Govt declares 'Imlek' as national holiday<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After decades of waiting, Indonesians of Chinese descent rejoiced
\non Sunday when President Megawati Soekarnoputri announced that,
\nbeginning in 2003, the Lunar New Year, or Imlek as the Chinese
\nnew year is known here, would become an official national
\nholiday.<\/p>\n
"I know many have asked for the Chinese New Year Imlek to be a
\nnational holiday. For the sake of solidarity, I hereby declare
\nImlek as a national holiday," Megawati said in an off-the-cuff
\nclosing statement during the national celebration of the Lunar
\nNew Year at the Jakarta Trade Fair Ground in Kemayoran, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Her announcement was greeted by cheers of joy by around 2,000
\nChinese Indonesians attending the celebration, which was
\norganized by the Highest Council of Confucian Religion in
\nIndonesia (Matakin).<\/p>\n
However, the announcement must be followed by the promulgation
\nof a presidential decree before it becomes official policy.<\/p>\n
Chinese Indonesians in the world's most populous Muslim
\ncountry regained their right to celebrate Imlek in 2000, when
\nformer president Abdurrahman Wahid lifted a government ban.<\/p>\n
Former president Soeharto imposed the ban in 1967, along with
\nmany other regulations discriminating against Indonesians of
\nChinese descent following an abortive coup d'etat attempt
\nallegedly carried out by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in
\n1965, which Indonesia blamed on China.<\/p>\n
This year Imlek, which fell on Feb. 12, was celebrated as an
\noptional holiday, but most schools, stores and offices in the
\ncapital and other provinces with large Chinese communities were
\nclosed on the day.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who promised to make Imlek a national holiday
\nbefore he was ousted and replaced by then Vice President
\nMegawati, attended the celebration. Although Megawati and
\nAbdurrahman were sitting in the same room, they refused to greet
\none other.<\/p>\n
Religious Affairs Minister Said Aqil Al Munawar said after the
\ncelebration that followers of Confucianism made up almost five
\npercent of the country's 210 million people and that the decision
\nto declare Imlek as a national holiday was fair, as each religion
\ncurrently celebrated national holidays.<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid also praised the
\ndecision, but stressed that the government should go even further
\nin providing security and equal rights for Indonesians of Chinese
\ndescent.<\/p>\n
"In the end the government should pay attention to the rights
\nof those of Chinese descent," Nurcholish said.<\/p>\n
Currently, the government is reviewing around 50 regulations
\nthat discriminate against Chinese Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Megawati also reminded the nation to accept differences of
\nreligion, race and culture among Indonesian citizens and stressed
\nthat everybody should work together to maintain peace and unity.<\/p>\n
"For us, differences, as clearly seen in our pluralism, are a
\nfact. Like it or not it is the face of our country... I call on
\nall Indonesians to accept and respect differences," she said.<\/p>\n
Also present at the celebration were People's Consultative
\nAssembly Speaker Amien Rais, Coordinating Minister for Political
\nand Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, National Police
\nChief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
\nWirayuda.<\/p>\n
Chinese culture in retrospect<\/p>\n
1965: President Soekarno issues Decision No.1\/1965 recognizing
\nConfucianism as an official religion in Indonesia<\/p>\n
1967: President Soeharto issues Decree No.14\/1967 banning
\nactivities related to Chinese culture and Confucianism<\/p>\n
2000: President Abdurrahman Wahid issues Decree No. 6\/2000
\nrevoking Decree No. 14\/1967<\/p>\n
2002: President Megawati Soekarnoputri declares the Lunar New
\nYear, or Imlek, to be a national holiday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-declares-imlek-as-national-holiday-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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