"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" (Unity in diversity) was the Indonesian nation motto proclaimed by the Republic of Indonesia's fore fathers. Indonesia's first President Soekarno declared that Bhinneka (diversity) was "das Sein" (What it is) and Tunggal Ika (Unity) was "das Sollen" (What shall be). The fact is that Indonesia consists of many ethnic groups (diverse) but one nation - Indonesia. Indonesian Chinese has been in Indonesia for more than a thousand years and as history showed has struggled for their identity as one of the Indonesian ethnic group, and to take their place as "Putra Indonesia" (Sons of Indonesia).
It is the intent of this web page to collect the unique culture of the Indonesian Chinese. The organizer of this web page makes no claim of expertise in this area but would document information on first hand experience or collect and integrate factual information deem accurate and reasonable. The organizer favors the USA model where ethnic culture is promoted. Critics had said: "Ayam tidak dapat menjadi Bebek" (Chicken cannot become a duck). The Chinese cannot become a Sundanese as well as Batak cannot become a Javanese, but all are Indonesian. Preserving culture of all would benefit our decendants.
The organizer attempts not to get tangled in the Indonesian politics although as history revealed, the Indonesian Chinese has been the victim of governmental political games even prior the proclamation of Indonesia's independence on August 17, 1945. Therefore, the molding, the growth or the disappearance of the Indonesian Chinese culture on the outset is a direct result of social repression, skepticism of their loyalty, and out of proportion anti-Chinese sentiments by certain group in Indonesia. Political activities of the Indonesian Chinese have been documented in books and studies, and would not be the subject of this web page. Few chronological events are presented here to provide background and some perspective of the Indonesian Chinese cultural changes.
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History |
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In the early 19th century, the Chinese in Indonesia can be identified into two groups. One group was newly immigrated Chinese known as "totoks" (pure blood). This group spoke Chinese and was culturally oriented towards China. The other group is known as "peranakan Tionghoa" (descendants of Chinese) who has been in Indonesia over the centuries, speaks Indonesian or local Indonesian dialect, with a culture that is neither wholly Chinese nor wholly Indonesian. The latter group is also categorized as "WNI Keturunan Tionghoa" i.e. Warga Negara Indonesia (Indonesia Citizen) of Chinese descend. This group has since fight for equal rights as Indonesian Citizens.
| Date | Event |
| 0132 | Chinese chronicles mentioned the existence of relations between Java and China |
| 0144 | Chinese Buddhist saint Fa Hsien landed in Java-dwipa (Java) and remained for five months. |
| 0671 | Chinese pilgrim I Tsing on his way to India visited the Kingdom of Srivijaya and returned 18 years later. Srivijaya became the Buddhist learning center. |
| 1740 | Chinese led rebellion in Batavia against the mighty Dutch military failed. Reportedly 10,000 Chinese were massacred. |
| 1932 | Partai Tionghoa Indonesia (Indonesian Chinese Party) was formed in Surabaya. The PTI actively supported the demand of the Indonesian cooperating nationalist for independence, and regarded themselves as Indonesian nationalist party. However, the Indonesian nationalists, with few exceptions, did not fully accept it in that character. Major player in PTI were Liem Koen Hian (founder), Ko Kwat Tiong, dr. Tjoa Sik Ien (Later became a member of the Indonesian delegation to United Nations). |
| 1936 | PTI was represented in the Volksraad (People's Council) by Ko Kwat Tiong. He was one of the sponsor of the ill -fated Soetardjo Petition for greater autonomy for Indonesia |
| 1938 | Peranakan Tionghoa were excluded from the Indonesian political party (PNI, Parindra) full membership. Thamrin justified the exclusion by arguing that the Chinese still wanted to maintain their custom and Chinese education. |
| 1942 | During Japanese occupation of Indonesia hundreds of Chinese political leaders were interned. To comply with Japanese regulation the peranakan Tionghoa must now learn to write their name in Chinese character. Many entered Chinese Schools. |
