U.S. voters made a historic decision Tuesday when they opted to vote in Barack Obama, an American with a black father and white mother, as their 44th president. And just one week ago, Indonesia also made an unprecedented decision in ensuring that Indonesia allows any of its citizens to become president regardless of their race and ethnic background.

The new decision means that a Papuan or a Balinese, or an Indonesian of Chinese descent, has the full right and freedom to run in -- and win -- next year's presidential election, thanks to the decision of the House of Representatives (DPR) last Tuesday to pass the Bill on the Elimination of Race and Ethnic Discrimination into law. It seems that the House wants to give the nation a nice gift for the 80th commemoration of the Youth Pledge Day.

At a glance this decision shows very encouraging progress in our war against discrimination. But the question follows: Is that enough? And how about other forms of discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, religion or other socially rooted issues? To name a few -- there is widespread discrimination against women in public or private offices and in their ability to obtain a proper education.

The law endorsement itself is a follow-up to Indonesia's ratification of the International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1999. Indonesia itself has ratified various international conventions on human rights protection.

"A man cannot choose to be born as part of a certain race or ethnic group, and therefore discrimination must cease to exist," said legislator Murdaya Poo from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), who chairs the House's special committee deliberating the bill.

Murdaya's choice to lead the deliberation is not a coincidence. As an Indonesian of Chinese descent, the successful businessman has abundant experience on how Chinese Indonesians are often discriminated against by the state. For decades under Soeharto's rule, Indonesians of Chinese parentage had suffered because they felt like unwanted citizens.

But with the new law, such discrimination is expected to become part of our past, dark history. By doing so, Indonesia has also made much progress in ending discrimination against our fellow Chinese compatriots.

According to the law, which will automatically become law within one month, a hefty punishment -- up to one year imprisonment and a sizable fine (maximum Rp 100 million or about US$10,000) -- threatens anyone who commits racial and ethnic discriminatory acts. Corporations operating in Indonesia could also be charged under the law if they treat their employees or workers differently based on their race or ethnicity.

According to the new law, leaders of public institutions found guilty of adopting discriminatory policies will face jail terms -- one-third more severe than those stipulated in the Criminal Code.

We indeed welcome the new anti-race and anti-ethnic discrimination law. We should not let any citizen feel as if their race or ethnicity is a curse. Anyone has the right to receive equal treatment from the state and from the government. But perhaps only in textbooks will we find an ideal situation.

As an example: So far there is a public perception that only a Javanese can become president, although from May 1998 to Sept. 1999 Indonesia was led by non-Javanese B.J. Habibie. Nonetheless, Habibie's rise to presidency occurred because as vice president he automatically replaced the then president Soeharto who resigned in May 1998.

But the nation needs to be much faster in eliminating all forms of discrimination. Freedom of religion -- including freedom to worship and freedom to build worship venues -- is guaranteed by the Constitution. But people who embrace minority religions know that it has become more and more difficult to practice their faith, especially to build proper buildings of worship. There are continuous reports about the burning and destruction of churches in many parts of the country.

Many Muslims also complain that they are the majority in numbers but are powerless in the economy, which is controlled by the non-Muslim minority. There are widespread rumors that Muslims or non-Chinese employees are treated differently than their Chinese colleagues. But it is also a fact that it is extremely difficult for a Chinese Indonesian to become a civil servant.

The above acts are serious discriminatory acts. And the list can be added to endlessly.

While we welcome the new law, we need to have more laws to eliminate discriminatory acts. But more importantly, do we Indonesians have the will to give equal treatment to all citizens regardless of their social, political or economical background?

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