Indonesia: Intermarriages between ethnic Chinese and other Indonesians (1998 - June 1999)

During a 2 July 1999 telephone interview a Professor of Political Science who is "a specialist in the comparative politics, legal systems, and human rights of Southeast Asia" and who has written extensively on Indonesia, stated that intermarriages between ethnic Chinese and other Indonesians are not uncommon in Indonesia. He stated that they are "not viewed too negatively," but added that the "key question" is in regard to religion. He said that if both persons are Christian, their situation would be accepted within Indonesia's Christian community. However, they could feel some "pressure" from members of Indonesia's Muslim community because of their Christianity. However, the professor stated that the pressure would be because of religion and not the marriage itself.

If one of the two persons were Muslim, the professor stated that the ethnic Chinese person could be under some "pressure." He said that they may not be in actual danger, but that they would have reason to fear; he then referred to the recent burnings of Christian churches as an example of events to be feared. However, he stated that "the inter-marriage is of less importance than anti-Chinese sentiment and to some extent anti-Christian sentiments." While stating that the anti-Chinese sentiment has "trailed off" recently, he stated that it could resurface and that if he were ethnic Chinese in Indonesia he would be afraid.

The professor also stated that it is sometimes difficult to marry across religions particularly if the woman is Muslim. He referred to the Marriage Law of 1974 which prohibits a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim. However, he said that some couples leave the country to marry and then return and that this "could cause some problems if someone advertizes it." The attachment from Tahir Mahmood's Statues of Personal Law in Islamic Countries, contains sections from the "Law of Marriage 1974" and the "Marriage Law Implementing Regulation 1975" (1995, 63-64, 189-193 and 295).

In documentary references to intermarriages between ethnic Chinese and other Indonesians, the South China Morning Post stated on 16 January 1999, in reference to ethnic Chinese: "More recently, years of severe government policies mean many have Indonesian names, have married Indonesians and speak only Indonesian." In a brief interview with a married couple - a Sudanese wife and an ethnic Chinese husband -  the Jakarta Post reported the wife as saying that they were happily married and that "many" mixed marriages occur in their neighbourhood (3 Jan. 1999).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Jakarta Post. 3 January 1999. Mehru Hasnain. "Poor Chinese, Natives Live in Harmony in Jembatan Lima." (NEXIS)

South China Morning Post [Hong Kong]. 16 January 1998. "Living in Fear of Suharto's Demise." (NEXIS)

University of Washington, Seattle. 2 July 1999. Telephone interview with a Professor of Political Science.

Attachment

Mahmood, Tahir. 1987. Personal Law in Islamic Countries: History, Text and Comparative Analysis. New Delhi: Academy of Law and Religion, pp. 63-64, 189-193 and 295.

Additional Sources Consulted

Asian Survey [Berkeley, CA]. January 1998 - February 1999.

Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. May - June 1998, March - June 1999.

Resource Centre. Indonesia country file. January 1999 - June 1999.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, World News Connection (WNC).