Chinese Press after the New Order: Caught Between the Continuity of Idealism and the Logic of the Market 1

Abstract

After the fall of Suharto, in cities throughout Indonesia, dozens of Chinese Indonesians, motivated by a diversity of interests, began to establish Chinese media. After a time, the idealism of that fragmented Chinese press encountered various stumbling blocks, the main one being the problem of finding the right fit between idealism, media management practices and reader tastes. This article sets out to examine the continuity-or lack of it-of idealism from the Chinese press of colonial times to that established in post-New Order Indonesia, notwithstanding the period of more than 30 years in which the Chinese press was buried. The analysis begins with an overview of the Chinese press in Indonesia, followed by an examination of case studies of post-New Order publications. The aim of this analysis is to reveal the diversity of offerings of the various publications as they interpret both their own particular agenda and the demands of the market. The article concludes with a discussion of the dynamics of the Chinese press in its approach to the market and its potential readership.

Chinese Indonesians in a rapidly changing nation: Pressures of ethnicity and identity

“…The Chinese media in Indonesia has undergone a reawakening since the fall of Suharto, during whose time all Chinese-language newspapers were banned, except one Yindunixiya Ribao (Harian Indonesia), controlled by the military. Newspapers have now sprung up by the dozens, in both Chinese and Indonesian languages throughout the nation, in response to the growing demands of the Chinese Indonesian community (Pandiangan, 2003). Those published in Bahasa Indonesia include (but are not limited to) Suar 168 whose vision is for a unified nation, with a market reach covering Java, Sumatra and parts of Kalimantan; Sinergi Bangsa, 'seeking ways to establish constructive synergy among the components of the Indonesian nation', with a market distribution through Java and Sumatra (Pandiangan, 2003: 417); Simpatik, considered a national newspaper that aims for justice for all; and Garuda Visi, again emphasising the unification of the nation, available on Java and Batam.…”

“…Those published in Bahasa Indonesia include (but are not limited to) Suar 168 whose vision is for a unified nation, with a market reach covering Java, Sumatra and parts of Kalimantan; Sinergi Bangsa, 'seeking ways to establish constructive synergy among the components of the Indonesian nation', with a market distribution through Java and Sumatra (Pandiangan, 2003: 417); Simpatik, considered a national newspaper that aims for justice for all; and Garuda Visi, again emphasising the unification of the nation, available on Java and Batam. In Mandarin and Bahasa Indonesia one can read the Mandarin Pos while, among others, the Harian Umum Perdamaian and Zhi Nan Ri Bao are available in Mandarin, the latter being a cooperative project between the Jakarta Post and Kompas (Pandiangan, 2003).…”

“…Even so, as Suryadinata (2001: 522) contemplates, at a more practical level, 'whether these publications will be able to survive given their limited readership and limited advertising remains to be seen'. Indeed, Pandiangan (2003) concludes that the immediate fate of these new media outlets will depend less on the attitude of the authorities, and more on difficulties arising from inflexible management, limited editorial staff capabilities and funding and, in particular, a lack of advertisers (see also Christianto, 2000).…”

Rethinking the Position of Ethnic Chinese Indonesians

“…53 Although the Sukarno government introduced the above discriminatory policy to reduce Chinese economic interests and assist indigenous businesspeople, it allowed ethnic Chinese to form ethnic-based organisations (ranging from cultural associations to clan groups to business chambers), establish Chinese-language presses, open Chinese-medium schools, and be involved in politics. 54 In fact, in the new parliament elected in the 1955 election, which was the first national election held in Indonesia after independence, nine appointed seats were reserved for ethnic Chinese. 55 There were even a few cabinet ministers who were of Chinese origin.…”