Jakarta – Indonesia's ethnic Chinese on Saturday formally established a mass organisation to promote awareness of their rights and obligations as Indonesians. The Chinese Indonesian Association (INTI) described itself as nationalist in character.

Ethnic Chinese make up only a small percentage of Indonesia's 200 million people, but dominate its economy. Their perceived wealth is widely resented by other Indonesians and they have been the target of mob attacks.

"INTI seeks to mobilise the potentials of Chinese Indonesians for the sake of the joint undertaking to rebuild the Indonesian nation," the group said in a statement. INTI said membership was not limited to people of Chinese ancestry.