seijo presentation chinese repatriation

Am I Indonesian?Am I Indonesian?The Significance of Being Chinese in Contemporary TangerangThe Significance of Being Chinese in Contemporary Tangerang

Muhammad Reza ZainiMuhammad Reza Zaini

Research ProposalResearch Proposal

Research BackgroundResearch Background

• Ethnic Chinese constitutes one of the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia.

• Historical cases: The mainstream society questioned their allegiance or loyalty to Indonesia.

• Subsequently, there were discrimination cases which forced the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia to question their view as an Indonesian –just like the ethnic Japanese in the USA during WW2. I will examine the Cina Bentengs

(1) The forced repatriation of Ethnic Chinese to Mainland China

(2) The Chinese massacre conducted by citizen soldiers (also known as “Gedoran”)

(3) The institutionalized economic discrimination of Ethnic Chinese

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

Source: J. Suhandinata, 2009

Year Event

1955 Indonesia and People’s Rep. of China signed a treaty to allow multiple citizenship for Chinese-Indonesians.

1958 Indonesia ratified laws concerning naturalization of alien citizens.

1959 Indonesia and People’s Rep. of China began repatriation process. Overall, estimated 140,000 Indonesians were repatriated to PRC.

1965 Failed Communist Coup D’etat took place in Indonesia. Indonesian government accused PRC government involved in the coup.

1967 Indonesia ended its diplomatic relationship with PRC. As a result, about 100,000 Indonesians of Chinese descent became stateless.


• This repatriation is usually described as a “voluntary” repatriation of dual nationalities.

• However, there are many cases where the repatriated Chinese-Indonesians were forcibly repatriated.

• Estimated about 140,000 Indonesians of Chinese descent were repatriated to mainland China.



• Anthropologist D. Lumenta: Chinese-Indonesian in general faced severe alienation living in China (i.e. Different way of living, language, economic system.



• Indonesia was under Japanese occupation (1942-1945). After Japan surrendered, the Dutch made two military aggressions to Indonesia.

• One rumor stated that the ethnic Chinese were loyal to the Dutch. There was even a rumor of a Chinese lowering an Indonesian flag in Tangerang Regency.

• Citizen soldiers and army officers later began to attack ethnic Chinese in Tangerang Regency because of their “disloyalty” to Indonesia. This is “Gedoran”.

Aim of ResearchAim of Research

• Interesting phenomenon: Cina Benteng is one of the most culturally-assimilated Chinese.

• Interesting to see how the mainstream Indonesian public see Chinese-Indonesian: As one whole entity

• This research tries to see how the “Cina Benteng” community sees the significance of each of their identity –especially their identity as an Indonesian citizen.

• No matter how assimilated the Cina Benteng are, but these incidents seemed to question Cina Benteng’s Indonesian identity

• Living informants:

Aim of ResearchAim of Research

Suggestions, Critiques, Constructive Inputs, ClarificationSuggestions, Critiques, Constructive Inputs, Clarification

Muhammad Reza Zaini

E-Mail : [email protected] : SNV Netherlands Development Organization; University of Indonesia

Academia Account : http://ui.academia.edu/MuhammmadRezaZainiLinkedIn Account : https://id.linkedin.com/pub/muhammad-reza-zaini/55/834/987

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seijo presentation chinese repatriation

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