Chinese Indonesians in the Eyes of the Pribumi Public

Abstract

As has always been the case throughout Indonesia’s history, contemporary anti-Chinese sentiments have complex intersections with issues of class and religion. While religion now features much more predominantly than in the past, class has continued to be an important element that shape how the pribumi public perceives Chinese Indonesians. Indeed, as has been pointed out elsewhere, even in the Ahok blasphemy case, class was a key element and public anger towards Ahok was amplified by the fact that many of his policies – such as the forced evictions of kampung (urban village) communities along the riverbanks and the controversial Jakarta Cove land reclamation project – had severely disadvantaged the poor.