Hi J,
It sounds like things are improving with your dispute with your former employer. I have slightly mixed feelings about it, however. On the one hand I wholeheartedly agree with your quest for justice, because this 'screwing over the vulnerable' mentality is all too common in this society.
But, while you've been extremely tactful and indirect in your language, there is a strong sense (maybe it's just me) that you are attacking their ethnicity as well and making that an issue. It also does not take too vivid of an imagination to understand that your local legal reps might also have a desire to stick it to "them" -- who are also members of a vulnerable group, and have been getting screwed for decades here.
Ruthless, conniving people come in many colors, but even if you know 25 of these bad ones from one group it's a logical fallacy to assume the other 10 million are similar even if our local friends harp on it so much.
After reading this series, it inspired me, in part, to portray the bigger picture on my blog... er forum/blog-like deal.....here:
grsb.jakchat.com
So "J", have a read and remember, I am with you on this one as far as the pure justice aspects, I'm just a tad wary about the playing of the race card in this instance...
Hi R.
Whilst I agree that there is a racist slur by 'Anon' left undeleted elsewhere in this thread, I am not playing a race card. What I have consistently said is that there is at least one group here in Indonesia which does not work with other ethnic groups, which cloaks its corporate activities behind the facade of a particular church which is far from inclusive, far from pluralistic in outlook and, indeed proselytises.
This group is the regular target in urban riots, which leads me to the eternal chicken and egg conundrum. Are they insular because they are hated or are they hated because they are insular?
I merely don't like them because of the immorality and criminality of their business practices. As to whether there is any improvement, I'll know more tomorrow. Today there has been an attempt to intimidate my colleague in unemployment.
As for my legal reps, they are Bataks. If I name them I will also shame them. Time - one week - will tell.
claims are made that a third of overseas uni graduates here are not seriously proficient in English. These fee paying students from o/s are not marked down due to pressure from 'above'- sounds like we need more 'whistle blowers' here as well.
Jakartass,
I'm inclined to agree with Riccardo.
You have made references to schools that follow the Singaporean education system and have attacked the hypocracy of those who profess Christian values but treat their employees badly. But the same could be said of all Indonesian businesses and government officals; who claim to be holier than thou but are corrupt, self serving and dishonest.
You should have deleted the anonymous prick's racist statement; as it weakend the credibility of your postings. The fact that you didn't; might suggest that you agreed with it.
Now; you are talking about a group who don't work with other ethnic groups and hide behind the facade of a Church and how you hate them for the immorality and criminality of their busniess practices. Are you refering to the Penabur management or all Indonesians of Chinese descent? Your reference to them being the victim of urban riots would sadly suggest the latter; which is evil racism at its very ugliest.
I sincerely hope that I have misunderstood your comments.
J, come now! Chicken and Egg? Is that what they've been telling you? Chinese-Indonesians (my wife and in-laws) are more fanatic misers than Jews (my grandmother's family). Do you think they'd really rather buy all those Hondas and Toyotas for their kids if the buses and taxis were safe for them, without harassment and shakedowns? Do you really think we'd rather pay a billion RP for a small house in a guarded complex if we could just get a nice Rp200m house in a safe neighborhood among regular Indonesians, without daily fears that the women and children might be raped or murdered?
I too find it very disturbing that you even suggest that the urban riots against them are their fault.
No worries, though, I am still with you on your battle against greed, corruption and the mentality of screwing over those perceived to be vulnerable. Perhaps the only reason you haven't had similar problems with non-chinese-Indonesians on such an issue is that they don't own any legit businesses, or if they did they'd be too ignorant/arrogant to believe they need to hire a native speaker.
Jeez guys.
Yes, the Yayasan Badan Pendidikan Kristen Penabur is a Chinese church-based organisation. They say so themselves, as you'll have seen if you'd followed the links I've given. I agree that the Chinese-Indonesian community faces continued discrimination, but then as I've already stated, so do all of us to varying degrees.
It was the then Head of Programs who, when I asked him about the educational validity of the work we were supposed to be doing, told me that parents wanted to see a white face in the classroom.
Who are the racists? Who lock themselves away in complexes which their family-run corporations have built? Who foist their religious beliefs on others?
You could answer 'expats' - think Country Woods Estate. In most countries, ethnic and/or wealthy sections of society create a 'ghetto' for themselves. Most societies also force their poor and marginalised create ghettos.