| 1946 | Citizenship Law. All Chinese who were born in Indonesia and had resided in Indonesia continuously for five years would automatically assume Indonesian nationality. This law demonstrated the desire of the Indonesian government to show its acceptance of "peranakan Tionghoa". Unfortunately the government goodwill to attract the Indonesian Chinese were handicapped by some who harassed the Chinese community. The vicious attack on Chinese in Tanggerang in May-June 1946 had disillusioned even some of the staunch Chinese supporters of the "Republik". The creation of "Pao An Tui" as a form of self defense of their life and property was viewed negatively, particularly by the Republik army. |
| 1954 | Baperki (Badan Permusyawaratan Kewarganegaraan Indonesia) - Consultative Body for Indonesian Citizenship was formed in March 1954. Under the leadership of Siauw, Giok Tjhan (A cabinet minister under Amir Sjarifuddin Prawiranegara emergency government in 1948), Baperki conducted vigorous campaign against racial discrimination. |
| 1957 | Private Chinese-language schools and Chinese newspapers were banned. Baperki began to setup national schools in Indonesian that reached more than 100 by 1963. It also established a university, Res Publica University, in Jakarta with a branch in Surabaya. |
| 1958 | Kuomintang (KMT) organization were banned. Businesses and schools with KMT connections were closed. |
| 1959 | PP 10. Alien shopkeepers (Nearly all Chinese) are banned from rural areas. This regulation were accompanied by anti-chinese campaign. Many Chinese left Indonesia to go to China permanently. |
| 1960 | Most of about one million Indonesian Chinese with dual nationality registered their choice in favor of Indonesian Citizenship. |
| 1960 | Controversy arose among Indonesian Chinese between those advocating total assimilation to Indonesian society to the point of abandoning Chinese customs and cultural traits, and those preferring integration with political loyalty and identification with Indonesia but not with abandonment of ethnic identity. The assimilationist movement were launched through the publication of a manifesto in Star Weekly magazine by ten peranakan Tionghoa including Injo Beng Goat (Director of Keng Po) and Auwjong Peng Koen (Editor of Star Weekly). The manifesto was a direct challenge to Siauw Giok Tjhan's statement that the solution to minority problem by means of name changing and biological assimilation was unwise, undemocratic, an invasion of basic human rights and impracticable. The latter was personally supported by President Soekarno who thought a person's name was his own private affair and he did not need to change his name to be a good citizen. |
| 1962 | The assimilationist formed a standing committee to promote national unity with the blessing of the army high command under General Nasution (Minister of Defense and Army Chief of Staff). This committee became Lembaga Pembina Kesatuan Bangsa (LPKB - Institute of Promoters of National Unity) in early 1963. |
| 1963 | Outbreak of anti-Chinese riot in Cirebon, Tegal and several other Central Java towns. May 10 notorious riot ransacked the Indonesian Chinese shops and homes in Bandung and other towns in West Java. Cars, motorcycles etc were burnt. May 18-20 riot in Sukabumi was the longest and most destructive. In a number of cases, the riots followed shortly after visits to the town concerned by the LPKB indoctrination team preaching assimilation. |
| 1965 | After the failed PKI (Indonesian Communist Party) coup attempt, under the pressure of the army and LPKB, Baperki branches dissolved themselves. Its members were caught in an anti-leftist purge of gigantic proportions. Chinese language press was closed down. The Res Publica University was burnt down. The Chinese Commercial Council were raided. Many of the more prominent Baperki members were jailed. |
| 1966 | Chinese language schools were declared closed after many of them had been occupied by KAPPI (Kesatuan Aksi Pemuda dan Pelajar Indonesia - Indonesian Youth and Student Action Front) and KAMI (Kesatuan Aksi Mahasiswa Indonesia - Indonesian Student Action Front). Many Chinese students were unable to continue their education. Chinese communities were brutally harassed by some elements of the KAPPI and KAMI. KAPPI and KAMI were militant and the staunch supporters of the "Order Baru" (New Order) government. |
Most information was obtained from The Chinese in Indonesia, edited by J.A.C. Mackie, 1976.
