How Chinese Indonesians hope to help guide country to a better future as it celebrates 75 years of independence
- Many young ethnic Chinese citizens are getting involved in politics and activism in Indonesia to help their nation grow and develop
- But questions remain as to whether the country has laid to rest its dark past of racial and religious tensions
Jocelyn Luo has sat watching the daily news with her father since she was a child, hoping to understand more about Indonesian political issues. The Chinese-Indonesian high school student knows how important it is for minorities to stay in touch with the tides of national feeling.
Originally from Tanjung Pinang in the Riau Islands province, the 17-year-old Hakka descendant is aware many traditional Chinese-Indonesian families frown on direct involvement in the country’s political affairs, describing it as “messy”.
This caution is understandable, she says, because older generations lived through difficult times and many remain traumatised by the anti-Chinese sentiment that once swept the nation, leaving behind a trail of fear and bloodshed.
Yet with the country having marked 75 years of independence on August 17, Jocelyn thinks it’s important for Chinese Indonesians, often known locally as Tionghoa, to play a role in developing the nation, especially the younger generation.
“Each of us has the responsibility to steer Indonesia towards a better future,” she says. Jocelyn believes young Chinese Indonesians today should understand they share many ideas with their fellow citizens.
“Many Tionghoa are open-minded people who love freedom and democracy; many Tionghoa are politically aware and care about the future of Indonesia,” she says.
