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)