Chinese and Proud of It

Rather interesting development, what's old is new again I suppose. Chinese 'asserting' themselves in Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia, ... Russians 'asserting' themselves in Ukraine, Baltics, Caucasus ... remind anyone of Germans 'asserting' themselves in the Sudatenland in the 1930's ??

This is an interesting article, except that the Chinese Indonesians could not represent all the Chinese diasporas in Southeast Asia. Moreover, the number of people exterminated during Suharto???s regime had been far over-estimated, even though the actual number would never be known (including the sizable proportion of Chinese origin).

While many Southeast Asia Chinese continue to earn a meager living, some successful and rich ones have drawn lots of red eyes from the locals. The intense envy and frustration of most locals gradually accumulate and grow, culminating in several governments??? unfortunate yet relentless discrimination against the ethnic Chinese. Situations seem to have turned for the better under the democratic government of Indonesia; nevertheless, the general feeling of the poorer locals remains a big question mark.

As an ageing diaspora, perhaps I can only wish a stronger and wealthier China could have some influence over the region, hoping against hope that more of us will have a brighter future.

Would the brilliant conclusion of the Beijing 2008 Olympics help?
(Tan Boon Tee, 25.08.08)