Mixed emotions as ethnic Chinese welcome the Rooster

Mixed emotions as ethnic Chinese welcome the Rooster

The Jakarta Post, Medan/Surabaya/Jambi

Chinese-Indonesians ushered in the Year of the Rooster with a
variety of festivities across the country.

In a displaced persons shelter in Medan, not a hint of
happiness could be spotted in Firus Andalan's face during the
Chinese New Year celebration there on Wednesday.

The eager faces of the children waiting for ang pao, red
envelopes filled with money, could not cheer up the 62-year-old
Chinese-Indonesian native of Peunayong village in Kota Alam
district in Banda Aceh.

"I'm sad. Usually, my wife and I celebrated Imlek with our
children at home. But not this year. My wife, children and
grandchildren are still missing. And our house is gone. I can't
believe I have to celebrate Imlek this year without them," said
Firus as he broke in to tears.

Chinese-Indonesians, many of whom are traditional traders and
shopkeepers, were allowed by the government to openly celebrate
the Chinese New Year following Soeharto's downfall, when the
government lifted a ban on overt displays of Chinese culture in
2000.

Another person in the shelter, Nyot Oi, lost her second child
and her home, but her husband and four other children survived.
"There's no way we can be happy this Imlek if we celebrate it in
a shelter and without Minyien," said Nyot Oi, referring to her
missing child.

It seemed as if only the children were having a good time,
receiving ang pao from North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin.

"I'm happy getting ang pao from the governor. My father and
mother did not give me one because they have no more money," said
Avian, a second grade elementary student from Banda Aceh, who has
been living in the shelter since early January.

In Aceh, the Chinese New Year was celebrated in a somber mood
as the small, but economically important community was devastated
by the giant waves six weeks ago.

About 20 survivors gathered in the morning at the biggest
Buddhist temple in Banda Aceh, to mourn the dead with prayers and
incense, hoping for a better year ahead as they try to rebuild
shattered lives.

"The celebrations last year were much bigger than this. Most
people are in Medan now," community leader Tasman was quoted by
Reuters. "Nobody is selling new year's items like cakes. There is
nothing here."

At least 600 members of the tight-knit community are believed
to be among the victims who perished in Banda Aceh, community
leaders said.

Shop owner Bakrie said there was little to celebrate.

"The conditions here in Aceh are not good. Areas where the
Chinese people were living were devastated. I would say 70
percent of our areas were destroyed and many of our friends died,
so we are still in mourning," he said, adding that most Chinese-
run businesses were still closed.

"We have to keep up our spirits. I urge my friends and family
to come back to Banda Aceh, because this is our home."

In Surabaya, hundreds of Chinese-Indonesians turned up for the
celebration at Tri Darma Temple as well as in other temples like
Hong Cik Yan, Pakik Bio and Hong San Ko Tee. Security was tight
with hundreds of security personnel seen posted around the
temples.

At Hong Cik Yan, the people began turning up at 3 a.m., to
pray and hand out ang pao to the needy. At Hong San Ko Tee
temple, the worshipers also prayed for the tsunami victims in
Aceh and North Sumatra.

"This Imlek, we are praying for our brothers in Aceh, and we
also are raising funds for Aceh," said Budi Enggal of the temple.

In Jambi, most economic activities came to a halt as 70
percent of shops in the city center were closed during the Imlek
celebrations.

"We're closing for two or three days," explained A Huan, a
shop owner on the main road, Jl Abujani.

A lot of residents stocked up on food and other items for the
annual festivities several days in advance.