document index

Ethnic and religious tension

A dialog form SEASIA-L
February 1998

Several recent postings on this and other lists, many of them "down loaded" from English language publications in Europe, the US and Asia have made reference to ethnic and religious tension in Indonesia as a potential source of instablity.

Some of these, most notably the comments of a senior naval officer, do little more than repeat myths and stereotypes that can only contribute to a continuing crisis of confidence.

It is not at all surprising that rapid increases in the price of basic commodities like rice, sugar and coooking oil should be a source of unrest.

It would be a good idea for those concerned with these issues (including officials at the IMF and World Bank) to read James Scott's The Moral Economy of the Peasant - his analysis applies to urban poor as much as it does to rural peasants.

As for fears of a rising tide of Muslim violence with anti-US overtones and "Indonesians rioting at the drop of a hat" this is nonsense. US officials and journalists should listen to what Indonesian Muslim leaders are saying - which is not at all hard to do given the availability of English statements and translations on internet sources including TEMPO online, instead of falling back on the old an inaccurate sterotypes about irrational Islamic violence which have been current in European cultures for centuries.

It is indeed regretable that journalists and senior military officers have chosen to use this language, while ignoring the very real efforts of Muslim leaders in Indonesia to promote liberalism, democracy and religious and ethnic tolerance.

Another myth which keeps comming to the surface is that the mass killings of the 1965-66 period were directed largely, and even primarily at the Chinese minority. This is simplly not true The vast majority of the victims of that tragedy were ethnic Javanese and Balinese who were, or in all too many cases were suspected of being members of the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party)

fn: Mark Woodward
org: Dept. of Religious Studies Arizona State University
email;internet: icmrw@asuvm.inre.asu.edu
title: Associate Professor

The points are well taken, first, that thoughtless anti-Muslim bias in foreign media leads to an emphasis on populist and xenophobic statements by minor figures over the policies and leadership of Abdurrahman Wahid or Amien Rais, and secondly, that the fiction that Chinese-Indonesians were a major target during the massacres of 65-66 continues to be repeated unchallenged.

Nevertheless, there are some indigenist elements, being I think manipulated by various political factions, who invoke Islam while stirring up and mystifying political and economic resentment.

Margot Cohen's piece in FEER touches on this (but since FEER may not be cross-posted here, I'll just give you the URL): http://www.feer.com/Restricted/98feb_12/indonesia.html

salam

Alex

It is becoming increasingly clear that there is considerable anti-Chinese feeling in many parts of Indonesia. This is nothing new; it has been there for centuries.

The causes are obviously and largely economic. It is a fact that Chinese dominate the commercial sector in many of the small town and cities throughout the country. In Yogyakarta, which I know best, most all but the very smallest shops are run by ethnic Chinese, even if the names on the stores are Indonesian.

I have also heard reliable reports that part of the panic is the result of the fact that the wages of workers who are "on the margin" have not rise in proportion to the increse in cost in basic goods. To my mind this does raise some questions about the "privatization" of distribution for commodities like cooking oil, particularly in light of potential shortages caused by the droughts, which, unless one accepts Amein Rais's view that natural disasters and the financila crisis are the result of God's anger have nothing in common.

The potential for civil unrest in these situations is quite real and would seem to indicate that any package of financial reform must include measures to protect those whom the Javanese call "wong cilik" (the little people).

As for the use of Islamicist rhetoric about the crisis there has been some of that even coming from people like Rais which I discussed/translated in a very long posting several weeks ago. I suspect that one could here much more of this in some of the radical publications and in sermons at mosques controlled by groups like Dewan Dakwah which also publishes "Media Dakwah." Unfortunately this journal is not yet "on line" so I have not be able to see recent issues. I would like to note however that when I once asked Gus Dur why it was that this group was allowed to publish its obviously inflamitory rhetric he replied that it was better to keep them out in the open so that more responsible people could keep informed about their thinking and that they were so small that almost nobody took them seriously in any case.

It is very important that western journalists and policy people keep abreast of what is said by the mainstreama Muslim leaders and keep in mind the fact that Indonesia is not Iran. Those who are concerned about these matters should reflect on what the response to a similar crisis would be in Iran, or Egypt or perhaps even Pakistan. In Indonesia organized Islam is one of the primary means through which the potential for civil unrest can be kept in check.

Wassalam
Mark

Indonesians generally take pride in the fact that people of so many religious preferences can co-exist with each other in their country.

