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Your struggle is ours too: Chinese-Indonesian community's role in Indonesian independence movement
I hope that this was due to Anies’ lack of understanding about his grandfather AR Baswedan’s background and how the PAI was established in Semarang in 1934, and not to undermine the role of Chinese-Indonesian community in the Dutch colonial era in order to show Jakartans that his rival Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a Chinese- Indonesian, is not as Indonesian as Anies with his Arab blood.
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Visitors enjoy the three-day Obar Abir (Colorful) Festival at Semawis Imlek Market in the East Wotgandul area in Semarang, Central Java, ahead of Chinese New Year in January. (JP/Suherdjoko)
A
viral YouTube video shows one of Jakarta’s gubernatorial candidates, Anies Baswedan, delivering a speech in front of an audience at the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) headquarters. The vigilant group’s head, Rizieq Shihab, is seen looking up to Anies admirably.
During that event, Anies revealed that his parents were the founders of the Indonesian Arab Party (PAI) in 1934. He emphasized that the Arab community made a pledge to Indonesia and called the country home The pledge, according to Anies, was significant since Indonesia as a state had not been established.
Anies’ tale up to this point was true. The Arabic community that formed the PAI was heroic, and its political mission was certainly one to admire.
However, Anies’ statement that only the Arabs acted bravely under Dutch occupation was not true and deviated from historical facts.
I hope that this was due to Anies’ lack of understanding about his grandfather AR Baswedan’s background and how the PAI was established in Semarang in 1934, and not to undermine the role of Chinese-Indonesian community in the Dutch colonial era in order to show Jakartans that his rival Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a Chinese- Indonesian, is not as Indonesian as Anies with his Arab blood.
Read also: Bonnie Triyana: Learning about today's society from history
Let us take a look at the history of press development in the Dutch colonial times. The growing number of Chinese- Indonesians who received education in the beginning of the 20th century increased the enthusiasm for newspapers. Thus, the birth of the Chinese-Indonesian-led newspaper companies, the biggest being Sin Po, Keng Po, Sin Tit Po, and Matahari.
