Government ends bar on observing Chinese religions, traditions

JAKARTA (JP): The government has officially revoked Presidential Instruction No. 41/1967, which restricted the observance of Chinese religious practices and traditions.

Ministry of Home Affairs spokesman Herman Ibrahim said on Tuesday that Presidential Decree No. 6/2000 was issued on Monday to revoke the 33-year-old instruction.

"For Indonesians of Chinese descent across the country, please go ahead and celebrate your New Year. No permits need to be obtained for that anymore," Herman said, referring to next month's Chinese New Year.

He said the repeal of the regulation was made after serious concern that it stifled the practice of different religions.

The Confucianist High Council announced the Chinese New Year would fall on Feb. 5.

Herman advised people to hold modest celebrations in an effort to maintain the country's unity and respect other faiths.

Until recently, all public activities related to Confucianism and Chinese religious practices and traditions were banned.

The prohibition of Chinese traditions dates back to the 1965 failed communist coup, which Jakarta accused the Chinese government of supporting.

Issued during the early years of Soeharto's rule, the regulation restricts the practice of Chinese religion and traditions to closed private ceremonies.

Organization of the ceremonies still needed the consent of the minister of religious affairs with the approval of the attorney general. (emf)