ROC Condemns Gang Rapes of Ethnic Chinese Women in Indonesian Riots

During riots in Indonesia this May, a large number of ethnic Chinese women were raped by gangs. When the news came out, Chinese around the world were shocked, and various Southeast Asian countries expressed deep concern over this ethnic incident and its effect on the region. The ROC government has expressed strong condemnation of the atrocities to the Indonesian government, and has called on Taiwanese businessmen to wait and see before investing there.

On July 29, ROC Foreign Minister Jason Hu met with Djoko Muljunto, chairman of the Indonesian Trade and Economic Office in Taipei, and requested him to inform his government of five points:

(1) The ROC government takes these incidents very seriously. Based on the principles of protecting overseas Chinese and protecting human rights, the ROC strongly condemns this barbaric violence. (2) On July 15, the Indonesian president expressed regret over the incidents, and announced formation of an investigative task force. The ROC hopes that this task force will be aggressive in broadly seeking information, investigating cases, and punishing wrongdoers. (3) The ROC representative office in Indonesia will try to locate abused ethnic Chinese women and assist them in coming forward to report on crimes committed against them. The ROC hopes the Indonesian government will provide protection to those who come forward. The ROC will also offer assistance to ethnic Chinese victims who want to come to Taiwan for medical treatment. (4) The ROC expects Indonesia to prevent racial problems from getting out of control and harming the rights of Taiwanese businesses and overseas Chinese. (5) The ROC can not and will not neglect the public response in Taiwan, or the interests of overseas Chinese.

The riots in May were the most serious in Indonesia in more than 30 years. Thousands of rioters flooded the streets, robbing stores, destroying vehicles, and setting fires. Ethnic Chinese, who dominate Indonesia's economy, became the main targets of the rioters. The New York Times and other major media revealed that during the May riots, rioters gang-raped and injured more than 200 ethnic Chinese women ranging in age from 9 to 55. Later reports suggested that the violence was organized, and that the Indonesian military was behind it.

After the news came out, Chinese around the world were infuriated. There were demonstrations by Chinese and human rights organizations in many places. The ROC National Assembly wrote to the Indonesian parliament expressing serious concern, and condemning the inability of the Indonesian government to protect its own citizens. The ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs and Council for Economic Planning and Development both have again called for slowing down investment and visits to Indonesia.

Economists say that the riots have further worsened conditions in Indonesia, whose economy was hard hit by the recent currency crisis in Southeast Asia. It is estimated that US$80 billion of investment capital has fled the country, of which perhaps US$10 billion belongs to ethnic Chinese. The loss of this capital will hamper economic recovery in Indonesia. We hope that the government of Indonesia will be able to prevent violence by rioters in its territory, and treat overseas Chinese-who have lived there for hundreds of years-as equal citizens, and collectively build a modern multi-ethnic country.