Treatment towards Minorities

Question 1

Multiculturalism were more effective in their treatment towards minorities as it allowed cultural space and recognition that placated the minorities leading to social stability (S, M)

Answer 1

[S] Ethnic-neutral policies → English as the official working language, various ethnic languages taught as official MT in schools; freedom of worship guaranteed in Constitution

⇒ No social instability since 1964

[M] Accommodative practices towards minorities despite widely-accepted dominant Malay culture → Official language Malay but Chinese and Tamil schools and the use of minority languages allowed; freedom of worship also constitutionally guaranteed

⇒ No major challenges since 1969

Question 2

Assimilative policies were efficient in the ST to eradicate minority resentment (I, V)

Answer 2

[I] West Irian - Different colonial experience as they were under the Portuguese, later faced invasion from Sukarno in 1976 despite proclaiming independence in 1975, who wanted to claim it under Indonesia –> ST cus they gained indep in 2002 after the UN intervened

[v]1968 Meo Revolt – Hmong people revolted against the forced resettlement and the government napalmed and bombed them as they immediately assumed communist threat

Question 3

Assimilative policies which were then toned down to become more accomodative had greater success in placating minorities thus ensuring social stability (V, T)

Answer 3

[V]
- Accommodation of the Chinese from 1984:
Cholon schools offer Chinese as foreign lang
Textbooks for certain technical subjects/ laws printed in

• 1993 onwards – Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas (CEMMA) - responsible for formulating poverty alleviation strategies

[T] 1948 – Thai govt rejected proposal for Malay representation in the administration of the area. & Dusun Nyiur incident (violent confrontation, 400 malay muslims and 30 police officers casualty)
- Govt then became more accommodating – can keep Muslim names, Muslim quotas for university admissions, govt bureaucracy, establishment of councils for Muslim affairs, agricultural reforms introduced.
⇒ General acceptance of Thai identity despite ethnic distinctiveness

Question 4

Continued assimilative policies towards minorities were unsuccessful insofar as they pushed minorities out to the point they wanted separatism and became hardcore, leading to territorial disunity (I, B)

Answer 4

[I] Aceh – own sultanate in the past and saw itself as independent of Indonesia > wanted out of Indonesia (GAM), had differences with the Christian Bataks in the nearby province. Aceh governors and officials were non-indigenous, picked by Suharto, to ensure marginalisation. Exacerbated by Libyan support in the conflict to help out their fellow Muslims until they gained their autonomy from Indonesia in 2002.

[B]

• Shan state faced Continued harassment by the Military and internal disunity among these ethic organisations prevented an end.
• Language policies and land nationalisation penetrated the Shan state with the erosion of their political powers.
• 1950– Sawbwas (elites) made to agree to forgo their judicial powers
• 1952 – Southern Shan state fell under military administration
• 1959 – Administrative powers of the Sawbwas were terminated.
• Ceasefires = military agreement underlying reasons for ethnic disunity or the achievement of intangible aspects of National Unity were neglected and brushed under the carpet