'Imlek' and its consequences

'Imlek' and its consequences

From Warta Kota

Reading a news story about President Megawati declaring Imlek or the Lunar New Year a national holiday, I am of the opinion that this judgment should be welcomed. At least it indicates that there is no more discrimination against the ethnic Chinese in the country.

Understandably, Chinese attributes and rituals were forbidden for years. Perhaps the people of Chinese descent can only dominate the business sector, something in which other ethnic groups find it hard to compete.

In reality Chinese-Indonesians have been successful for years in several aspects of the country's life such as music, cinema, etc. This means the process of recognition has occurred naturally.

What is important now is that Chinese-Indonesians should not stress too much stress their ethnic Chinese attributes and rituals amid their excitement, a culture that refers back to their Chinese ancestors. As popular figure of assimilation Junus Jahja has said, they will revive a lifestyle that is in line with the Indonesian way of life simply because they are part of Indonesia, not the People's Republic of China.

MUSA K.

Jakarta