Discrimination against Chinese Earthquake Victims in Padang, Indonesia

I tried not to easily believe in rumors and gossips that have been spread to me by emails and Blackberry messenger about discriminations to chinese people in Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia. I have posted a video regarding the earthquake a few days ago. But now, its really not to believe that the news now are posted on reliable online medias already like detik.com, kompas.com, tempointeraktif etc. I definitely have to post this topic here and let the world now.

I have received a message directly from my Blackberry messenger from a friend of mine as follow:

From a friend – Tell the world: STOP THE DONATION TO WEST SUMATRA!!! Racism is happening there. Chinese people are not allowed to have food and was forced to buy the food aid. Family of mine was there!! Please sent out this message to the world so they know the truth!! Why they do that to the Chinese? We are Indonesia born Chinese, so we are Indonesian citizen. Born, grew and live here in Indonesia. We are human being created by God!!

Robberies to Chinese stores has been done since 2 days ago and still on going up until today. Gasoline for generator cost US$4 / liter only for the chinese people.

Then I made my research and found these articles:

(Translated by me) Article from TEMPO Interaktif – Criminal rate is increasing in the city of Padang after the earthquake incident. Local stores in Sentral Pasar Raya, Padang were robbed last friday. According to the chinese people in Padang, they were blackmailed by people who claimed to be the helping staff. “They are asking for money if our house want to be helped” said Mariana, a chinese student from Padang in Jakarta yesterday.

Mariana heard the news about the blackmailing from her relatives in Padang. Her family who got stuck in the ruins have not yet been evacuated because no one is willing to help. She hasn’t been able to contact her family in Padang either.

According to her, blackmailing to Chinese people also happen during the earthquake in Nias. “A friend of mine (chinese) was also forced to pay if they want their house to be fixed”, she said.

Mariana said that there is nothing she could do. “I’m confused. I don’t know who else I should ask for held”, she said.

Jin, an Indonesian Chinese in Padang, said that in order to remove the ruins out of his house, the helping staff asked for payment about US$50. “If we don’t want to pay, they will ignore us. If we pay, then they will start digging the ruins.”, said Jin.

A few more articles: 

• News from Okezone
• News from Kompas
• Video from liputan6
• News from NgobrolAja

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I’m chinese Indonesian. Born, grew and lives in Indonesia. Speaks Indonesians, eats Indonesian food and everywhere I go, I represent myself as Indonesian. Yet my own country, my own neighborhood never accept me because I’m chinese. Never accept the fact that chinese people already lives in Indonesia. Racism cannot be tolerated yet still happens to the earthquake victims. Do they have human morals? Can that be called as human being? I’m a human being and I would definitely give free help even to animals but they racist fucks didn’t even care to people. They have no heart. Where are their morality? Where are their feeling? You RACISTS GO FUCK YOURSELF AND ROT IN HELL

Vick Winata