Democrat Party: Lunar New Year Celebrations a Moment to Strengthen Diversity and Unity
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Democrat Party has used the 2026 Lunar New Year celebrations as a moment to reaffirm its national commitment and strengthen the values of multiculturalism in Indonesia.
The party described the Lunar New Year celebration as more than mere tradition, calling it a symbol of warmth, unity and new hope for the entire Indonesian nation.
"The Democrat Party is a big house for all ethnicities, religions, races and cultures. We never differentiate based on where we come from," said Democrat Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) in a statement received on Thursday.
AHY made the remarks during his address at the Democrat Party's Lunar New Year 2577 Celebration, themed "Nusantara Harmony: Together We Are Strong, United in Hope for Indonesia", held in Jakarta on Wednesday (18 February).
The Lunar New Year celebration was the first ever organised by the Democrat Party and was warmly received by the entire party family, particularly cadres of Chinese-Indonesian descent. The event was also attended by members of the general public, prominent Chinese-Indonesian figures, and cadres from various religious backgrounds.
AHY emphasised that Chinese-Indonesians are an integral part of the Indonesian nation, with equal rights and responsibilities as citizens.
He said the spirit of the Lunar New Year, rich in values of togetherness and new hope, aligns with the Democrat Party's commitment to nurturing diversity in Indonesia and should be interpreted as energy to strengthen national solidarity.
As a nationalist-religious party, AHY continued, the Democrat Party consistently supports policies that strengthen unity.
This stance is in line with the actions of the sixth President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), through Presidential Decree Number 12 of 2014, which replaced the terms "Cina/China/Tjina" with "Tionghoa" and eliminated various discriminatory practices in society as a form of historic reconciliation.
"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — Unity in Diversity — is not merely a slogan. It is our collective agreement as a nation," said AHY.
Furthermore, in his capacity as Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, AHY stressed that national development must be inclusive, equitable and evenly distributed.
"Infrastructure is not only about physical construction, but also about connecting hopes and opening opportunities, with the principle of no one left behind, no region left behind, no generation left behind. The greatest legacy of a nation is not merely physical development, but tolerance, unity, trust and social cohesion," he said.
At the event, the chairwoman of the Democrat Party's 2026 Lunar New Year Committee, Merry Riana, conveyed that this year's celebration carried a message of unity and diversity as the foundation of the nation.
Merry expressed her gratitude at the successful holding of the event and affirmed that the Lunar New Year celebration served as a symbol of national unity. She also reaffirmed the Democrat Party's position as an inclusive party that is open to all segments of society.
"This is a message that Indonesia is beautiful because of its diversity. This is a message that differences are not a reason to distance ourselves from one another, but a reason to embrace each other in togetherness," said Merry in her address.
The party described the Lunar New Year celebration as more than mere tradition, calling it a symbol of warmth, unity and new hope for the entire Indonesian nation.
"The Democrat Party is a big house for all ethnicities, religions, races and cultures. We never differentiate based on where we come from," said Democrat Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) in a statement received on Thursday.
AHY made the remarks during his address at the Democrat Party's Lunar New Year 2577 Celebration, themed "Nusantara Harmony: Together We Are Strong, United in Hope for Indonesia", held in Jakarta on Wednesday (18 February).
The Lunar New Year celebration was the first ever organised by the Democrat Party and was warmly received by the entire party family, particularly cadres of Chinese-Indonesian descent. The event was also attended by members of the general public, prominent Chinese-Indonesian figures, and cadres from various religious backgrounds.
AHY emphasised that Chinese-Indonesians are an integral part of the Indonesian nation, with equal rights and responsibilities as citizens.
He said the spirit of the Lunar New Year, rich in values of togetherness and new hope, aligns with the Democrat Party's commitment to nurturing diversity in Indonesia and should be interpreted as energy to strengthen national solidarity.
As a nationalist-religious party, AHY continued, the Democrat Party consistently supports policies that strengthen unity.
This stance is in line with the actions of the sixth President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), through Presidential Decree Number 12 of 2014, which replaced the terms "Cina/China/Tjina" with "Tionghoa" and eliminated various discriminatory practices in society as a form of historic reconciliation.
"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — Unity in Diversity — is not merely a slogan. It is our collective agreement as a nation," said AHY.
Furthermore, in his capacity as Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, AHY stressed that national development must be inclusive, equitable and evenly distributed.
"Infrastructure is not only about physical construction, but also about connecting hopes and opening opportunities, with the principle of no one left behind, no region left behind, no generation left behind. The greatest legacy of a nation is not merely physical development, but tolerance, unity, trust and social cohesion," he said.
At the event, the chairwoman of the Democrat Party's 2026 Lunar New Year Committee, Merry Riana, conveyed that this year's celebration carried a message of unity and diversity as the foundation of the nation.
Merry expressed her gratitude at the successful holding of the event and affirmed that the Lunar New Year celebration served as a symbol of national unity. She also reaffirmed the Democrat Party's position as an inclusive party that is open to all segments of society.
"This is a message that Indonesia is beautiful because of its diversity. This is a message that differences are not a reason to distance ourselves from one another, but a reason to embrace each other in togetherness," said Merry in her address.