Government renews recognition of rights for Confucianists

Government renews recognition of rights for Confucianists

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid renewed the
government's commitment on Sunday to acknowledging the equal
rights and position of Confucius believers among the country's
religious followers.

"Just as with other believers, Confucius followers also have
equal rights and opportunities in Indonesia...all discriminative
actions against Confucianism must end," Abdurrahman said in his
address to the Chinese community who celebrated the Lunar New
Year at the Senayan tennis indoor stadium on Sunday.

Abdurrahman, who was wearing a Chinese shirt, underlined the
government's respect and recognition of the existence of
Confucianism along with its rights to grow, live and flourish in
the country.

Also present at the celebrations were People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais and several ministers.

The event was organized by the Highest Council of Confucian
Religion in Indonesia (Matakin).

The ethnic Chinese community regained their freedom to profess
their own religion and beliefs and to celebrate their traditional
festivals following a Presidential Decree No. 6/2000 dated Jan.
17, 2000, which annuls Presidential Instruction No. 14/1967.

The annulled presidential instruction restricted the ethnic
Chinese community from carrying out activities based on Chinese
religion, beliefs and tradition, including celebrations of the
Lunar New Year.

"I would like to renew the government's commitment to stay out
of religious issues. Let every religious believer take care of
their own beliefs. As we have all learned, any government
intervention would only create negative consequences,"
Abdurrahman said.

He further asked the Chinese community in Indonesia to
consider themselves Indonesians, while others should stop
discriminating the non-indigenous ethnic community.

"It is totally incorrect to say that some of us are indigenous
and some are us are of Chinese descent. If we want to build a
strong Indonesia, we should no longer differ indigenous from
being of Chinese descent," he remarked.

"It is okay for people to keep their Chinese names but a more
important thing for them is to learn to live as Indonesian
people."

MPR Speaker Amien echoed the President, saying that people
should no longer use the term of Chinese descent.

"We only recognize Indonesian citizens. I completely agree
with the President," Amien remarked. (dja)