Editorial: Sharing experience with China

The Jakarta Post   |  Fri, 07/10/2009 11:08 AM  |  Opinion

The tragic death of at least 156 people in the predomi-nantly Muslim region of Xinjiang is very saddening. Violent clashes between the Muslim Uighurs and the ethnic Han severely decreased after Beijing imposed a strict military approach to calm the tension there.

However, as Indonesia learned when taming rebellious regions, military crackdowns only ever create temporary peace and order.

Our intention is not to tell China what it should do to tame the unrest. What we would like to say is that perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from Indonesia’s experience. Who knows? Indonesia and China may be able to exchange knowledge and experience when it comes to managing conflict areas and minority groups. It is true that Indonesia is still very far from being able to resolve all its problems, but we do realize the security approach will only make the situation worse.

One case in point is Papua, where Papuans feel they are treated like second class citizens. Under the leadership of Sukarno and Soeharto, the government quickly deployed military troops to quell rebellions for example in Sumatra, Sulawesi and Java.

Facts showed that we had to end our occupation of East Timor because the population there could no longer stand our oppressive system. Only after a severe tsunami devastated Aceh in 2004 could peace be restored in the war-torn Indonesian province.

No doubt the Chinese government has done a great job of improving living conditions and welfare, not only of the majority of the population, but also the other 55 ethnic minorities in China. China has the very right to maintain its territorial sovereignty and order at home. But as long as the inhabitants of the “house” do not feel at home, problems will remain.

Like in Tibet, it seems the central government has full control of the situation in the rebellious region. But no one knows how long such an approach can be effective for.

We are saddened by the death of Xinjiang residents. But we do believe that Beijing knows the roots of the problems in that province, and has the will to settle them.

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