Ezra Sihite – The contribution of ethnic Chinese to Indonesia has not been clearly recorded in history books, and rectifying this could help to overcome lingering discrimination, a historian said on Monday.

"History books are very important for all Indonesians. And in our history books, we do not see that Tionghoa [ethnic Chinese] had a role," said J.J. Rizal, a historian from the University of Indonesia.

History books, he said, generally neglect to mention how many members of the ethnic Chinese community were active in the country's struggle for independence. He said discrimination against the community could also be reduced through journalism that upholds equality and multiculturalism.

"The government should promote the eradication of the notion that Tionghoa are foreigners," he said.

Discrimination against ethnic Chinese has occurred for decades, Rizal said, but honoring their contributions to the birth and development of the nation could help quash such sentiments for good. He said the discrimination began after 1965, and up until 1998 there were cases of violence against the community.

"The answer lies in how the government manages the concept of nationalism in Indonesian society and in the challenge for ethnic Chinese to fully integrate and become citizens," he said.

Hermawi Taslim, from the Glodok Community, an organization of ethnic Chinese, said the Constitution guaranteed respect for multiculturalism and that the trauma among members of the ethnic Chinese community was slowly dissipating after decades of discrimination. But, Hermawi added, there should be continued efforts to build on the Constitutional guarantees.

He said he tried to follow the advice of former President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, who abolished a ban on the public expression of Chinese culture in 2000. "Gus Dur said, 'It is not important where you come from but if you can do some good, people will be accept you.'?"

Ester Yusuf, the chairwoman of the Foundation of the Solidarity of the Country and the Nation, said that past trauma from discrimination and violence against ethnic Chinese had caused members of the group to shy away from politics.

"In the past there was certainly trauma," she said. "For example, just taking part in a political organization could get them disappeared or killed."

Now, she said, more ethnic Chinese are entering politics. That is a good thing, she said, adding that ethnic Chinese should look not only toward politics but think more broadly about getting into civil service.