'Chinese able to enrich RI culture'

The Chinese New Year, known here as Imlek, was celebrated by Chinese-Indonesians and the rest of the nation on Thursday. Despite the official discrimination they still face, the ethnic Chinese community welcomed the government's decision to declare Imlek a national holiday. The Jakarta Post spoke with some people about the issue.

Alek Ansawarman, 27, is a lecturer at the Indonesian Christian University in Cawang, East Jakarta. He lives in Jatinegara, East Jakarta:

The fact that Imlek is now freely celebrated and even recognized as a national holiday shows that the ethnic Chinese have been accepted as part of the Indonesian nation.

The recognition of Chinese culture and traditions will eventually help the Chinese shed the feeling of being alienated, giving them a more open attitude toward other ethnic groups and fostering a sense of belonging and patriotism toward Indonesia.

Chinese culture will also enrich the country's cultural diversity, while from the point of view of international relations, Indonesia will be able to show that it is indeed a civilized nation after being totally disgraced by the 1998 May tragedy.

From an international trade perspective, Indonesia could benefit from the ties of the ethnic Chinese here with the global Chinese community.

Catherine Rahadi, 27, is an editor of Outmagz magazine. She lives in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta:

I have always supported the concept of multiculturalism where we truly understand each other by learning each other's cultures and traditions. I have no objection to the celebration of the Chinese New Year. In fact, I totally support it.

What I slightly disagree with is the trend to commercialize Imlek, but that probably a problem with other holidays as well.

I fear the commercialization will make the people miss the essence of the holiday. It should be about cultural exchange, experience and understanding, according to me.

-- The Jakarta Post