Some schools and JSX closed on Chinese New Year
Some schools and JSX closed on Chinese New Year
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta
Following the government's announcement that the upcoming
Chinese New Year on Feb. 12 was an alternative holiday, many
schools and private firms have decided to take a day off.
Even the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX), for the first time in
its history, will cease operating in observance of the
celebration, popularly known here as Imlek.
"Our office will be closed on Tuesday since we have been
informed that the Jakarta stock exchange will close that day,"
said Sri, a trader from a private financial company at the JSX
building on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta.
Banks, however, will open as the central bank announced it
would operate normally on Tuesday as would other government
offices.
While state-run schools will run as usual, many private
schools will have a holiday.
"Most of our students are Chinese. That's why we decided to
close the school," said Albertus Joko Widodo, headmaster of a
Tarakanita school here.
Meanwhile, Kurniawan, a teacher of Global Jaya junior high
school in Bintaro, Tangerang, said the school would end at noon,
rather than the usual 4 p.m.
The Imlek atmosphere was palpable in Chinatown, including at
the Glodok electronics market, where vendors have displayed many
gifts, tributes and colorful decorations.
In Teluk Gong, West Jakarta, some Buddhist viharas have been
preparing to celebrate Imlek.
"We now have freedom to conduct prayer services in accordance
with our tradition," said Sugiyanto Krisnandar, a board member at
Vihara Dharma Satrya in Teluk Gong.
Under the 32-year rule of New Order regime, Soeharto banned
Imlek and suppressed Chinese traditions and culture. The policy
was made after ties between China and Indonesia were severed
following a revolt by the Indonesia Communist Party in 1965.
The government accused the Republic of China of involvement in
the rebellion. Beijing denied the accusation.
When Abdurrahman Wahid became president in 1999, he opened the
door to Chinese culture. Since then, Chinese Indonesians, who
comprise about three percent of the population, have had the
freedom to expose their culture.
Last year, the minister of religious affairs issued decree No.
13 stipulating that Imlek was an alternative holiday.
Commenting on the government's policy, Wahyu Effendy, chairman
of the Indonesian Anti Discrimination Movement (Gandi), said that
the policy on Chinese Indonesians was still half-hearted.
He questioned the government's decision not to declare Imlek
celebrations a national holiday. The partial-holiday declaration
sparked confusion as to whether or not the government was
committed to treating the Chinese as equally as other citizens.
"Such particular treatment demonstrates that the government is
still discriminating against the Chinese in Indonesia," Wahyu
said.
Wahyu said Imlek celebrations should not only be limited to a
ritual ceremony but it should be interpreted in the broader
context.
The Chinese were still suffering discrimination, such as in
the application of official documents, he said.
Meanwhile, Jusuf Hamka, chairman of Parpindo, an organization
for the assimilation of Chinese in Indonesia, called for the
Chinese to celebrate Imlek modestly.
As a matter of fact, many Chinese would have to celebrate the
holiday quietly as they were badly effected by the recent floods
across the capital.
The homes and businesses of Chinese people at Teluk Gong, for
example, were still covered by mud and garbage following the
recent floods. On Friday afternoon, some workers were still
trying to clean the Vihara Dhama Satrya, which was built in 1950.
However, the Vihara board had bought religious accessories
including candles, joss sticks and papers.
"But we won't conduct any prayers should further floods come,"
Sugiyanto said.