Holiday on Sunday

Holiday on Sunday

From Bisnis Indonesia

The Gregorian calendar system has 14 combinations of day, date and month. It has been long known that under the system, Indonesian independence day this year would fall on a Sunday.

The 200-year Calendar Index (1867-2066) based on two combinations mentions that Aug. 17 after 1945 would be on a Sunday in the years 1947, 1952, 1958, 1969, 1975, 1980 and 1986. Indonesian independence day will be celebrated on a Sunday in the following years: 1997, 2003, 2008, 2014, 2025, 2031, 2036, 2042, 2053, 2059 and 2064.

In the 51 years of Indonesia's independence only seven days fell on a Sunday. So far the Indonesian people have not been given a compensation for a substitute holiday, the Monday after, to enjoy Independence Day.

On the threshold of the 21st century we may need to consider the compensation. I hope the government will decide to make Monday Aug. 18, 1997 a holiday as a national present toward the closing of the 20th century.

WIM L. LIYONO

Jakarta