I am NOT playing the Chinese race card. You surely know me better than that R. That Penabur is a Chinese church organisation is a matter of record. Their record.
Incidentally, could you let us know where we can get a nice Rp200m house in a safe neighborhood among regular Indonesians? Would it be big enough for all the family and in-laws?
But then, I've lived 19 years, count 'em, in the same rented house in a back street. Our neighbours are Betawi, Javanese (East and Central), Sunda, Flores and, yes, Chinese. There is another English guy who's been here c.15 years and we speak to each other about once a year, not that either of us is insular. It's just that we have more in common with our other neighbours. Rich (some extremely) and poor alike (kampung housing intermingles with the very few grandiose mansions) make for a very homogenous community which I am happy to be part of.
Ah well, I guess we're not going to agree on the cause and effect.
And for the record, this prosperity theology is by no means a legitimate and recognized religion. It's a demonic cult of mammon worship - and a very tiny minority of people here are followers. Their idol is the psychotic "rev." Robert Shuller and their 'mecca' is his Crystal Cathedral in OC, Calif. (I grew up in that area and can tell you a hilarious story about ol' Rev. Robert next time we have a beer.) Just like the other (really) big cult in this country, they always gotta foist it upon others -even to the point of blowing up clubs in Bali.
That said, I still support your cause 100% to attack the greed and injustice -- so keep that side of it going and don't allow yourself to be sidetracked by their ethnicity or cult.
But why do you keep going on about Chinese Indonesians? If this had happened to you under Pribumbi management; which group would you be upset with? All native Indonesians or would you have to find out the regional etnicity of those involved? Or would you be railing against Islam and Islamic schools? No way; that would get you in real trouble. It's much easier to blame the minority Chinese; isn't it?
Of course parents want to see a "white face" in the class; are you calling that racist? That's how "bule" can easily earn money here as a teacher. You get 250,000 rupiah an hour or whatever for talking in front of students; while locals (and Chinese Indonesian teachers) get a third of that. That's racist discrimination for sure and you should demand a local salary to keep it even...
Who foists their religion on others? The Chinese or the Penabur management or expatriates? The Chinese tend to live in North and West Jakarta because they have done so since the Dutch time; near the trading ports and to be at the head of the Dragon (check it out!)not to arrogantly refuse to live on the same little street as you.
As I think the other guy pointed out; the Chinese won't live in a wonderful mixed bag little street like yours beacuse if the shit hits the fan and they're low in numbers they're gonna get it. It's about security not arrogance. After 19 years you should know that.
birds of a feather flock together...
Whoa there.
It's obvious that some of you don't read the links I put up, footnotes if you like, which both expand my comments and give examples. Check out the Penabur site and make up your own minds about their insular ideology. It's them I'm on about, exclusively, so please accept that. You are the ones who are getting sidetracked, not me.
And yes, I am calling the notion of having a white face in the classroom racist. That's got absolutely nothing to do with the quality of education provided or the financial rewards, which are nowhere near as much as suggested. Indeed, there are many local teachers of English who are a darn sight better than we bules in the classroom.
As for 'prosperity theology', I am not referring to a religious cult ~ it's much more widespread than that and is not an exclusively Christian way of thinking. God, Allah, who or what ever, surely does not exist to provide earthly delights for individuals here and now.
So I must reiterate that I am challenging the corporate ethos of Penabur, NOT a particular ethnic group. Their local teachers went on strike three or four years ago due to the general indignities they faced, so it's not as if Penabur is widely popular.
I really don't want to seem like I'm piling in here Jakartass, I understand you're having problems with some crooks, but man oh man that "chicken and egg" comment was well out of order.
My wife makes similar comments about the local Chinese, and God knows she's a great girl but when I hear her say such things the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. This is pure anti-Semitism relocated east.
Sure, I agree the Chinese are disproportionately involved in big business here, probably even disproportionately involved in financial crime (though curiously you don't hear too much about Chinese involvement in muggings or rapes) but if you want to go down that road then let's examine the crime rates among blacks in the UK or the US, would you accept the "chicken and egg" theory to explain racism against blacks?
An Indonesian friend explained to me her hatred of the Chinese, it seems her grandfather was a gambler and got in serious debt, to pay the debts he borrowed from Chinese moneylenders using the farm as security. When he continued gambling he defaulted on his loan and the moneylenders took his farm. She learned to hate the Chinese, not her idiotic grandfather you'll notice, lord no, just the Chinese!