The official position coming across is that "criminal elements" are giving the country a bad reputation because of the riots they cause. Their actions are seen in terms of the Wayang Golek, according to one political analyst who wrote to me, who said it was a kind of theatrics. I suppose it is like a mother chiding her child in getting back at her husban. Or a kid kicking his dog because he is not allowed to go out and play with his friends.

But, here we have mobs of angry youths venting their rage at not only Chinese shops, but government buildings, banks, police posts and torching places of worship, particularly churches and church-related buildings.

I wonder how much weight Mark Woodward would give to this statement from a senior government official recently, and how much does he weigh the concept of Wayang Golek. Are the rioters and people behind the rioters venting their rage only at the Chinese? And are they angry because the Chinese dominate the economy? Or, because they are perceived to be the temptor, causing others to fall into the trap of greed and materialism? --

"But it is still disturbing because anti-Chinese sentiments are growing among the lower levels of society, ignited by some Muslim leaders who have been implying that the Chinese tycoons are responsible for the current economic crisis," he added.

According to a report received last week (see appended article below [separated]) more riots are expected to take place in the next two to three weeks, leading up to the presidential election. But, the military is well-prepared and able to quell the riots quickly. Rioters are said to have no political leadership behind them, but some political elements are suspected to be paying rioters 5,000 rupiah for one to two hours of "work" to create chaos; and, on top of that, rioters have the opportunity to loot Chinese shops. Chinese tycoons are increasingly being blamed for the economic crisis. All considered, the riots would have no significant political impact, according to one government official. Foreign embassies however have beefed up their security owing to the rising crime rate, and are ready to activate their evacuation plans.

To imply that such riots and the rhetoric behind them serves as a safety valve sounds reasonable, but do we not have here, at least from one standpoint, feelings that run deep and self-control that runs thin. If a man becomes lusty, blame the women for exposing their thighs... If my bank is going bust, blame the World Bank... If the goose is not laying a golden egg, give the goose a kick... In a manner of speaking of course.

Peace and goodwill to all...
Phillip

It is becoming increasingly clcear that there is considerable anti-Chinese feeling in many parts of Indonesia. THis is nothing new, it has been there for centuries.

The causes are obviously and largely economic. It is a fact that Chine dominate

What, collectively? An ethnicity is not a guild, nor even a class. The small shop-owners who bear the brunt of resentment are in debt to wholesalers and on up--in the colonial era, the top of this debt chain was European. And the present financial crises has its roots...where?

the commercial sector in many of the small town and cities throughout the country. In Yogyakarta, which I know best, most all but the very smallest shops are run by ethnic Chinese, even if the names on the stores are Indonesian. I have also heard reliable reports that part of the panic is the result of the fact thatt he wages of workers who are "on the margin" have not rise in proportion to the increse in cost in basic goods.

Despite the rhetoric of Greenspan et. al., wages often lag behind prices, and are not necessarily a key cause of inflation. Certainly, decreasing purchasing power is enough to make anyone anxious, but especially anyone whose income is near subsistence levels (cf. Scott 1976).

[. . .]

I would like to note however that when I once asked Gus Dur why it was that this group was allowed to publish its obviously inflamitory rhetric he replied that it was better to keep them out in the open so that more responsible people could keep informed about their thinking and that they were so small that almost nobody took them seriously in any case.

Yes, but one has to worry when Prabowo and others start to lend them prestige.

It is very important that western journalists and policy people keep abreast of what is said by the mainstreama Muslim leaders and keep in mind the fact that Indonesia is not Iran.

But Western journalists have hardly given a fair shake to moderate and progressive Islamic organizations in Egypt or Turkey, for example. As a result, the moderate groups get pushed to one extreme or another, or wiped out, a dynamic familiar from the cold war.

sekian,
Alex

In a message dated 98-02-09 07:22:00 EST, you write:

It is very important that western journalists and policy people keep abreast of what is said by the mainstreama Muslim leaders and keep in mind the fact that Indonesia is not Iran.

But Western journalists have hardly given a fair shake to moderate and progressive Islamic organizations in Egypt or Turkey, for example. As a result, the moderate groups get pushed to one extreme or another, or wiped out, a dynamic familiar from the cold war.

It strikes me as odd that many seem to feel that Indonesia's moderate Muslims don't get adequately covered by the Western press. Certainly, if you asked the Dewan Dakwah folks, or even Amien Rais, you'd find that they think the Western press gives the most prominent moderate Muslim, Gus Dur, far too much coverage.

It is not the Western press trying to marginalise Wahid; Suharto needs little help in that regard.

Adam Schwarz