Jakarta – A group representing the Chinese community in Indonesia yesterday met Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid to ask for help in removing discriminatory legislation against the ethnic group.

The delegation asked for an official watchdog body, which monitors the Chinese community, to be abolished. It also asked that a decree banning the importation of products with Chinese characters be revoked.

The group's spokesman, Mr Tan Swie Ling, said: "We believe that this body and many other decrees legitimise discrimination towards the Chinese minority in Indonesia."

Ethnic Chinese make up about 3.5 per cent of Indonesia's 203 million people. Their success in business and commerce has generated resentment among many indigenous Indonesians, and they are often targeted in riots.

According to Mr Tan, Mr Abdurrahman welcomed the group's demands and promised to take action.