Racism

Racism is the belief that characteristics and abilities can be attributed to people simply on the basis of their race and that some racial groups are superior to others.

Ever since the rise of the New Order regime 35 years ago, many minorities in Indonesia have to face racism and discrimination of Indonesia. This is achieved through many pieces of legislation. Some of them are specifically targeted at the Chinese ethnic minority. A minimum of 62 such enactments are currently known to be valid law in Indonesia. These enactments regulate various sectors such as religion, economy, education, custom and culture and are to the effect of restricting the rights of the targeted ethnic in those fields. However, we are glad that President Gus Dur has eliminated one of the regulations by Presidential Decree, even if this is far from being adequate.
As a result, racial violence has become a common phenomenon in Indonesia. In 1998 women of Chinese descend were targeted for rape, the rest of the ethnic Chinese community for assault, looting, and murder. Such atrocities occurred in major cities such as Medan, Makassar, Jakarta and Solo. Racial riots occurred also between the Dayaks, Malays and Madura in Kalimantan in 1997. More recently in Maluku, mass-killings occurred between civilians belonging to two different religious groups. On a smaller scale, anti-Christian violence also occurred in Mataram and anti-Chinese riots in Pekalongan.(http://www.gfbv.de/inhaltsDok.php?id=378)

from that issue, we learned that although Indonesia says "Bhineka Tunggal Ika" there are still some people or groups who have not thought proper to those who differ with them. lack of moral education in the family make society sometimes become an unsafe place for minorities. but now Indonesia is grateful there is progress, when there is a big event like a football event, all the Indonesian people to unite with one voice to support the Indonesian national team. in fact if we learn from our own families appreciate, maybe racism will not happen.