,
told the Post.
"He's aiming at something. Probably, Indonesia is pressing
Singapore on returning 'blacklisted' businesspeople, who happen to
be ethnic Chinese who fled to the country, in recent extradition
talks."
