Dear all,
These past few weeks, there have been a lot of demonstrations held by the students in
all over Indonesia. Their intentions're true for the sake of the people and of
course the people backed them up whole heartedly.
Tensions're all over rural area, but not in Jakarta,since all people considered it as
the capital city and the safest city.
Things have just changed, Jakarta is now center of the chaos. It started when a
misfortunate event ccurred in my neighbour university, Universitas Trisakti, where 6
students reported killed by the army during demonstration in May 13, 1998. It
brought shockwaves all over the world and began the worst of Indonesia predicament.
May 14, while the students were in the moment of mourn, the mass took advantges and
started to destroy buildings and cars then burnt them down. The whole things spread so
quickly, in a matterof hours, Jakarta was like in a civil war. The issue is NOT the
assertion of students aspirations anymore, nor the reform act, simply plundering and
looting by the same Indonesian citizens who has been staying in Jakarta all their
lives as we, Chinese, have too.
Yesterday, they invaded my house. At first, they only threw some rocks to the
windows/doors and they forced to open the gate. They failed their first attempt. So
they just continue to throw rocks around the house once in a while. Everybody in my
house (Dad, Uncle, Auntie, us 3 sisters, 3 servants and couple of drivers) were
terrified and have already prepared things to evacuate. But things seemed to be a bit
calmer, then suddenly they managed to get inside and forced us to leave the house.
They're shouting at us, violently pushed us out, and beat us up. Dad and I had to
kneel down and apologize to them, to beg them not to hurt our family and to let us
leave. Luckily, there're our kind native neighbours who were able to stop them and
protected us. We're escorted back to our house, and several kind neighbours said they
would guarantee our safety then they really guarded our house the whole night. I'm really
grateful and wish may God bless them.
I've never been so scared in my live before. I was trembling and shaking last night,
thinking what could happen to us, especially after I saw what Dad almost did. Dad
were repared to give up everything for the sake of his daughters. We've past the
horrible night alright, but we're still live in horror and not knowing when this
unfortunate faith will be over. Evacuate? To where? As far as the Chinese can see, there's
no safe place for them. I tried to stay calm but I'm still feeling the same tension
I felt last night. I jump when I hear someone shout, my heartbeat like hell when I
hear loud noise, I want to cry when I hear rocks thrown to my housewalls.
May God be with us, and I suppose we're quite lucky compare to other Chineses in
Jakarta. Other worse things had happened to the minorities and nothing can stop
them. The mobs gladly looted us, cheerfully burnt our properties, and joyfully
dancing in front of the news camera while doing so.
I'm not trying to put all the blame on the native Indonesians, even it was a racial
attempt and on the other hand it was the natives also who have saved our lives. This
is one of my way to seek help, that's why I ask you to at least spread this story
around, if God allows maybe someone with the capability to help us can read this and
help us. Or maybe you can do something with your government. Or maybe you can pray for
us. Or anything. Please.
Christine
Dear All,
Once again I thank you for everything. Things are a bit calmer than before. Even if
there're lots of rumors about further attacks towards Chinese citizens, I am totally
handing my life over to the hand of God. Let He decide what's best for us.
I've seen a lot of horrible things the looters have done that day. They even loot the
private owned moruary, where they forcefully opened up the coffins and loot the corpses'
belongings. Then they threw the corpses' on to the street, just like that. The
corpses were laying on the street and nobody dared to get near as they looted nearby
offices and houses. They attacked a hospital (for pregnant women), took everything
(even baby's blankets), causing the death of several babies and weak mothers who have just
given birth. Are they really human?
Your prayers and helps would really help us a lot. It have helped us. Reading all those
e-mails from kind people all over the world gave me such comfort and believe that
there're others who care. God bless you all. I will hang on and will always pray
together with all of you for the safety and the better life of Indonesian people. So
that racialism could end and true harmony between native and non native can eventually be
real. Thank you all, thank you so much. I can't thank you enough
Christine
Christine Susanna wrote:
This is a story from someone whom I never knew. I've sent this before, but since some
eople weren't able to open the file, I thought that I should retype it in Email text
and tell you guys a bit about myself and how I feel, to share and to show how much I
respect all the things that all of you have done to us here in Indonesia.
This is what this person wrote :
*****************************
Dear Friends,
How r u? This far everything's fine with me. My hand-written here is what really
happened to me... just to describe what really happened...and What I feel... Thanks
for reading...This condition makes me really crazy... I get trapped in my relative's
house for a few days... that's terrible!!!!
