Fan Ngin Tong Ngin Tjit Jong The Assimilation Face of Grassroot of Chinese Ethnic in Bangka Island, Indonesia

¹ Department of Political Science, Universitas Bangka Belitung, Gg. IV No.1, Balun Ijuk, Balunijuk 33172, Bangka, Indonesia.
² Department of Sociology, Universitas Bangka Belitung, Gg. IV No.1, Balun Ijuk, Balunijuk 33172, Bangka, Indonesia.

^* Corresponding author: iim_babel@yahoo.com

Abstract

Chinese ethnic in Bangka Island has been there since the colonialism and has become part of tin mining history on the island. It is no wonder that the acculturation has stated for a long time ago especially in the grass root society. This study found out how is Chinese assimilation in this area using the qualitative approach. Based on the data from interviews and observations on the field, the writer found out that Chinese assimilation on the island formed a unity identity without losing their own identity. Tong Ngin Fan Ngin Tjit Tjong which means Chinese and Native, has become the grass roots’ principle and social bond among them. Since the reformation in 1998, this broadens the relation from social into electoral politics. However, the spirit of acculturation in the grass roots must be kept that it doesn’t appear to the surface. The celebration of Chinese identity recognition must be done naturally so as not to cause antipathy. The tolerance that has been practiced so far at the grassroots must be strengthened so that when conflicts of elite interests occur, relations at the grassroots level are not affected.