Who is the real "Native Indonesian"?

Introduction

• Discussion of the visible and invisible legacies of colonization in Indonesia.
• Focus on the concept of "pribumi" (the "real" native Indonesian).

Definition of "Pribumi"

• Native refers to an original inhabitant of a specific place.
• Commonly recognized natives include:
  • People from Java
  • Minangkabau
  • Bali
  • Dayak
  • Papua
  • Other tribes with distinct customary clothes.
• Descendants of immigrants (e.g., Chinese, Arab, Indian) often seen as foreigners despite being born and raised in Indonesia.

Historical Context

• Colonial Impact:
  • The term "pribumi" emerged as a form of discrimination, often intensified during political events (e.g., Jakarta governor election).
• Pre-Historical Evidence:
  • First inhabitants of Nusantara were Homo Erectus (1-2 million years ago).
  • Modern humans appeared during the Pleistocene Epoch.
  • Early settlers divided into two categories:
    • Melanesians: Arrived around 50,000 years ago.
    • Austronesians: Arrived around 4,000 years ago.
• Cultural Influences:
  • Interactions with India led to the adoption of Hinduism-Buddhism culture.
  • Relations established with Southern Chinese dynasties and Arab traders.

Social Dynamics

• Initially, peaceful coexistence between natives and immigrants.
• Colonial government categorized people by ethnicity, creating a hierarchy:
  1. Europeans at the top
  2. Eastern peoples (Chinese, Arabic, Indian) in the middle
  3. Pribumi at the bottom.
• Multi-ethnic or multiracial Indonesians found themselves marginalized.

National Identity and Political Developments

• Figures like Cipton Mangunkusumo, Amir Syarifuddin, and Soekarno advocated for inclusive national identity in the late independence era.
• Only recognized as "Indonesians" if they assimilated and spoke Indonesian.
• Post-1965, New Order regime reintroduced segregation between "pribumi" and "non-pribumi."
• Foreign descent individuals faced pressure to assimilate, including name changes.
• The New Order ended in 1998, leading to the erasure of segregation by President Gus Dur.

Conclusion

• Emphasis on the importance of unity and acceptance in diversity.
• Critique of regressive attitudes in the face of modernity.
• A call for a progressive mindset without hypocrisy.