| Committee For Anti-Racism in Indonesia: Visa Extension for the Indonesian-Chinese Temporary Residents
in Australia.
Hon. John Howard,
Re: Visa Extension for the Indonesian-Chinese Temporary Residents
in Australia
Dear Mr. Howard,
Many of these people believe that their lives would be in danger
if they were forced to return to Indonesia.
As you are aware, the Indonesian Chinese have been targets of
mass rioting, looting and attacks in major cities throughout Indonesia
in the last few months. The progroms to which they were subjected
were particularly vicious and of large scale in Jakarta, between
13 and 15 May 1998.
According to Mr. Albert Hasibuan, of the Indonesian National Commission
on Human Rights, 40 large shopping centers, 4,083 shops and 1,026
private homes, mostly belonging to the Indonesian Chinese were
attacked, burned or looted. He further reported that 1,193 people
had died during the rioting in Jakarta alone.
On 8 June 1998, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Women's Aid
Center, Ms. Ita Nadia, indicated that her group had received reports
from more than 50 Indonesian Chinese women, between the ages of
10 and 55, detailing experiences of being attacked, abused, tortured
and raped during the rioting in Jakarta. Most of these victims
were gang-raped and a number of them were reportedly brutally
killed. The number of women affected, according to Ms.
Nadia, exceeds 100.
The National Commission of Human Rights has confirmed that the
riots and attacks on the Indonesian Chinese were organised by
" a certain group".
Some came dressed in school uniforms, some were wearing army boots
and many sported crewcut. Many, it appears were members of the
Indonesian armed forces.
On 8 June 1998, the Director General of Immigration of Indonesia
informed the media that between 14 May and 20 May, 70,837 Indonesian
citizens left the country from airports and seaports in Java,
Bali and Sumatra. He did not say how many of these were of Chinese
origins, but it is assumed that the great majority of them were.
As you know, many of these people arrived in Australia.
Whilst some of the Indonesian-Chinese who recently came to Australia
have returned to Indonesia, many others are still in Australia,
waiting for the situation to be safer for them to return.
Many of these people have been traumatised by their recent experience
of violence. Reports on what other Chinese Indonesians experienced
in riots in other parts of Indonesia -- the series began in Medan
in April 1998 and the most recent outbreak was in Indramayu in
Central Java several days ago, have further convinced them that
they should be out of Indonesia for some time.
Habibie Government has indicated its concern for the victims of
rioting, Chinese and others, and it seems to have been successful
in restoring public order. But the country's overall economic
situation remains extremely bad, leading many observers to fear
further outbreaks of violence against the Indonesian-Chinese.
The attached statements from Associate Professor
Charles Coppel and Dr. Herbert Feith, authorities on Indonesian
politics, confirm that the situation in Indonesia is volatile
and unsafe for the Chinese.
The Indonesian-Chinese, who are currently in Australia, will face
danger if they are forced to return to Indonesia in the next 6-12
months.
Accordingly, we request that the Australian Government make it
possible for them:
* To be granted visa extension for up to 2 years and permission
to work here
* To be allowed to bring their immediate family members, who are
still in Indonesia, to join them in Australia.
* To be permitted to take part in the business migration scheme
(in the case of people able to invest and set up businesses in
Australia)
As many of the people concerned are on one-month visas, expiring
around 15 June 1998, we trust that you will give your early attention
to the case for their being able to obtain visa extensions.
Yours Sincerely
Siauw Tiong Djin
Chairman, |