Atma Jaya Yogyakarta Academics' Views on the August Demonstrations by Chinese Ethnic Groups

Abstract

The presence of ethnic Chinese in the Indonesian archipelago has existed since the 15th century, but their social position remains vulnerable due to the legacy of the colonial policy of divide and rule and negative historical stereotypes. This study examines the dynamics of the position of ethnic Chinese within the context of citizenship in Indonesia, focusing on the impact of the August 2025 demonstrations titled "Indonesia Gelap, Revolusi Mulai" (Dark Indonesia, Revolution Begins) in Yogyakarta. Although the constitution guarantees equality, the provocative narratives of ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup relations (SARA) that emerged during these demonstrations exhibited patterns similar to the May 1998 Tragedy, thus evoking collective trauma across generations. Using qualitative descriptive methods, the results show that this social upheaval has had multidimensional impacts: psychologically, through anxiety and a loss of security; socially, through withdrawal from public spaces; and economically, through sluggish business activity. The main factors contributing to the persistence of discrimination are identified as the "foreign group" stereotype inherited from the colonial era, the lack of space for multicultural dialogue, and the widespread disinformation on social media. This study concludes that strengthening character education, creating cross-community dialogue forums in Yogyakarta, and the strategic role of influencers in disseminating inclusive messages are crucial for mitigating racial sentiment and strengthening national integration.