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.