Chinese New Year : New hope from the young generation

Chinese New Year : New hope from the young generation Sylvie Tanaga  ;    A writer and a member of doctorSHARE, a Jakarta-based NGO providing medical services for the disadvantaged

JAKARTA POST,  30 Januari 2014

                                                                                                                        

                                                                                         

                                                      

Chinese New Year really matters to the Chinese, including me and my family.  I am a young Chinese- Indonesian, whose grandfather and grandmother were born in the southern part of mainland China. They fled to Indonesia and then lived in Bandung, West Java. When riots were breaking out, their children, including my mother, were born in Bandung.  My father didn’t exactly know his origin because his parents died as a child, but he still speaks fluent Fujian, his parents’ native language. I was born the first of four siblings. Since childhood, I was encouraged to learn Chinese and the Khe or Hakka dialects. Under the New Order regime, which banned all expressions of Chinese culture, it was a struggle to learn Chinese. Still, I was more proficient speaking Chinese than English but I had less understanding of Chinese traditions. I was unaware that Chinese Indonesians were an ethnic minority until I went to private elementary school with other students from diverse backgrounds. This experience opened my eyes and made me aware of the danger of prejudice without knowing the facts.  Up to high school, I hung out with my close, non-Chinese friends. Some are still among my best friends. Thankfully, my parents were very open minded. I experienced racism but I know whoever did it lacked knowledge and didn’t need to be taken seriously. Ethnicity is a gift from God. In addition, it was common among ethnic Chinese that instead of working as government employees amid ethnic barriers, opening up businesses seemed the only opportunity during the New Order. I realized that doing business was not a natural talent of all ethnic Chinese people — a mistaken assumption that broadened to the misleading generalization that all ethnic Chinese were rich. This presumption may have arisen because most Chinese Indonesians were entrepreneurs, but now I see more and more Chinese Indonesians taking different paths although their parents may have family businesses.  I’m not bothered by such prejudices or presumptions, but I was stunned by the New Order policy that legalized discrimination. I remember that I was only able to celebrate Chinese New Year after school. When dealing with the bureaucracy, I got into trouble several times just because of my skin and slanted eyes. Fortunately, that regime has now passed and I was grateful to know Bandung was excluded from the volatile areas of the May 1998 tragedy. But some of my friends, especially those living in Jakarta, fled abroad due to fear. Since the tragedy, I came to understand that prejudice could be a dangerous time bomb that could lead to unrest and conflict, even at unreasonable levels. Fortunately I live in a pluralistic environment. I rebelled when the Chinese around me said most non-Chinese hated them. It was a fallacy. I am fine with my non-Chinese friends. Love and humanity rise above all differences. There’s something wrong with those who always have racist thoughts.  I have learnt to understand that living as a minority is a grace. It can become a great reason to contribute something valuable to the country. Being part of a minority does not mean one can only do minor things. I am grateful to be surrounded by my mentors, Chinese Indonesian figures who are proud of their ethnic identity but who are also role models for diverse people.  They work in the spirit of pluralism. They never think about their own ethnicity or even about themselves. They may not be famous but they have already done real work for this country. Examples are the physician Lie Dharmawan, the founder of the NGO doctorSHARE; Ester Jusuf, founder of Solidaritas Nasional Kebangsaan (Solidarity of the Nation-State); and William Kwan of the Institute of Indonesian Pluralism. These mentors formed my character as a Chinese Indonesian youth.  I also have a lot of Chinese Indonesian friends who devote themselves to communities in need. I was very moved when I saw how they treated malnourished children in Southeast Maluku, holding their skinny hands and hugging them with love. For me, this is the true meaning of Chinese New Year — when me and my Chinese Indonesian friends can make people happy. Celebrating Chinese New Year is celebrating new hopes for a better Indonesia that young Chinese Indonesians can be a part of. ●

Membawa Imlek ke Hati Bangsa

Membawa Imlek ke Hati Bangsa Sylvie Tanaga ;   Penulis, Relawan DoctorSHARE (Yayasan Dokter Peduli)

