Bakery assault video sparks anti-Chinese backlash in Indonesia, exposing deep-rooted prejudices
Experts say the clip of a bakery employee being assaulted by the owner’s son reflects historical traumas and societal anxieties, with social media amplifying racist rhetoric
A video showing a female bakery employee being assaulted by an ethnic Chinese man has gone viral in Indonesia, igniting an online firestorm that experts say reflects entrenched prejudices against the Chinese-Indonesian community and long-standing historical traumas within the country’s multi-ethnic society.
The assailant, identified as 35-year-old Cakung resident George Sugama Halim – the son of the bakery chain’s owners – was taken into custody on Monday.
The victim, 19-year-old bakery employee Dwi Ayu, testified under oath before a parliamentary committee that she was attacked on October 17 after refusing to deliver George’s online food order to his bedroom because she did not believe it was part of her job responsibilities.
Her lawyers had lobbied MPs to give her a hearing, with critics saying police were slow to react to the case, allegations the force has denied while stressing its commitment to managing the situation effectively.
“I threatened him I would report him to the police”, Dwi told the committee on Tuesday. “But he jeeringly replied, ‘You’re a poor nobody, and I’m rich and above the law, so dream on!’”
Footage recorded by another staff member showed George throwing various objects at Dwi, including a figurine, an electronic payment device and eventually a chair. She said he even hurled a baking tray that struck her in the head, causing bleeding and forcing her to take shelter near the ovens.