Back home I had a similar friend; he couldn't get a job to save his life. Nothing to do with the fact that he was a drunk you understand, no it was those fucking protestant bastards that wouldn't hire Catholics. So he decided to address the "chicken and egg" syndrome by waiting outside the house of a local protestant business man one night and blew the man's brains out in front of his wife and kids. My mate still drinks you know, his "life" sentence ended a few years back, still can't get a job but at least he stood up for the natives, right?
Be careful about your chickens and your eggs.
OK; so that settles it then.
It is not your Penabur stuff that was worrying; I'll take your word for it that they're a bunch of shites and you have my full admiration for exposing the bastards (although I don't know them).
The scary comment; as already mentioned, is "the group who is regularly targeted in urban riots" and how they are "hated because they are insular". As far as I know; the Penabur management have never been exclusively targeted in urban riots so we can only assume that you are referring to Indonesians of Chinese descent as an ethnic group. Agreed?
Anyway; you have clarified your position so 'nuff said.
I once had a paper round in England and I got sacked by the Asian newsagent for being late every day and chucking the papers in the bin 'cos it was too bloody cold and too bloody early to do a shite job like that. Didn't mind the money though. Anyway; I was well pissed off; I mean how dare a bloody Paki sack me in my own country?
Decades earlier; Germany was suffering from a terrible depression after World War 1 and many of the businesses that went bust and had to lay of workers; were owned by hard working Jewish Germans. When a nasty little man with an 'orrible tash wanted to make a name for himself in the Munich beer halls he knew who to blame for the German people's bitterness and humiliation...
Decades later in Indonesia in May 1998...
What did the Chinese do to get their homes and shops burnt down by our pribumi brothers? What did we do to have our women raped? Just because some rich Chinese bankers stole money did it mean that the poor Chinese had to suffer for it? Who caused the ecconomic crisis in the first place? There are no Chinese in the government and who did these bankers bribe and get assistance to get themselves and their money out of the country? The chicken and the egg? Blame the Dutch; the IMF; the World Bank; Sukarno, Suharto; George Soros; the European colonists; where should we start?
I read these comments yesterday and noticed 2 readers didn't support your "attack" on your former employer. Now you have removed them and now I am wondering was there any truth to the statements ? If your blog is a balanced view from your perspective they why remove negative comments ? Surely you you should be able to accept both positive and negative critcisms. We have to take the good with the bad that is a sign of maturity. One person mentioned they were still in the employ of UPI and were very happy which is in stark contrast to your view of the organisation. I had enjoyed reading your blog but now when I read it I shall do so with a grain of salt. Maybe you need time for self reflection and analyze the real reasons for your bitterness. Is it because you were fired for not performing at your best or because of your obvious dislike of non caucasion employers ? If the second is your real reason then why not seek work with an expatriate organisation where your contract is honoured totally and without anguish. At the end of the day every expat who works under contract for an Indonesian (People of Chinese ancestry are also Indonesian citizens, but we all know that)then you realize that the contract is only a piece of paper and can be torn up at any time. If you were an Indonesian Citizen (I'm surprized you aren't after all these years of living here)then you would have the full support of the legal system. After many years you are still a "visitor". If you really loved this country then make it your "home". If you can't then maybe you should go home to Britain and retire gracefully and have access to all the benefits of the system, never again have to worry about floods, traffic jams, pollution, corruption etc etc. At this time of day you are portraying yourself as a whingeing pom. I am an Australian who has been living and working here for about 5 years, I enjoy it but it still hasn't become "home" to me so I will go back home to live one day. In the mean time time I will work for my 100% Chinese Employer and take the money she pays me for doing my job. She is a fair employer and pays a fair wage, I don't look at her as Christian or Muslim or whatever, I see her as a human being capable of all the same emotions as myself and that of anyone else living on this planet. I had a boss in Australia,who was from London, he had lived in Australia for over 30 years and enjoyed all the good things that my country provided and yet he still remained "British" he actually whinged himself right out of his job, customers and management grew tired of him comparing everything in Australia to Britain, always negatively. They did put up with it for 10 years so he had time to adapt, but alas he didn't. I will continue to read your blog as I am curious as to the outcome of your legal action.
