The Contentious Social Positions of People of Chinese Descent in Indonesia

Abstract

Individuals of Chinese descent have always occupied an ambiguous position in Indonesian society. In the Dutch East Indies, the Dutch colonial administration relied on Chinese immigrants for trading, manufacturing, and tax farming. A number of ethnic Chinese businessmen became very wealthy. During the nineteenth century, colonial law placed the ethnic Chinese in a separate category. In the early twentieth century, China claimed citizenship to all overseas Chinese, which made their citizenship status ambiguous. This continued to be the case after Indonesia gained independence and led many to question their commitment to the new nation. Throughout colonial and modern times, the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia have often been subjected to attacks, violence, and discrimination; at times, these outbursts of violence were lethal. During the Suharto years, Chinese Indonesians were forced to assimilate, Chinese schools were closed, and all Chinese Indonesian newspapers and magazines were outlawed. After 1998, these prohibitions have been outlawed, yet the contentious social position of Chinese Indonesians remains. The ecological overview presented in this chapter of the position of Chinese Indonesians in Indonesian society provides some indications of areas of possible resilience and risk for mental disorder, and of possible needs for mental health services in Indonesia. Mental health research on specific population sub-groups is not well-developed and should receive greater attention. This is particularly important in relation to the Indonesian population of Chinese descent, the largest Chinese diaspora population outside of China, which has played and continue to play a uniquely important role in Indonesian society.