'We face discrimination from govt officials'<\/p>\n
Chinese-Indonesians will celebrate Imlek or the Chinese New Year
\nfrom late Wednesday to early Thursday. Public celebrations were
\npermitted with the issuance of a presidential decree by former
\npresident Abdurrahman Wahid in 2000 that revoked Presidential
\nInstruction No. 14\/1967 on Chinese religion, tradition and
\nbeliefs. Last year, the government declared Imlek a national
\nholiday. The Jakarta Post talked to some people about the issue.<\/p>\n
Widyawati Djuana, 27, is an employee at a financial firm in
\nthe Artha Graha building in South Jakarta. She lives with her
\nhusband and baby daughter in Setiabudi, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
Imlek festivities are merrier compared to five years ago. Many
\npeople take part in the celebration, regardless of their
\nethnicity or religion. I have seen some non-Chinese people buying
\nChinese New Year paraphernalia at malls and shopping centers.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there is still discriminatory treatment from
\ngovernment officers, especially when we apply for documents. In
\nmany cases, those officers still require us to show the SBKRI
\n(citizenship certificate for nonindigenous people) before they
\nwill accept our application.<\/p>\n
Rosdiana, 23, is a Chinese-Indonesian housewife who lives with
\nher husband in Ciputat, Tangerang:<\/p>\n
\"The Imlek festival is very different because the Chinese
\nLunar Year was officially declared a national holiday last year.<\/p>\n
Once, we had to take leave for the celebration but now we all
\nenjoy the holiday. The celebration is also held openly in public
\nand aired on television. It's good.<\/p>\n
Public acceptance is also evident. Seeing people talking in
\nChinese in public places is a common sight now, even on board
\npublic buses.<\/p>\n
I remember five years ago my father always warned me not to
\nspeak in Chinese while I was in public places.<\/p>\n
However, I must admit that discrimination remains in our
\ngovernment. Nothing has changed particularly when we try to
\nobtain documents.<\/p>\n
-- The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/we-face-discrimination-from-govt-officials-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }