Dear all,

These past few weeks, there have been a lot of demonstrations held by the students in all over Indonesia. Their intentions're true for the sake of the people and of course the people backed them up wholeheartedly. Tensions're all over rural area, but not in Jakarta,since all people considered it as the capital city and the safest city.

Things have just changed, Jakarta is now center of the chaos. It started when a misfortunate event occurred in my neighbour university, Universitas Trisakti, where 6 students reported killed by the army during demonstration in May 13, 1998. It brought shockwaves all over the world and began the worst of Indonesia predicament. May 14, while the students were in the moment of mourn, the mass took advantages and started to destroy buildings and cars then burnt them down. The whole things spread so quickly, in a matter of hours, Jakarta was like in a civil war. The issue is NOT the assertion of students aspirations anymore, nor the reform act, simply plundering and looting by the same Indonesian citizens who has been staying in Jakarta all their lives as we, Chinese, have too.

Yesterday, they invaded my house. At first, they only threw some rocks to the windows/doors and they forced to open the gate. They failed their first attempt. So they just continue to throw rocks around the house once in a while. Everybody in my house (Dad, Uncle, Auntie, us 3 sisters, 3 servants and couple of drivers) were terrified and have already prepared things to evacuate. But things seemed to be a bit calmer, then suddenly they managed to get inside and forced us to leave the house. They're shouting at us, violently pushed us out, and beat us up. Dad and I had to kneel down and apologize to them, to beg them not to hurt our family and to let us leave. Luckily, there're our kind native neighbours who were able to stop them and protected us. We're escorted back to our house, and several kind neighbours said they would guarantee our safety then they really guarded our house the whole night. I'm really grateful and wish may God bless them.

I've never been so scared in my live before. I was trembling and shaking last night, thinking what could happen to us, especially after I saw what Dad almost did. Dad were prepared to give up everything for the sake of his daughters. We've past the horrible night alright, but we're still live in horror and not knowing when this unfortunate faith will be over. Evacuate? To where? As far as the Chinese can see, there's no safe place for them. I tried to stay calm but I'm still feeling the same tension I felt last night. I jump when I hear someone shout, my heartbeat like hell when I hear loud noise, I want to cry when I hear rocks thrown to my housewalls.

May God be with us, and I suppose we're quite lucky compare to other Chineses in Jakarta. Other worse things had happened to the minorities and nothing can stop them. The mobs gladly looted us, cheerfully burn tour properties, and joyfully dancing in front of the news camera while doing so.

I'm not trying to put all the blame on the native Indonesians, even it was a racial attempt and on the other hand it was the natives also who have saved our lives. This is one of my way to seek help, that's why I ask you to at least spread this story around, if God allows maybe someone with the capability to help us can read this and help us. Or maybe you can do something with your government. Or maybe you can pray for us. Or anything. Please.

Christine