MUZI - Lateline News

HONG KONG - Overseas Chinese in Hong Kong urged the presidents of the United States and Indonesia on Friday to take strong action to prevent a repeat of the bloody violence against ethnic Chinese in Indonesia in May.

Worries over the safety of ethnic Chinese in the southeast Asian country have taken centre stage in Hong Kong this week amid signs a fresh wave of racist violence could break out in the weeks ahead.

About 100 people marched to the Indonesian consulate on Friday to condemn the May riots and demanded that Habibie find the culprits and take strong action to prevent further violence against ethnic Chinese.

``Shame, shame, shame,'' chanted the protesters, who were led by legislator Emily Lau's party The Frontier.

``We condemn the torture and rape of women and the weak.''

In letters to Indonesian President B.J. Habibie and U.S. President Bill Clinton, the Hong

Kong Overseas Chinese General Association pleaded with them to help prevent further violence.

In a letter to Clinton, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, the association said: ``We ask

the President to protect the rights of humans all over the world, to uphold their integrity and to

have concern for the serious situation now in Indonesia.''

It added: ``Currently, in Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung and other cities, threatening flyers have

surfaced. Looting, burning and rapes still continue and bloody riots can happen again.''

It called on Clinton to urge Habibie to catch the culprits and protect human rights, and asked

the United Nations to investigate the violation of rights during the May 13-15 riots.

In another letter to Habibie, also obtained by Reuters, the association called on the government to protect the rights of Indonesian Chinese as guaranteed by the laws of the country, and to protect Chinese women raped in the riots and help them recover.

``We hope the Indonesian government would immediately find the mastermind behind the violent riots,'' it said.

The worst rioting occurred in Jakarta, where almost 1,200 people were killed and the city's Chinatown district was left scarred by looting and arson attacks on hundreds of shops and buildings in May. Human rights groups say scores of ethnic Chinese women were systematically raped during the riots.

Tens of thousands of ethnic Chinese fled the country in the wake of the riots and many have not yet returned. Many who have not left live in fear of a resurgence of violence.

Hong Kong's 500,000-strong overseas Chinese population, half of whom are Indonesian Chinese, are concerned by rumours that violence could be renewed on July 27, the second anniversary of a police raid on the offices of opposition figure Megawati Sukarnoputri, and on August 17, Indonesia's Independence Day.

Flyers calling for violence against the ethnic Chinese minority have been circulating in Bandung, Java, this week.

The fate of the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia has caused concern in Hong Kong, and legislators have sent letters to the Indonesian government urging protection for ethnic Chinese.

At the march in Hong Kong, which was joined by several non-Indonesian Chinese, protesters broke down as they recounted how relatives and friends were tortured and raped.

``My brother was beaten up and my family's fields were all burnt,'' said Chui Nee, 67, frequently breaking into sobs.

Fung Suet Yui, a Hong Kong resident of 20 years, said: ``They treat Chinese like vegetables in their backyard, to eat when they want, and to cut and kill them whenever they wish.''

Indonesian consul Suhadi Salam has received a petition from the group. Speaking to reporters later, Salam said Habibie had given orders to set up a commission to investigate the rape cases. [Reuters]