Lunar New Year

Sat, 02/09/2008 2:16 PM  |  Opinion

I hate people who say to me, Cina lu! (Hi, you Chinese!) JOHNY TAN
Sydney

As a Tionghoa, I am very proud of my ethnicity. My pribumi comrades should know that Tionghoa is different from Chinese around the world. Tionghoa is unique only to Indonesia. Thus, as Tionghoa, we are as nationalistic as other Indonesians and should be treated equally.
HANJAYA TAN
Medan, North Sumatra

I believe that in the near future, Indonesian Chinese will be involved in all government activities. I hope I have not died yet, when young Indonesian Chinese become traffic police and stand in crossroads to make traffic run well, or they become officials of subdistrict, district or local administrations, as well as higher ranking officials like governors, regents, Cabinet ministers.

Indonesian Chinese are Indonesian too, and they are proud to be Indonesians.
MUHAIMIN RAMDJA
Palembang, South Sumatra

When the Dutch were occupying Indonesia, they gave Chinese merchants special rights. This built up hatred toward them, and many Indonesians believed that the Chinese did not belong to Indonesia nor should they "steal" jobs.

This hatred is passed down from generation to generation, and reached its peak during the New Order. I believe we should all live in peace and harmony. The government should punish those crowds that burned down churches and create a safe environment. For us, for the Chinese, for others and for the future.
R VANDESDELCA X
Bogor, West Java

If the Chinese-Indonesians are being treated equally it shouldn't bother any of us because everyone is equal in the eyes of the law.
YASHIKA KHANDELWAL
Purwakarta, West Java

Allowing Imlek to be celebrated in Indonesia will have a positive impact on this nation.
MALAU
Medan, North Sumatra

Indonesian politicians exploited racial discrimination for their benefit in the past. The impact is still felt by Chinese-Indonesians today.

The government (the ruling party) should not exploit the situation. The government has to uphold the law to erase the discrimination against them in public services, like easing the issuance of ID cards. The regulations must not only be on paper, but practiced in reality. Also open access to become government officials, military officers and in politics
GERRY
Jakarta

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