IT WAS AN E-MAIL from hell.
"Please help us in here. Give us a little compassion. We are innocent. We want
to get out." The message, forwarded to Asiaweek Editors, came from Marlina Widjaja,
who described herself as the 16-year-old daughter of a Chinese travel agent in
Jakarta. From the heart of Chinatown, she put her fear down in words: "I can
hear three shots now - four, five, six. I thought this city would never be unsafe,
but I was so damn wrong." The e-mail was timed at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 15, as
the madness was at last beginning to subside.
What happened to that frightened young woman? What happened to so many of Indonesia's
Chinese as the fury of the poor and disenfranchised was turned against them in the
second week of May? Much went unnoticed and unreported in the chaos that gripped
Jakarta. But what was seen horrified the world. Among the most harrowing scenes: TV
footage of the bodies of Chinese families in looted and burned-out stores. How many died
or were injured in mob beatings is not known. The exact toll will come later, if at
all. Tens of thousands of other Chinese fled - many overseas, others to no further than a
friend, neighbor or relative. They each have a story to tell. This is Guo Chien
Ing's:
At 11 in the morning of May 14, the 45-year-old merchant pulled down the shutters on his
store in an ethnically mixed area of Jakarta. Crowds were gathering and he sensed
something was wrong. Guo quickly packed his wife and children off to his sister's
home and then barricaded himself inside the store. That's when the abuse started and
the rocks began hitting the shutters. Guo fled upstairs to his home and then climbed
from a back window on to an adjoining roof. The neighbor, a Muslim woman, put up a ladder
to help him down but was too frightened to take him in.
Alone and terrified, Guo was saved by another Muslim, who offered him shelter in his
house. From his hiding place, he watched the looters rip his home and store to
pieces. "I couldn't talk. I couldn't cry," he recalls. "I was just
too tense." Everything was removed -not only his merchandise but his computer,
television, security cameras, air-conditioners, right down to plastic buckets. "They
even got my electric organ. They took it out through the roof." Guo's home and
store were not torched. He doesn't know why, but suspects his non-Chinese neighbors
may have talked the rioters out of it. Guo and his family are now safe at his
sister's home. He plans to apply for a visa to settle his family in Australia.
In temporary refuge in the capital cities of Asia and beyond (all first-class hotels in
Singapore are now full), many other Chinese Indonesians are making their own
calculations. Do they go back, pick up the pieces and start again - as some have
done when anti-Chinese sentiments have forced them overseas in the past? Or has the
madness of May 1998 convinced them that returning is futile - they will forever be
the Jews of Indonesia, the scapegoats whenever things go wrong?
Resentment against the Chinese runs deep and a long way back. The Dutch colonizers
cultivated large plantations, using the indigenous pribumi as slave labor. The
Chinese were always the traders. Today, they own and run banks, hotels, department
stores, factories, restaurants, massage parlors and lots more. They make up a mere
4% of the population but control an estimated 70% of the assets. Twelve of the 15
wealthiest families are Chinese, according to calculations made before the Asian melt down
(see table) .
At times of economic trouble, these numbers attract bitterness - and provocative remarks.
A few weeks before the violence broke out, Amien Rais, head of the Muhammadiyah
Muslim group and one of the most outspoken critics of President Suharto, told
Asiaweek: "We must respect the economic achievements of our Chinese brothers
and sisters. But at the same time we must tell them frankly that in the future we
would like a fairer distribution of the national wealth. I can say that 95% or more of the
Chinese love Indonesia like I do. Only a very small percentage are absorbed with
economic greediness. They have become parasites."
Many Chinese would agree that the nation's wealth needs to be more equitably distributed.
But they also wonder why they are not allowed a larger say in the nation's affairs.
They have no true political representation and are barred from the military and the
civil service. Says Lai Kuan Fook, executive secretary of the Federation of Chinese
Assembly Halls in Malaysia: "The Indonesians of Chinese origin had to forgo
their language, their Chinese name, everything. And now they are fingered, their shops
robbed, their properties burned down and many are even killed. It is very, very
unfair." In Bangkok, Kasian Techapreera, a leading social commentator and
lecturer at Thammasat University (and a Sino-Thai), offers: "I think the real
problem is to change the political culture in Indonesia. [The indigenous people]
still consider the Chinese alien."
The true victims of the latest violence were not the super-rich, most of whose assets are
parked over seas. Since the anti-Chinese riots that were part of the upheaval that
resulted in the overthrow of president Sukarno in 1965, the rich have learned from
experience to hedge their bets. So, too, have wealthy indigenous Indonesians. How
much money has left the country is unknown. Corruption has eroded accurate
book-keeping to the point where only estimates are now offered. "There's been capital
flight for a long time," says a consultant with a major accounting firm in Jakarta.
"The money invested here has turned around and left."
