13
IMMIGRATION
One percent of Indonesians are of Chinese
descent. Their ancestors moved to the
region in colonial times. Many acted as
trading intermediaries between locals
and the Dutch. Some became rich and
powerful. This led to jealousy, mistrust,
and persecution, ranging from massacres of
Chinese people to official bans on Chinese
language and exclusion from government
or military jobs. Today, prejudice is far
less—with high-profile Chinese Indonesian
politicians such as Basuki, lieutenant
governor of Jakarta.
TRANSMIGRATION
In the 1980s, the Indonesian government
introduced a policy of transmigration. It
encouraged poorer people on overcrowded
islands, such as Java, to move to less
populated islands by offering them land,
money, and fertilizer. One consequence
was the ethnic tension between incoming
people and groups already living there. In
1996, 300 people in Kalimantan died in
clashes between local Dayak people and
transmigrated Maduran people.
That means “Do you speak the language
(Bahasa)
of
Indonesia?” Most Indonesians do, as it is the country’s
official language. In part, it grew popular nationwide
because it is not associated more strongly with one
ethnic group than any other. However, people often use
the language of their own ethnic group when speaking
with family members, especially older ones.
BISA BICARA BAHASA
INDONESIA?
Children dressed in
red celebrate Chinese
New Year in Java.
In the past, such
displays likely would
have been banned.
