Chinese Descendants Take Part in 2009 Indonesian Elections

Here's another new twist in Indonesia's elections this year. In the past, ethnic Chinese faced heavy discrimination in Indonesia, but this year there's been a surge in Chinese Indonesians running for election. Some see it as a sign of old prejudices being put to rest. Hundreds of Chinese Indonesians and legislative candidates gathered recently at Nelayan Restaurant in Jakarta. This was their chance to introduce themselves and their vision. In Jakarta alone, more than one hundred Chinese Indonesians are competing for votes in the parliamentary elections. [A.M. Fatwa, Indonesia PeopleÕs Consultative Council]:

"This is a great phenomenaÉ it is indicative of our federal laws at play, which forbid discrimination against any race in Indonesia, especially Chinese Indonesians, who experienced it for a while." [Daniel Johan, Chinese Legislative Candidate]:

"For 35 years, the foundation of Chinese Indonesians' social and political structure was destroyed by the New Order. Ever since Gus Dur (Indonesia's 4th President) revoked the President's Instruction #14 written in 1967, the momentum to reverse that situation started. We see the 2009 General Election as a 'door' that allows us to be complete humans who can enjoy our full rights as citizens." Indonesia has the largest Chinese population in the world outside of China. The surge of Chinese Indonesians participating in politics may well shatter peopleÕs perception of Chinese Indonesians as just "business people." NTD, Jakarta, Indonesia.

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[poison3v3]

chinese born in indonesia.like me..chinese-indonesian

[joeyroo167]

F**k off racism, I am malay, but my best friend is chinese, what amazes me is that some chinese asked my best friend on the other day, why he friends with Malays?  he goes like 'they have never done anything bad to me, why?" and they go, "but still..they are shifty pricks low class people". I got some friends too who asked why I friend with chinese. So it's not about Malays and Chinese, it's about you and your negative thoughts..Chinese need to learn to friend with Malays, vice versa.

[firelordsein]

semua yang lahir di Indonesia berhak atas semua hak-hak sebagai WNI termasuk hak untuk dipilih sebagai wakil rakyat atau pemimpin,, sebagai pribumi, saya mendukung penuh semua saudara etnis tionghoa yang maju dalam pemilu,,, itu hak kalian juga sebagai WNI,, jangan takut!! jangan pedulikan politikus busuk yang mengaku nasionalis tapi cuma pintar mengadu domba,,

[DontBuyChinese]

Don't buy Chinese made goods. It is a brutal communist country that suppresses human rights.

[Jefgg]

Do the Chinese people in Indonesia call it Erection Day?

[hasyimabdurrahim]

menurutku selama ia lahir di indonesia dan ia tinggal sdh puluhan atau ratusan tahun di indonesia maka itulah dia warga indonesia tidak ada pribumi non pribumi semuanya sama mari kita bersama membangun bangsa

[salim1983hoop]

I agreee...

[destroyxeverything]

I think you meant to say "FUCK JAPAN" since Japanese did the most atrocities against Chinese.

[matgentle]

Indonesian Chinese dont pronounce themselves as Indonesian Chinese. They only pronounce themselves Indonesian. We are proud to be Indonesian. We dont complain so much, we work hard and we deserve to.

[sinyotasker]

FUCK INDONESIA.....anjing arab