Indonesian capital set for first ethnic Chinese governor

Indonesia's small ethnic Chinese community faced severe discrimination for decades during the Suharto dictatorship. But the minority is now poised for a new milestone, with Jakarta soon to get its first ethnic Chinese governor. After Muslim-majority Indonesia threw off authoritarian rule, the minority group which had played little role in the country's political life began to win more freedoms and greater acceptance. Sixteen years after watching anti-Chinese rioters loot and burn Jakarta as Suharto's 32-year rule came to a chaotic end, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama is now set to take over as the leader of the capital. His ethnicity is not the only thing that sets him apart from the majority of Indonesians -- Purnama, currently Jakarta's deputy governor, is also a Christian.The 48-year-old will become only the second Christian leader of the capital when he takes over from Joko Widodo, the current governor, who was elected president last month, according to AFP.