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Bill against racial discrimination passed
Wed, 10/29/2008 10:55 AM | National
The House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill that terms ethnic and racial discrimination as serious crimes.
Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar, who presided over the House's plenary session to approve the draft law, said Indonesia no longer had any room for any form of racial or ethnic discrimination.
Chairman of the House's special committee deliberating the bill, Murdaya Poo, said the endorsement of the bill should put an end to the long-standing dichotomy between indigenous and non-indigenous people in the country.
"A man cannot choose to be born as part of a certain race or ethnic group, and therefore discrimination must cease to exist," said Murdaya, who is Indonesian-Chinese.
He said the House proposed the bill as part of its effort to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, which has been enacted since 1999.
Under the new law, leaders of public institutions found guilty of adopting discriminatory policies would face jail terms one-third more severe than those stipulated in the Criminal Code.
Citing an example, Murdaya said the governor or government of Aceh could not ban a gathering held by Javanese ethnics in the province.
He said the deliberation process had been delayed by a disagreement on whether imprisonment should be made the minimum punishment.
Jail as a minimum sentence is typically sought for serious crimes, such as corruption, terrorism, money laundering or drug abuse.
"We decided to set prison as the minimum sentence to deter people from committing racial or ethnic discrimination," said Murdaya, a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
The bill was passed on the same day Indonesia celebrated the 100th anniversary of Youth Pledge, which Murdaya said should encourage Indonesians to uphold the diverse nature of the nation. -- JP
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Henry too (not verified) — Mon, 12/22/2008 - 6:15pm
I'm probably outdated. I seem to remember a time when Indonesians of Chinese origin cannot hold positions as Government officers. Can somebody enlighten me as to whether this is still the case? You cannot legislate mentality. However, this is a good first step. Pity, we can't do this in Malaysia.
William Lau (not verified) — Wed, 12/03/2008 - 2:24pm
The people of Indonesia must be happy at the passing of the Anti-Racial Discrimination ACt. It is a positive step forward in marshaling the resources of the people towards the social economic progress of the country.
Racial discrimination is a societal scourge founded on racial bias, injustice and the notion that one race is superior to the other. As such it brings about class distinction and chasm among the people in the country which eventually and subtly creeps into all public policies that tend to divide and destroy the country.
Indonesia henceforth can see better days. More countries should emulate Indonesia in adopting and enacting the UN Anti-Racial Discrimination Convention
Teh LS (not verified) — Mon, 11/24/2008 - 12:15am
In many ways, Indonesians are more advanced and tolerant in managing racial, religious, cultural differences etc. This latest law forbiding racial discrimiantion should help to bind people to be loyal and to work more efficiently in nation building.
Jay Jay (not verified) — Mon, 11/17/2008 - 9:41am
Yeah, one up for Indonesia! When is Malaysia going to do it? In another 100 years' time? Sad, isn't it?
Andrew Soh Chih Jen (not verified) — Fri, 11/07/2008 - 6:54am
Amazing.
I totally agree and am happy to see that
Indonesia's working towards a discrimination
free nation and to uphold the diversity
you have in your country.
Thumbs up !
Andrian Harsono (not verified) — Mon, 11/03/2008 - 5:12pm
I welcome the enactment of this law. I hope this will provide a closure to all those (including chinese-indonesians like myself) who have felt hard done by in the past.
Nathan (not verified) — Sun, 11/02/2008 - 5:11pm
Umahi - The real problem is that many Muslims are not tolerant of other Religions and what you are saying is that non-Muslims are not free to go about practicing their own Religion in "Muslim countries". Referring to a country as a "Muslim Country" is impressing on others that the country is intolerant of other Religions. There is quite a lot of evidence of this intolerance in the Europe and the West where Muslims are demanding things be changed to accommodate their special needs and desires as Muslims.
I was recently in Sri Lanka with a group of friends which included a devout Hindu man. (Hindus regard cows as sacred). We went to McDonalds in Colombo. Amongst the orders were beef burgers. The Hindu man ordered a chicken burger. Realizing it could be a problem, I said to him (apologetically), "Would you prefer I did not eat beef when in your company?" He replied in so many words saying that it was he that did not eat beef and he did not mind if others ate it. He showed tolerance.
Umahi said (not verified) — Sun, 11/02/2008 - 11:10am
we know god created man differenly and it is our obligation to know each other. But every creation has its own place, why should they bother to come to others' place. who said that we are not accep other racis? we do. But sometimes, the other races who came to other society (which is not originally theirs) try to implement their culture instead of learn the new culture that they come in, which sometimes are not suitable with the culture that they brough from their origin.
The best example is Malaysia, which is multicultural. they accep other races as part of them, but look what other race do right now. it's not that the other races don't know that Malaysia is a Muslim country. And they fully understand that Pok is haram, indeed, they develop the pork husbandry.
And god also says to seek his bounty on his land (on earth) to get his pleasure. This means people; regardless their race, religion, or other differences; are free to travel on this earth in order to improve their economy. But ones must understand that every land has their own rules and regulatios which have to be followed.
I'm not being racism. But look, fishes have their own place (which is in water) and human live on land, while birth in air. Now this is the case. when human get into the water,will they walk? defenetly no. They have to follow the regulation when they are in water, they have to swim. people cannot break the law and walk under the water. And it applies the other way round to fishes and to births. And so ather races who migrant to other society.
Nathan (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 1:25pm
It would seem that both racial and religious discrimination are a problem in Indonesia. Its good to see the bill against racial discrimination has been passed but is it going to be enforced?
Expat (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 12:59pm
"A man cannot choose to be born as part of a certain race or ethnic group, and therefore discrimination must cease to exist," said Murdaya, who is Indonesian-Chinese.
Please Mr Murdaya you should also make it a criminal offence for discrimination practiced by Indonasian Chinese against other Indonesians. This would be fair and reasonable too.