Wary ethnic Chinese plan subdued celebration

Wary ethnic Chinese plan subdued celebration

JAKARTA (JP): In anticipation of the presence of intruders at
mass gatherings of people and the possible spreading of religious
conflicts to the capital, Chinese Indonesians in the city vow to
celebrate the Chinese New Year (Imlek) in a modest mood this
year.

Interviewed separately on Thursday, Jakarta residents of
Chinese descent said Chinese Indonesians should not overstate the
new year fiesta although the government had granted full freedom
for this year's celebration, which occurs on Feb. 5.

The owner of an electronic shop in the downtown Kota area in
West Jakarta, Hendra Liem, said the situation nationwide had not
yet returned to normal as riots could still occur anytime.

"It has been proven that crowds of people often turn to
violence. The massive celebration of Imlek can easily be used by
provocateurs to trigger violence in the city," Hendra said,
adding that he would celebrate Imlek by visiting his elderly
relatives and would temporarily close his shop on the day of the
celebration.

The owner of the Surabaya Jaya traditional Chinese drug shop
on Jl. Pancoran, also in downtown Kota, said traders were still
gripped by rumors on Wednesday that violence might erupt in
conjunction with the one-year commemoration of religious
conflicts in Maluku.

"The most important thing for traders is safety. So, I think
it will be okay if there is no great Imlek celebration this
year.

"After all, we have been absent from such festivities for many
years," the shop owner, who refused to be named, said.

A similar opinion was aired by the owner of a restaurant in
Kota, A Chen.

"I am actually expecting a huge Imlek celebration this year,
like what I experienced during my childhood. But if the
conditions are inappropriate, what can I say?"

Following the revocation of Presidential Instruction No.
41/1967, which restricted Chinese religious practices and
traditions, several Chinese Indonesians had earlier planned to
hold a massive festival this year by mostly staging traditional
Chinese Barongsai lion dances.

The dance itself has been performed several times since
president Soeharto announced his resignation on May 21, 1998.

But sporadic religious conflicts in the Eastern islands have
forced dance groups to reconsider their plans.

Calls for modest Imlek celebrations were made by the
Association of Chinese Clans in a written statement, copies of
which were made available to the media on Thursday.

"In observance of the country's poor condition, we call on all
Chinese Indonesians to celebrate Imlek by holding charitable
activities and praying for the country's safety," said the
statement, signed by the association's chairman Brig. Gen. (ret.)
Tedy Jusuf and secretary Kamil Setiadi.

The chairman of the Pasar Baru Traders Association, Burhanudin
Ie, said he would reconsider the plan to stage Barongsai dances
during the celebration.

"We have yet to decide whether we'll continue with the plan,"
he said.

Meanwhile, several owners of Barongsai dance groups said they
would continue with rehearsals while observing the latest
political development.

"We don't want to upset our clients. But if the conditions
worsen, it would not matter if dances are canceled," Ronald
Sjarif, an instructor of a Barongsai dance group, said.

Another dance group owner, Surya Tonowidjaja, said he had made
no cancellations so far.

"We'll continue with preparations but when the situation
worsens, we'll cancel the show," he said. (ind)