I just came to Jakarta on Wednesday by train... on the way I got so Many calls from my
friend... tell me not to come to Jakarta... very dangerous! But I'm on my say there,
so...I reach Jakarta... I don't know where to go... my office in Sudirman Is
crowded... my home in Citra, but Grogol & Kalideres is dangerous... My campus in
Salemba is fully crowded by students... riots & demo...
Decided to go to my nearest relatives.. in Jakarta Kota around Mangga Besar... and that's
the beginning... Being there from that time... like in the middle of the war... from
That night I cannot sleep well... standby with my handphone 24 hours...
That night... the condition become worse... fire ... everywhere.. Around the house...
Glodok, Mangga Dua, I just see smoke and fire around me.
I see the fire... and hear a happy 'hooray'... when something get burnt... lovely home...
business office and 'ruko'... cars everywhere... and ... man... human being.. trapped
in the fire...screamed... that's also happened in all around Jakarta, as seen on
tv... all the time and heard on radio... all the time... In the middle of that I did
not see any police around ... or the fireman... what is wrong with all this people... When
people get 'crazy'.... no one come to help... will they let everything go on?... Let
people follow their naluri perikebinatangan' (The sense of the beast)... like in the
middle of the jungle...
The next day,... everything go worst.. fire ... more and more... and The people start to
take everything from everywhere.. the electronic Shop in Glodok and Pinangsia.. also
the home equipment... they might steal It over human blood... I don't know...
I see people come and go in front of my house.. with the tv... CD player... washing
machine... 2 doors refrigerator... computer... VCD... handphone.. all brand new...
even people come and go with the office chair .. table ... typewriter... All
people... a man with 'peci' (moslem hat).. a girl on 'jilbab' (moslem women scarf on
their head)... children.. teens.. all ages.. all races.. all people In the middle of
fire.. smoke... and alarm.. And it happened in all around Jakarta, as seen on tv...
all the time... and heard on radio... all the time...
What is wrong with this entire people? Do they know that they take It over people's
blood?... (Maybe... their sense of belonging is really 'good'). But they did it...
That night.. I cried.. in the middle of the dark night.. but still In the middle of fire
and smoke... what is going on with this people... this country. MY INDONESIA (even
that I am Chinese Indonesian)? What will be happened tomorrow.... what is the
future?..
I prayed to my God... please help us God... give me your rain... it might be better in the
middle of the rain... people will be calmer... Please open people's eyes... see the
reality... they might not know what they've done... close by the Satans... please
forgive them... make Them realize... stealing.. killing.. that is not His way..
please help us God...
I fall asleep on the couch.. suddenly I woke up... It rained... I feel so happy... it's a
miracle ... He listen to my pray... Thank you God... But in fifteen minutes... it
stop... I see the people down there... Oh my God.. they start again... doing
stealing and burning... come and Go with everything they can take . It's a hard
day... a fall asleep... with my handphone stand by 24 hours.
The next day... the sun shine brighter.. hopefully it would be a Better day... I see the
people down there... keep stealing... burning... About 11 am.. the army come... with
gun & 2 tanks..Thanks God... I Am sure they are the savior.. They start check
everything in Glodok... caught the robber.. keep shooting.. with the rubber
bullet... not mean to harm people... It's really like a war.. door door door everywhere...
And one time.. when I see lot of people running with all the steal...the army shoot tear
gas.. o my eyes... it's really hurt... this really does a war... what is going on
with this people... this country... MY INDONESIA (even that I am Chinese
Indonesian)? What will be happened tomorrow... what is the future?
Well, that time everything become clearer... everyone just think About himself... so
selfish... just think of wealth and money.. Don't they know what will be happened
after all of this? After all the crisis,.economic. politic... and now.. all the business
bankrupt.. finish... there will be more jobless.. economic condition become worse
and worse...
Then.. what happened? ..All the expatriate leave Indonesia... all The foreign capital run
out from Indonesia.. My Indonesia... that has Been built through years and years..
The capital Jakarta has been paralyzed... down.. and I said My indonesia ...
"Sudah Jatuh... Tertimpa Tangga... Tersiram BBM -Bahan Bakar Minyak.. Terbakar
Api"... All Finished... <After fell down... fallen down upon by a stair... poured
by gasoline... burnt byfire= *the first 2 short sentences are Indonesian traditional
proverbs-Christine*
The next day was Saturday... I went to West and North Jakarta... Kebon Jeruk, Grogol,
Kalideres, Serpong, Tangerang... it was so sad... so Many places burnt... especially
one near banking institution and supermarket. I went home for a while.. my
maid said that there is nothing to buy ... even we have money... all become so
expensive... in traditional market... 3 or 5 times more expensive... Oh God!!