Chinese Indonesians are now thought to make up the single largest group of clients at
Singapore's private banks - where a minimum deposit of $1 million is normally
required. Rioters did ransack the Jakarta home of Chinese tycoon Liem Sioe Liong -
torching a Mercedes-Benz and a Volvo and scattering possessions in the grounds - but
the owner was not there. Nor were his assets. He was thought to be in the U.S.
receiving medical treatment; his money is invested around the world.
So, once again, the have-nots' frustration was worked out on those who had the most to
lose the middle class, with their homes and small businesses. Those who still have
something to protect have now formed vigilante groups, often in cooperation with
pribumi neighbors. "It's a great way to get to know the people in your
locality," said one pribumi last week.
Damagingly for Indonesia, tens of thousands of overseas investors were among those who
fled Jakarta. Many left in emergency airlifts organized by their governments,
abandoning their businesses and their local employees. How soon - or if - they go
back will help decide how quickly the Indonesian economy recovers. Some companies
have clearly been shocked by what happened.
Says an official at Ve Wong, a Taiwan foodstuffs producer with $4.9 million invested in a
flavor-essence factory in southern Sumatra: "The anti-Chinese rioting has
depleted the faith of Chinese investors, even though Indonesia is blessed with rich
natural resources that Taiwan needs." He says his company has postponed all
future investment.
- With bureau reports from Jakarta, Bangkok,
Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Taipei
From: "medan chinese" <mchinese@hotmail.com>
To: apakabar@clark.net
Subject: S O S from MEDAN - INDONESIA
Date: Wed, 06 May 1998 18:32:24 PDT
Hi
We are Indonesian Chinese ethnic people in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia. Now we are in
emegerncy situation here. The people mass, maybe with some universities students do
many harm things to us. They burn, rob and beat Chinese people with no reason, out
of control, mean while the government do nothing. The government just keep talking
and do not take any serious action to them. So they act more brutally. The mass rob
the food store, burn the motorcycle,car and house, beat the people if we fight them.
We just don't know what to do, just wait and let them beat and rob us !!!?? No way,
we must fight them, we are Indonesian people too, we have right to get serve and
protection from the goverment. We live in frighten now, we need attention from all
of you, HELP US...............
So, what can we do more ? Hope all of you can forward this mail to other and let all of
them know what really happen here. If you are Chinese, please forward this and let
your friend know, if you are a government agent, please understand the situation here and
act more seriously, we are human being not your scape goat, if you are one of them
(the people mass), think what you have done, you don't make the situation better,
the robbery can't solve the problem. And one more thing, what wrong did we do to you,
so you must beat and rob us, this monetery crisis not cause by us. We hope that this riot
can end soon and we can continue live in peacefully.
From: "gong tan" <gong_tan@hotmail.com>
To: apakabar@clark.net
Subject: Abuse to Chinese minorities in Medan Indonesia
Date: Thu, 07 May 1998 04:17:55 PDT
In the riots to Chinese minorities in Medan, you have to sound off one of the biggest
human rights abuse in the world where the chinese are beaten, robbed and thrown out
of their homes, and the millitary and police do not do anything but watched the
looters, and the crowd cheered. This shows the Soeharto regime does not care and
protect all its people regardless of their races. Medan Chinese are now in constant
fear and yet the western community has not made any words about them. Now they do not
have any choices but fight back, and the bloodshed continues, the revenge and hate
continues. What a regime you western have been supporting all these years !
Gong Tan
Medanese
Concerned Chinese
Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 02:24:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mammy Blue <watcher_club@yahoo.com>
Subject: Response to Indonesians
To: apakabar@clark.net
March 7, 1998
Fellow Human Beings,
Things that happen in Medan are no longer tolerable. At first, I admire the spirit of the
university students in demanding the so-called reformation. I suppose I don't have
to tell you the chronology of the events happening for the last few days. It's a
shame indeed that Indonesia has so many uneducated students. They yell out loud in
the name of PANCASILA and their country? in need of reformation, but they destroy
others' mind and property. From what I saw, a few tried to get the masses' attentions by t
hrowing and burning materials so that others might follow them. In return, those
college boys and girls are not to be blamed for their actions but the masses. This
of course brought a bad influence into the society. Some how, I too feel that the
government doesn't want to listen to them. But, what does Chinese have to do with
that? They were born here not because they wanted to. So what? My fellow Indonesians, are
those Chinese robbing your life just because they're trying to survive the game?
This world i s not made for you only. If you're a smart guy as you think you are,
you'd probably have tried to compete with them. Is jealousy all you have? All you
ever think of is hoping for your country to help you. The way I see, you are afraid of
Chinese. One way or another, I agree with some of them who wrote about your country. Are
you afraid that Chinese might bribe your government, that they might invade your
very personal life? I guess I don't have to tell you how narrow-minded you are. For
you who understan d the situation, I admire and want to thank you. People who are
afraid always make the first move. They are scared to death that others might be
stronger than they are. Some times ago, I noticed some Indonesian parents taught their
children to be racial in front of my two eyes. I understand that there was a
so-called conflict between the original inhabitants and Chinese decades ago. But,
what does it have to do with both new generations nowadays? Is your mind so
vulnerable? I don't blame Chinese for not wanting to hang around with Indonesians. Every
word the Indonesians claim, 'CINA' is always in their mind. The Chinese do well in
business. So what? They have a good way of thinking as an act to surviving this
life. They don't want their lives miserable. You would do the same if you live in
other countries or even were born somewhere else. There's a new Chinese minister
now. I wonder what his first religion was. You see, when we talk about racial
discrimination.