JAWA POS, 11 Februari 2013

LAHIR dari keluarga Tionghoa yang cukup totok (kental), Imlek, seperti yang tiba kemarin, adalah hari yang paling dinantikan. Pada hari besar inilah kami saling berkunjung dan berkumpul sebagai keluarga besar. Yang sudah menikah berbagi angpao. Makan malam menjadi agenda wajib sambil bertukar cerita.  Kemeriahan Imlek semacam ini sungguh berbeda dibanding 10 tahun silam, sebelum Gus Dur menetapkan Imlek sebagai hari libur nasional lewat Keputusan Menteri Agama RI Nomor 13 tahun 2001. Kami tak perlu lagi merayakan Imlek setelah letih pulang sekolah atau bekerja.  Imlek demi Imlek pun saya lewati dengan tenang bersama keluarga, lengkap dengan canda tawa. Seiring waktu, saya mulai memikirkan beberapa hal. Pemikiran ini mungkin terdengar klise, namun saya sungguh-sungguh memikirkannya, terutama ketika Imlek datang. Pemikiran tersebut adalah apa yang sebenarnya ada di benak warga Tionghoa sebagai minoritas yang selama ini tinggal di negeri ini? Apakah mereka hanya memandang diri sebagai korban? Atau sebagai bagian integral yang dapat memberi kontribusi? Apakah suasana Imlek yang kini makin nyaman membawa perubahan pola pikir atau hanya dipandang sebagai hak? Saya mengamati bahwa dalam hal pola pikir, etnis Tionghoa terbelah menjadi dua ekstrem. Ekstrem pertama selalu memandang etnisnya sebagai korban. Walau ada UU No. 40/2008 tentang Penghapusan Diskriminasi Ras dan Etnis, kelompok Tionghoa jenis ini selalu menempatkan diri sebagai korban. Apakah mereka lebay? Bisa jadi tidak. Seorang teman Tionghoa asal Nias bercerita bahwa ia dipaksa petugas memperlihatkan Surat Bukti Kewarganegaraan Republik Indonesia (SBKRI) saat hendak membuat surat kematian neneknya. Ia tak terima dan menantang mengapa SBKRI masih harus ditunjukkan. Belakangan, sang petugas mengaku ia hanya ingin uang. Hal lebih mengenaskan terjadi saat banjir besar melanda kawasan Pluit, Jakarta. Menurut cerita rekan sukarelawan, keluarga Tionghoa Pluit dikenakan tarif Rp 500.000 saat menyewa perahu karet. Ancaman jika tak mau bayar adalah diturunkan di tengah jalan yang masih tergenang banjir tinggi.  Kelompok esktrem pertama mengoleksi kejadian-kejadian pahit semacam ini, membungkus dan kemudian membuat pembenaran bahwa Tionghoa selalu menjadi korban. Lebih baik menjaga jarak dengan warga non-Tionghoa daripada mendapat masalah baru. Mereka menurunkan pemahaman semacam ini dari generasi ke generasi. Ekstrim kedua adalah sebaliknya: memandang dirinya sangat nasionalis, bahkan adakalanya menuding sesama etnisnya hanya mencari keuntungan materi. Mereka memandang dirinya "kebetulan lahir sebagai Tionghoa" namun hatinya hanya terpaku untuk Indonesia. Bahkan ada yang tak mengakui identitas Tionghoa-nya karena justru dipandang menghambat dalam berkarya. Persoalannya bukan lagi Tionghoa totok atau bukan tapi bagaimana seorang Tionghoa menerima nilai dari orang tuanya. Banyak teman Tionghoa totok yang ternyata memiliki pemikiran ekstrim kedua dan Tionghoa nontotok yang rupanya menganut ekstrim pertama. Tentu saja dua ekstrim ini adalah gambaran kasar yang merupakan pandangan pribadi saya. Ketika Imlek datang, perbincangan mengenai topik tersebut seringkali muncul. Saya mulai bertanya-tanya. Tidak adakah Tionghoa Indonesia yang bangga dengan identitasnya sebagai Tionghoa, anti diskriminasi yang menimpa etnisnya tetapi pada saat yang bersamaan tidak memandang etnisnya paling hebat dan dengan sepenuh hati berkarya bagi negaranya? Apakah gambaran tersebut terlalu ideal sehingga menjadi sesuatu yang tak mungkin? Ternyata tidak. Saya bersyukur dikelilingi rekan-rekan Tionghoa yang memiliki sudut pandang semacam itu. Mereka tidak mengelak pernah mengalami diskriminasi namun tak pernah memandang dirinya sebagai korban seumur hidup. Mereka bangga dengan identitas Tionghoa-nya namun juga bangga berkarya bagi negaranya sebagai seorang Warga Negara Indonesia. Saya tak akan menyebut tokoh sekaliber Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), Yohanes Surya atau Susi Susanti. Banyak sekali tokoh di sekitar kita yang tak tenar namun hatinya tak berbeda dengan ketiga tokoh tersebut. Sebagai contoh, saya mengenal sosok dr Lie A. Dharmawan yang mendirikan Yayasan Dokter Peduli atau doctorSHARE. Meski sudah punya kehidupan mapan dan menjanjikan di Jerman sebagai seorang dokter dengan empat spesialisasi bedah, beliau memilih pulang ke tanah air yang saat itu masih penuh diskriminasi. Beliau ikut membantu mengobati demonstran 1998 yang terluka.  Beliau pun aktif berorganisasi di Perhimpunan Indonesia Tionghoa dan menjadi sukarelawan di tengah kesibukannya yang luar biasa sebagai seorang dokter bedah. Beliau bangga dengan identitas Tionghoa-nya namun mau terjun membantu masyarakat yang paling membutuhkan. Karya dr Lie bahkan melampaui konflik dualisme etnis Tionghoa dan non Tionghoa. Beliau rela memberi bedah gratis bagi warga tak mampu, tidur hingga dini hari demi memberi pelayanan pada pasien gawat, berani melakukan tindakan bedah bagi pasien yang sudah terkena HIV/AIDS, langsung terjun dengan perahu karet memban­tu warga yang baru-baru ini kebanjiran, dan masih banyak lagi.  Tak banyak di antara Anda yang mung­kin pernah mendengar namanya, na­mun karyanya begitu nyata bagi ma­syarakat marginal. Dokter Lie A. Dharmawan bahkan menginspirasi saya dan rekan-rekan Tionghoa lainnya untuk melanjutkan visinya yang begitu luhur. Selamat Tahun Baru Imlek 2564. Gong Xi Fa Chai! ●

