08/31/98 TARGETING THE CHINESE: BAD BUSINESS IN INDONESIA (int'l edition)

TARGETING THE CHINESE: BAD BUSINESS IN INDONESIA (int'l edition)

In ''The plight of the ethnic Chinese'' (Asian Business, Aug. 3), it appears that some people within the new government of Indonesia are pursuing ''economic nationalism'' after more than 30 years of political nationalism and military nationalism by the previous government.
In Indonesia, ''nationalism'' means preference for native Indonesians over ethnic Chinese, many of whom have lived in Indonesia for generations (sometimes hundreds of years), who hold Indonesian passports, and who pay Indonesian taxes--but are not allowed to learn Chinese in school or read Chinese books and newspapers. Many were forced to change their family names to Indonesian names a long time ago.
Indonesians should realize that while nationalism may fit some politicians' short-term purposes, it is hardly good for the long-term growth of the economy. Ethnic Chinese are not to blame for the economic hardships Indonesians are suffering; they are as much the victims. I deeply sympathize with the pain and suffering the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia are enduring.
David Yuan
Hsin-Chu, Taiwan