Ahok Supports the Term China Replaced by Chinese in Today's History, March 21, 2014

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) who was the Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta in the 2012-2014 era. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - History today, 12 years ago, March 21, 2014. Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) supports the term Cina/China replaced by Chinese. The support was given because Ahok considered the term China contrary to the Constitution (UUD) 1945.

Previously, the use of the term China was considered to have a dark history. This condition was because the New Order government (Orba) seemed to distinguish between bumiputra and Chinese ethnicity. In fact, both of them equally recognize Indonesia as the homeland.

There is no doubt about Suharto's leadership and the anti-communism New Order (Orba). This condition makes anyone affiliated with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) to be affected. They were isolated from national and state life.

They find it difficult to find jobs. The environment does not accept their presence. New problems arise. Those of Chinese descent are carried away. This condition is because the PKI was once realized with the Chinese Communist Party.

The power holder was afraid that ethnic Chinese who had long been in Indonesia would rise up to revive communism. This condition made the government take a stance. All kinds of Chinese ethnic movements were restricted. Their public celebrations were prohibited.

The narrative makes the government like planting discrimination against ethnic Chinese. Everything changed when entering the era of the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) government. The owner of the power realized that the term China is closely related to discrimination.

SBY then moved to change the old rules of the Orba era. SBY also signed Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 12 of 2014 on March 14, 2014. The presence of the Keppres made all the terms of China changed to Chinese/China.

SBY considered the change as proof that the state recognizes those of Chinese descent as part of Indonesian citizens. The state does not differentiate between bumiputra and Chinese ethnicity.

"It is contrary to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, the Law on Human Rights, and the Law on the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination," read the consideration of Presidential Decree Number 12 of 2014.

SBY's decision was supported by many parties. The Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahok did not want to lose on March 21, 2014. Ahok expressed his full support for SBY's decision. This condition is because he himself feels how ethnic Chinese are often discriminated against.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as Chairman of the Abadi Hakka Central Honorary Council celebrating Chinese New Year 2026. (TVRI News/Ridho Dwi Putranto)

In fact, they are Indonesian citizens. Ahok also assessed that the old Keppres that existed in the Orba era was considered to be in conflict with the 1945 Constitution.

The difference is that in the past people did not dare to test it. However, everything changed thanks to SBY. Ahok considers the term China only refers to the People's Republic of China (PRC).

China said it did not refer to or describe Chinese ethnic groups who loyally chose Indonesia as their country. As a result, the term Chinese is considered to better describe the condition of Chinese ethnic groups in Indonesia. The term is also not discriminatory.

"The old presidential decree is against the Constitution, only in the past people did not dare to test it. I think it was right after 10 years in office, Mr. SBY revoked it before leaving. The Chinese themselves call their country Zhong Guo. If it's international, it's China, not China," said Ahok as quoted by lamansindonews.com, March 21, 2014.