Somehow it has to do with religion too. Indonesia whose people are Islamic in majority
limits the movement of other religions. People have to be Muslims to be in a higher
position. They could have a better life if they want to be Muslims. Is your country
trying to build an Islamic country? You may, but it doesn't make you right to
spontaneously change others' believe. I can see that some of the legal parties sound like
they want to make everybody a Muslim, during the past propaganda. If Muhammad Bob Hasan
wasn't a Muslim, will the government pick him up? No, I believe not. So, you see,
you people want things the way you want them to be without considering others'
interests. I'll not be surprised if Chinese could t ake seats inside the government,
they would have made things better. Take the Malays for example, they've earnt their
lessons. They begin to trust that Chinese and Indians are a part of their society. Look at
the things they have contributed to Malaysia. How about Singapore? It's even better,
don't you think? You know something? I don't feel disgusting when being around with
the Malays (Muslims mostly), I feel safe yet they welcome people. I have to watch
for my back when in Indonesia. It is about time y ou must trust people. You people
talk about human rights, vow in the name of your Allah? What is it good for when things
have come to this? When talking about corruption, bad politics, and more, is it not
relative? Other countries have the same problem to o. You think the crisis
overwhelming Indonesia doesn't influence many poor Chinese too. There may be only a
small amount of Chinese inhabitants in Indonesia, but the poor are more than you
could count. You think poverty only hits Indonesians. How naive! The government, bad
or good, is still only a representative. It is sort of the Master of Ceremony of a
nation. If you don't like it, why not change it? Why do you have to destroy everything
people have built? Is your Allah telling you to do that?
Will Jesus allow that too? Please don't speak in the name of your religion to change the
situation. You would make a fool of yourself. Does that make you a tough guy after
perishing all Chinese? There are billions of Chinese, can you face them all? Will
you not d estroy them as well? Many people feel pity for you. The point is you are
the government. The government exists because of you. You must change the way you think,
before you could make differences. What I heard about Indonesia is not good. Money has
posses sed your mind. For those who live in a small village, please take a good look at
your right and left side. Are there Chinese around? If not, tell me why you couldn't
be rich! Will it make any difference if all of the Chinese are gone? Do you have any
idea how many rich Indonesians suck your life and you don't even know about that?
Why? Because that 'CINA' is always there in your pathetic mind. I'll give you an
easy example, your government? Are there Chinese around except for the aforementioned case
recently? I can understand the misery. I can bear with that, but it doesn't make you
right to rob or hurt others. Simple fact, imagine yourselves in their position? you
become Chinese, and they Indonesians. They haunt you to the top of the roof of your
houses . How would you feel?
Those who write bad things about Indonesia in this web page are actually all cowards. If
you were smart, you wouldn't have sit in front of your computer and thought you
could make changes to your countries. You don't think, you must do? take a
responsible ACTION, not the one happening right now. What's happening is not a
demonstration, it is a robbery. IT IS A RIOT. Indonesia is actually a wonderful country
with many beauties in it. Some irresponsible na?ve people that only think of themselves
are just somehow contaminating it. If they are strong enough to reject all the
temptations, this country won't be ranked as one of the top ten corruption
countries. There won't be any bribery at all. It's just like when you are cheating
on the exams. Even if you don 't teach your children to do the same, they will somehow do
it automatically. Can you tear out one root of a three-hundred-year-old oak tree
just like peeling an apple? It is really a pity that Indonesian people have actually
acted like a 4-year-old child . Those Chinese want to live a peaceful life, and if
somehow there are some bad Chinese, it is just one bad part of the society. Like
you, there are bad Indonesian guys as well. In France, there are bad French. In Singapore,
many bad Singaporeans exist al l over the corners. Whether you like it or not, it is
there. It is the spice of life. Live in China and be haunted Indonesians please.
Only then can you feel how they feel here. You cannot falsify all because of certain
bad deeds of certain groups of people. That is true! Fiuh! Am I tired of babbling or
what? Those Chinese feel like strangers in the night even they were born here. THEIR
GRANDMAS WERE BORN HERE FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! I learn that they are very patient
dealing with people like you. You voted for GOLKAR, PDI, and PPP. GOLKAR won and
made some progresses in the past. You felt happy. GOLKAR wins again yet failed to
fulfil your desire. You are angry, crying for helps. Don't you get it? It's not the
Chinese. Well, I can say they are only victims of your anger? because they are only? What?
About 4-5 % of the Indonesia's populations and could be put aside? Be wise, Buddies!
Yours...........