'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