Chinese-Indonesians, agents of change

Chinese-Indonesians, agents of change Sylvie Tanaga ;   A Freelance Writer and DoctorSHARE Member

JAKARTA POST, 09 Februari 2013

Chinese, young, fresh, phenomenal, brave and non-Muslim Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok (Zhong Wan Xie) managed to captivate the hearts of a Muslim majority to win the regent post in East Belitung. Seven years later on Oct. 7, 2012, he took office as the deputy governor of Jakarta, accompanying Joko Widodo. It is one of the landmarks in this country’s political history, which became possible after Indonesia adopted laws that protect the rights of minorities. After going through a long period of discrimination, Chinese-Indonesians finally breathed the air of freedom when fourth president, the late Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) declared Chinese New Year as a national holiday through Religious Affairs Ministry Decree No. 13/2001 and repealed Government Regulation No. 14/1967 that banned Chinese-Indonesian cultural activities. Law No. 40/2008 on the elimination of racial and ethnic discrimination complements the previous regulations, although the law does not only refer to the ethnic Chinese. Discrimination may still occur as a change of mindset will take time, but legal protection has already been put in place. There are sanctions for offenders.  Ahok’s election as Jakarta deputy governor shows the efficacy of Chinese-Indonesians’ freedom to work, including in the socio-political field which was practically taboo during the New Order. The next question is, why Ahok is so phenomenal and perhaps outshines Kwik Kian Gie, the first Chinese-Indonesian minister since the rise of New Order, and Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu? There is no definitive answer to this question, but we can see some differences. First, Kwik and Mari are publicly known for their opinions while Ahok was virtually a nobody. Ahok was not even recognized by Jakarta residents before running for the deputy governor post. Second, Ahok is young and fresh, the preferred type of leader today. Third, you can see how Ahok initiated an astounding breakthrough, which has become apparent since he took office. He has the charisma of a young man who dares to take a different, tough decision and make changes although they may cause resentment among people who are not ready to accept his initiatives. At the same time, he does not care about his minority status, which the public appreciates very much. The issue is not ethnicity but how he can work to fulfill public expectations for the future. In doing so he manages to stave off negative comments. Let’s take a look at another exemplary Chinese-Indonesian figure. Early in December, singer Agnes Monica delivered an opening speech at the Global Youth Forum 2012 in Bali. Her seven-minute speech captivated international youth audiences and whoever saw her speak. I am spellbound when Agnes explains how she dares to dream big and go forward even though the world around deems her as arrogant. Agnes has proven herself. Hard work led her to collaboration with Timbaland — a famous American record producer, songwriter and rapper. Agnes is one of only a few Indonesian singers who have successfully built cooperation with international singers. There are many other young Chinese-Indonesians who do not consider themselves victims of discrimination. They work for the nation in diverse fields: economic, cultural, entertainment, education, social and even political. Most of them are unknown, but they continue working without expecting returns. They break the stigma that Chinese-Indonesians crave only profits. There are many social organizations and groups, in which millions of Chinese-Indonesians are involved, extending humanitarian services to people. We cannot deny either the achievement of many Chinese-Indonesians who have donned the national colors in international competitions, either in science or sports. No one can choose the ethnicity they are born with. The fact that I showcase the aforementioned achievements does not mean the Chinese-Indonesian ethnicity is superior or deserves more attention because they suffered discrimination for a long time in the past. My point is Chinese-Indonesians are an integral part of Indonesia’s struggle for national glory and at the same time promote diversity in accordance with the national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or “Unity in Diversity”. In this case, the Chinese-Indonesian younger generation has to play a key role.  As agents of change, young Chinese-Indonesians have to work hand in hand with other ethnic groups in pushing the nation toward progress. The Chinese New Year is the right moment for all Chinese-Indonesians and the entire nation to celebrate diversity and craft a new strategy to help Indonesia prepare a better future. ●