Jakartass;
Did you really delete comments in support of your former employer?
Ain't that censorship or one sideded propaganda?
I think it's time to move on; but before you do; you should explain your comments about the chicken and the egg and apologise for your comments about how Chinese do business and your discraceful and disgusting suggestion that Chinese Indonesians deserve to be attacked in urban violence (rapes, looting etc) beacuse it makes you sound like a racist biggot; which is kinda stupid coming from a "bule".
You gotta do better than this, J. The whole world's watching, and you're losing.
Both those comments were posted from the same computer within Penabur ~ in work time. There was no email address or other contact point. I don't mind pseudonymous comments but in 'hiding' their identities, or so they thought, and rather than engaging in the issues, they launched a vitriolic personal attack ~ something I have not done.
They were not exactly in support of Penabur ~ one comment went so far as to back up our case: "I can sympathize with you for being fired for not clearly explained reasons."
Besides, this is my blog. I rarely edit or delete comments ~ just those which depart from 'netiquette'. Further, I am trying to articulate a case which is not mine alone.
In mentioning the ethnic angle, it's because they do. If they say that it's a key to understanding their ethos, then who are we to disagree?
This is not an issue of generalities but one of specifics backed up with evidence. These have absolutely nought to do with 'race'
That there is a particular philosophy behind their actions is verifiable by reading their website and not mine. The key word they use is 'servitude'. Check it out.
However, the key argument we've presented is that Penabur lack corporate and social responsibility, and fail to acknowledge, let alone abide by, the internationally accepted labour norms and conventions which have been signed by Indonesia.
Many thanks to Oei for articulating my 'chicken and egg' analogy very well. But I'm less interested in the question of "where should we start?" as he asks, but "where should we finish?"
So, I agree with Simon D. It's time to move on, and I would if there were better internet connections this weekend.
Jakartass,
"this group is the regular target of urban riots which leads me to the eternal chicken and the egg conondrum. Are they hated becuse they are insular or are they insular because they are hated?"
These are really shocking, dangerous and racist comments; and from an expatriate. How dare you ask such things? Who are you?
We are "hated" because we are the scapegoat for the country's problems. We are "hated" because business is the only option open for us; and some become rich. We can't be in public service you know. We are "insular" because for several hundred years we live in the old "Kota" district of Indonesian cities. Would you like us to move?
The "urban riots" victims were not rich Chinese and lived in unprotected areas and had their homes and shops looted and burnt down; losing everything. The rich Chinese Indonesians; who you blame; live in big homes and could afford to protect themselves by paying the security or left the country.
As a foreigner, like they say we are, do what we do; and shut up about such things.
Please don't blame our entire ethnic group for your problems. That is dangerous talk and that is how we become the target of "urban riots" and not because of "chickens" or "eggs".
Btw you still haven't explained to your readers, some of whom are Chinese; what you mean by these comments? Will you explain them or not?
Hi J'ass,
Nice conversation I can follow so far.
This is your forum, that is obvious. I have even added my email to satisfy your "netiquette".
I am now curious as to how you can determine that the negative comments you received came from "Penabur" computers. Your explanation that it came during working hours doesn't really fit. It also seems that if the comment was posted by a current employee then he or she obviously doesn't support you, reading between the lines they may even have a strong dislike for you.....
Many people have access to computers at all hours of the day and night and just like you they spend their free time emailing and chatting. Many employees go so far as to believe that the email they have access to during working hours is even private !
Many employers especialy in Australia are calaculating how much "work time" is lost by employees using the net for un-related work purposes. That in itself is now the reason that some employees receive verbal and written warnings because of their abuse of a privilige.
Going back through your postings and comments and checking dates and times then you too are guilty of using the computer at "penabur" for non related work purposes. Whomever provides an internet service can also easily find out how much time their employess spend on the net and also what sites they access.
Have you ever considered that the comment posted by your former work colleague about your abusing your computer priviliges may well have been a contributing factor to your dismissal? Maybe many little things over time were added up by management and a decision was made that you had taken 1 inch too many ?
If I was your employer and I noted how much time you spent on the net and not doing the job I was paying you for then I too would have a chat with you
Otherwise you must have access to some really sweet software that allows you trace back through god know how many servers and be able to ping the "offending" computers.
