Govt declares 'Imlek' as national holiday
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After decades of waiting, Indonesians of Chinese descent rejoiced on Sunday when President Megawati Soekarnoputri announced that, beginning in 2003, the Lunar New Year, or Imlek as the Chinese new year is known here, would become an official national holiday.
"I know many have asked for the Chinese New Year Imlek to be a national holiday. For the sake of solidarity, I hereby declare Imlek as a national holiday," Megawati said in an off-the-cuff closing statement during the national celebration of the Lunar New Year at the Jakarta Trade Fair Ground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
Her announcement was greeted by cheers of joy by around 2,000 Chinese Indonesians attending the celebration, which was organized by the Highest Council of Confucian Religion in Indonesia (Matakin).
However, the announcement must be followed by the promulgation of a presidential decree before it becomes official policy.
Chinese Indonesians in the world's most populous Muslim country regained their right to celebrate Imlek in 2000, when former president Abdurrahman Wahid lifted a government ban.
Former president Soeharto imposed the ban in 1967, along with many other regulations discriminating against Indonesians of Chinese descent following an abortive coup d'etat attempt allegedly carried out by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965, which Indonesia blamed on China.
This year Imlek, which fell on Feb. 12, was celebrated as an optional holiday, but most schools, stores and offices in the capital and other provinces with large Chinese communities were closed on the day.
Abdurrahman, who promised to make Imlek a national holiday before he was ousted and replaced by then Vice President Megawati, attended the celebration. Although Megawati and Abdurrahman were sitting in the same room, they refused to greet one other.
Religious Affairs Minister Said Aqil Al Munawar said after the celebration that followers of Confucianism made up almost five percent of the country's 210 million people and that the decision to declare Imlek as a national holiday was fair, as each religion currently celebrated national holidays.
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid also praised the decision, but stressed that the government should go even further in providing security and equal rights for Indonesians of Chinese descent.
"In the end the government should pay attention to the rights of those of Chinese descent," Nurcholish said.
Currently, the government is reviewing around 50 regulations that discriminate against Chinese Indonesians.
Megawati also reminded the nation to accept differences of religion, race and culture among Indonesian citizens and stressed that everybody should work together to maintain peace and unity.
"For us, differences, as clearly seen in our pluralism, are a fact. Like it or not it is the face of our country... I call on all Indonesians to accept and respect differences," she said.
Also present at the celebration were People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda.
Chinese culture in retrospect
1965: President Soekarno issues Decision No.1/1965 recognizing Confucianism as an official religion in Indonesia
1967: President Soeharto issues Decree No.14/1967 banning activities related to Chinese culture and Confucianism
2000: President Abdurrahman Wahid issues Decree No. 6/2000 revoking Decree No. 14/1967
2002: President Megawati Soekarnoputri declares the Lunar New Year, or Imlek, to be a national holiday.