The next day was Sunday.. I went to East Jakarta.. again I saw trouble..from Senen,
Rawamangun, Jatinegara, Cipinang, and again on my way home... in Grogol, Daan Mogot,
Cengkareng, Kalideres...so sad... what is going on with this people.. this
country.... my Indonesia (even that I am Chinese Indonesian)? What will be happened
tommorrow... what is the future... of MY INDONESIA?
***************************************
I got this mail from my sister who's in Rhode Island. I don't know this person, but I
hope all things will be well with him/her.
Thank you so much for keeping in touch with us. And all your efforts to help us out in
your own particular way. I think I can share you a bit about myself.
I'm a Catholic since I awas born. I belong to a big family, with 4 other sisters (who're
all Catholic, except for Mom and Dad) and many relatives. I'm 22 years old. An
undergraduate in Tarumanagara University who still have to finish her thesis. I'm
supposed to have my comprehensive final test around July or August, graduate on
October, and then continue to pursue my master degree in the Philippines as planned. But
now I guess, studying abroad would only be a figment of my imagination. This is one of the
thing that've been so disturbing in my mind.
So far, we're still safe. I'm staying at my cousin's house at the moment, since this real
estate comprise mostly Chinese, and they've been forming a defense group together
with some army staff here (holding day-n-night shifts and building baricades), so
it's assumed to be safer than my place. We're moving out to anticipate the rumors
about a big chaos that's supposed to happen on May 20.
My house is in the West side of Jakarta, and my cousin's is in the North side. On the way
to his house, I saw a lot of things that scared me and saddened me.
Most buildings were burnt, or most windows're broken. Houses singed And there are a lot of
written remarks on walls or on the streets such as "Die Chinese" or
"Tell Chinese to go home" or "Damn Chinese" or "Good
Chinese is Dead Chinese" or "Kill all Chinese people"... all that.
Buildings which're still safe are buildings with posters, signed "Belong to
Natives" or "Belong to Haji <name" or "Natives live
here" or there are Arabic words from Al Quran. I don't know how we are suppose
to feel reading those remarks... Not that I'm blaming them, natives too were in danger
during that time. I guess, they're just trying to protect themselves.
All the news and papers said "JAKARTA IS NOW BACK TO NORMAL". Normal???
NORMAL?!?!?! How could they said "NORMAL"??? Things will NEVER be normal.
Look at me... a good friend would refered me as 'cheerful', 'happy-go-lucky',
'everything-also-can-do type of person'... I was, but being relax and cheerful are
quite difficult for me to do now, even if it is one of my habits. It's hard for me
to sleep... I don't even dare to turn on the TV too loud... I'm afraid to leave the
house.. I jumped each time I hear falling-things sound... I felt strain each time I see
native people and relieved when they showed a friendly gesture... I don't want to
sound like a pathetic spoiled brat. I'm hangin on, thank God and thanx to all of
you, and I'm trying to be my-ole-self again. I can't afford not to be, I don't want
my family to be too burdened. That's why I want to thank you, coz you have helped a lot.
Jakarta seemed calmer, yes, but all major economic area are paralyzed. And we're supposed
to wait for the next election which will be held in about 6 months. If we can't
reform AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, how can we survive? 6 months may sound like a little
while. But consider the paralyzed situation in Jakarta, no one (especially from the
middle people like me) dared to continue doing business "as usual". Who can
guarantee safety? All the high prices. All the tensions between natives and non natives.
Most Expatriate and Chinese Indonesian (who played a major role in running the
economic wheel in Indonesia) have left Indonesia. Most banking and financial
facilities're ruined.
International institution?? Even IMF's busy sending his staffs back. Every country ordered
his embassy staffs to go home. If every embassy In Jakarta's empty, where can we
find sanctuary if things're for the worst? Even ASEAN who've been asked about its
plan to help out Indonesia, said,"What help? Why should we? We believe
Indonesian government can handle things quite properly." I guess, that's exactly what
ALL international institution thought about this situation.
I'm confused, outraged, sad, and sick of all this. But I'm also grateful because God still
protects my family and relatives up until now, my native neighbours still want to
help us, and there've been a LOT of friends from all over the world who have offered
me their prayers and help.
God Bless All of You.
In the Love of God
Christine