A boss does not have to justify his or her reasons for dismissing someone to the other workers. A workplace is not a democracy where workers can "veto" the bosses decision to terminate someone.
Something for you to ponder...
Your former workmates were not unhappy to see you go, perish the thought ! Your support base appears to be that of ex-employees. If current employees fully support you then why not encourage them to post their comments. Obviously you could not ask them to reveal their names on this forum as they would endanger their jobs. That's why many people use a "Pen Name" such as Jakartass.........
I don't wish to comment further on anything else as it's getting a bit testy, so I'll just stick to this one language thing:
The word "servitude" that you refer to in their philosophy is a popular buzz word among many Christian communities and it's not about enslaving other people, au contraire, it's about serving God and other people with the utmost humility.
Jesus (believed by Christians to God incarnate) demonstrated such servitude before The Last Supper by getting on his hands and knees at the feet of his disciples and painstakingly washing each of their feet. It is this sort of humility that Christians are taught to aspire to.
It's not important if you or anyone else here have a healthy disdain for certain religions, what is important is that people understand what they are trying to convey with the word "servitude" and that, I believe, can be used in your favor in your case.... Ask them the question: "Were you following the company philosophy of radical humility - servitude - towards God and others, including teachers, when you fired your employees?" Ask them, "Did you bend down to wash my feet?"
There's a good discussion of this episode and the radical humility it conveys here:
http://www.bible-truth.org/msg100.html
Jakartass;
You seem to be refusing to answer these charges of racism; which is a pretty poor show.
In the past when similar racist accusations were where levelled at Asian bloggers such as Treespotter, Unspun and Thang D.Nguyen; you were up there; screaming bloody murder about it; indignant as hell and hurling all kinds of adjectives of condemnation at them. Now the shoe's on the other foot; you seem to want to brush it off; despite the fact that some Indonesians have been clearly been upset by your comments. Tut tut J.!
Puzzled;
If you're a Penabur guy; better you identify yourself or your commemnts can safely be ignored; as you clearly have it in for Jakartass. Your lack of identity indicates that you could be anybody; therefore invalidating your comments; even if they are true and offer the other side of the story.
Good Gracious Sakes Alive... I've known Jakartass (the real person behind the blog) for years and he's a good guy, a man of integrity and principle.
I honestly don't think there is a cell in his body that is racist. When I commented at the very beginning of this, my only intention was for him (and all of us) to focus on the injustice of this company -- not their ethnicity.
I'm sorry a can of worms was opened and that was not my intention.
Cheers to all and stay dry, or help those who are not, here in Jakarta....
Dear Jack,
Why should I identify myself ? No body else does. My comments are just as valid as anyone elses. Does it matter who the employer is ?
If what jakartass says is true about Penabur then EVERY institution which employs expats is also guilty of the same "crimes" that I find a bit hard to swallow. EF has been operating for many years and I am sure every employee would be able to gripe about something, human nature.
Far too many people here try to compare their origin as a benchmark against anything Indonesian. Basically one accepts the way things are here or not as simple as that. I find many things here annoying but bitching about them just makes life miserable. I know personally I will never be at home here BUT I accept it and I adapt. My email address is here, so I'm not hiding as you suggest.
Now for my apology.
It was never my intention to cast aspersions at any ethnic group, so if you feel that I have offended you in any way, please accept my sincere apologies.
As background (rather than justification) please note the following:
It was, my intention to upset some Indonesians ~ the folk at BPK Penabur.
These are some of the reasons we are angry:
1. They have failed to pay my colleague and I for the work we had done before we were fired without stated reason or legal procedure, nor for the agreed (in their writing) period of notice.
2. They also refuse to release the 'Blue Book', KITAS, and Income Tax certificates and to organise exit permits. My colleague in distress is now an illegal alien because Penabur have failed to carry out these responsibilities. I currently have a visa extension sponsored by the head of my local Immigration office. This expires next week.
3. Our legal team is supposed to have organised a meeting with Penabur. This they have failed to do.
4. One of the lawyers let slip last week that her husband is a building contractor and works for Penabur. In any other legal system she would have to declare a vested interest. Further, in most countries, having continued to work without declaring a vested interest is grounds for disciplinary action.
And there you have the background to my now regretted somewhat intemperate comment.
...................................
By the way, Jack, it was Petruk who clearly has it in for me, not Puzzled, who I've emailed separately.
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