Under the Umbrella of the Sultan Accommodation of the Chinese in Yogyakarta During Indonesia's New Order

In this study, I question three major assumptions chat have framed the discourse on assimilation, that the Chinese are a homogeneous com munity, that assimilation is the ultimate solution co the 'Chinese problem', and that the Chinese must eventually, or will, assimilate into the indigenous society. The present study of the Chinese in Yogyakarta is an attempt to understand how different sections of the Chinese community vary in their accommodation of che pressure for total assimilacion, the pressure to narrow the economic gap between them and the rest of the population, negative stereotypes of the Chinese or racial prejudices, anti-Chinese violence, and state discrimination. It aims at showing the differential experiences, reactions and strategies of different sections of Chinese in Yogyakarta. This study proceeds on three fundamental assumptions. Firsc, the Chinese in Indonesia are far from a homogeneous group, cherefore, we cannoc speak of the Chinese. Second, given che range of diversity amongst che Chinese, ic is noc realistic co assume chac all Chinese face che same problems or would be likely co adopt similar strategies. Third, there is differentiation in accommodation amongst Chinese communities.Before continuing, I would like to discuss what is meant by 'the Chinese problem': who is involved and in what ways? This issue is viewed from the perspective of the government and indigenous Indonesians, as well as the perspective of the Chinese