JAKARTA, Feb. 17, (Xinhua) -- East Kalimantan Police of Indonesia invite ethnic Chinese to take part in a selection for candidates of police officers, Antara News Agency reports on Saturday.

    Provincial police chief Ins. Gen. Indarto said Saturday that all Indonesians, including ethnic Chinese, have equal rights to become police officers.

    "We have ethnic Chinese dentist in East Kalimantan Police headquarters, But so far there are no ethnic Chinese, who apply to become police officers in the first round of the selection," Indarto was quoted by Antara as saying.

    During the rule of former Indonesian president Soeharto, there was little access for ethnic Chinese to become civil servants or other relevant positions in government institutions. Therefore, most of Chinese Indonesians become traders and other businesses for their living.

    Around 5 percent of some 220 million Indonesians are ethnic Chinese.