Merangkai SinoLogika: Bunga Rampai - Christine Susanna Tjhin

The Jakarta Post, 1 June 2004. While all five presidential candidates vehemently flaunt their commitment to upholding human rights and democratization, some members of the House of Representatives and security authorities seem to be throwing spikes down onto the path of civil society toward democratic consolidation, preparing for an ambush. On May 26, after a meeting with House Commission I, National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief A.M. Hendropriyono announced the agency was probing into an earlier report concerning the activities of 20 local and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These NGOs have allegedly produced reports that could instigate national security concerns during the presidential election. Further investigation to compile more incriminating evidence is also said to be underway. The government took a rather defensive position in response to the NGOs' reports and claimed a right to take measures against those who threatened national interests, which ...

The Jakarta Post, March 29, 2004. "If the world knows about 12 Chinese signs of the zodiac, Chinese-Indonesians know only of two -- the cash cow and black goat," joked Mely G. Tan years ago. The sardonic joke seems to have endured throughout Indonesian history and may be further accentuated in the 2004 elections -- or not. The post-1999 political climate has been more conducive to greater participation. Increased Chinese-Indonesian participation as legislative (House of Representatives) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) candidates can clearly be seen -- 172 so far, as noted by The Jakarta Post. Quality, however, is not as apparent. Last Saturday, Paguyuban Sosial Marga Tionghoa Indonesia (PSMTI) and Forum Masyarakat Tionghoa (FORMAT), two of Indonesia's distinguished Chinese-Indonesian associations, cohosted a "Meet the Chinese-Indonesian candidates" gathering. Three DPD candidates and 12 legislative candidates of Chinese descent from 8 different politi...

The Jakarta Post, 17 February 2004. A friend won a bet on Akbar's release. ""I told you so! Our oh-so-reliable Supreme Court will release him!"" he said sarcastically after claiming his prize -- a bag of peanuts. The release of Akbar Tandjung was the climax to disappointments over the Indonesian judicial system throughout the reform period. Some said it was to be expected. Yet, it tasted despicably bitter when it actually happened. Saying that the Supreme Court has no sense of crisis would be the understatement of the year. It is rather comical to hear those who urge the public to ""respect"" the Supreme Court's decision, as the judiciary has made a mockery of justice, as well as democracy. Fortunately, civil society does not use force to challenge this mockery of justice, although, there has been violence on the streets involving students. Since the Indonesian judiciary seems to have very little conscience, it cannot be relied up...

The Jakarta Post. On Nov. 15, 2003, the National Commission on Human Rights (KOMNAS HAM) announced its preliminary findings about human rights abuses by the TNI and National Police in Papua. On the same day, cases of torture and judicial killings by the police in Maluku were also reported. Torture cases have been "public secrets" for many years. Torture cases with differing gravity can be found in almost all police stations or military posts in areas of conflict all over Indonesia. Let us clarify what torture means. Article 1 of the International Conventions Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) states that torture is "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person" by state apparatus (police, military and others). The purpose can be to obtain information or confession or to punish that person (or a third person). The person may have committed or have b...

The Jakarta Post. Since the transition to democracy began five years ago, Indonesia has been rocked by widespread communal conflicts. The prolonged conflicts in Aceh and ethno-religious violence in Maluku and Central Sulawesi's town of Poso reflect the mismanagement of pluralism in Indonesia. One proposal for solutions focus on the enforcement of regional autonomy. However, the question of whether regional autonomy is feasible must be readdressed by probing into the fundamental question of whether cultural rights have been properly addressed. Regional autonomy policies may be useful, yet its implementation tends to neglect issues of cultural rights over economic and political rights. Managing pluralism becomes virtually impossible without adequate acknowledgement of cultural rights. The essential idea of multiculturalism and/or pluralism is that there should be proper acknowledgement of and respect for cultural rights of all individuals and/or communal groups. Such acknowledg...

This is the start of re-posting my previous writings. Some friends suggested this for quite some time, but I felt slightly timid, if not embarrassed, to do it. However, after realizing that some of my online writings no longer exist and that I no longer can find them in my personal files/folders, I came to regret not having to do this earlier. My only hope is that these writings can be helpful and/or generate further debates on things that we care the most. Nostalgia is probably my other motive... Some of these writings reflect moments that shape who I am today. This is the first one. My first 'writing' on public media; My first "published" piece. It's no scholarly piece at all, really. Nowhere near that. It was RAGE - a raw rage and delirious demand to be heard by the people where ever they were. My house in Pos Pengumben Jakarta was attacked on that dreadful May 1998, during which two of the most staggering events changed my life (the Anti-Chinese riot...