The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

      President Megawati Soekarnoputri's decision on Sunday to declare the Lunar New Year or Imlek a national
      holiday beginning 2003 is a step toward bridging the divide between the ethnic Chinese and indigenous
      Indonesian communities, Chinese Indonesians say.

      They, however, call on the Megawati administration to follow the ruling with legislative reform to address
      remaining inequalities.

      "The significance of Imlek being declared a national holiday is that it is an act of political recognition of
      Chinese Indonesian citizens," National Mandate Party (PAN) legislator Alvin Lie told The Jakarta Post
      yesterday.

      Alvin said past exclusionary policies had left the legacy of a social divide between ethnic Chinese and other
      Indonesians.

      "The problems we have now date back to the Soeharto government, when the separation of ethnic groups
      was defined by the government. We must remove these barriers in order to improve relations between the
      different ethnic groups in Indonesia," he said.

      "Ethnic Chinese now have to free their minds from past trauma and exercise their rights and duties as
      Indonesian citizens, and contribute to society in the same walks of life as indigenous Indonesians; in
      business, politics and as civil servants."

      However, Indonesian National Unity Faction (FKKI) legislator Astrid S. Susanto said the declaration of Imlek
      as a national holiday would entrench ethnic separatism rather than promote unity.

      "I don't think there is a need to create more national holidays. I wonder if there are tribal groups who want to
      have their own holiday -- should we make more national holidays for them?" Astrid asked.

      Harry Tjan Silalahi, a researcher from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), disagreed,
      stating the move to make Imlek a national holiday would ease resentment among the ethnic Chinese
      community and facilitate a more inclusive society.

      "Chinese Indonesians feel humanized by the government decision. The decision will raise the sense of
      belonging of Chinese Indonesians toward this country," he said.

      Harry said the right to express aspects of Chinese culture and traditions was an essential step in
      reconciliation between the ethnic Chinese and indigenous Indonesian communities.

      "The government should give Chinese Indonesians freedom of religion, and room to perform Chinese
      cultural activities such as the barongsay in the public sphere," he said.

      Notwithstanding the symbolic importance of declaring Imlek a national holiday, Alvin said reform had stalled
      since former President Abdurrahman Wahid overturned Decree No. 14/1967 banning activities related to
      Chinese culture and Confucianism in 1999.

      Alvin called on Megawati to adopt a firm approach to ensure the democratic rights of all citizens regardless
      of ethnicity.

      "The main issue is not related to whether there is a holiday or not. Our main concern is that the government
      abolish all regulations and policies that are discriminatory toward Chinese Indonesians," he said.

      There are currently 50 laws and ordinances deemed discriminatory on the grounds of ethnicity, including the
      requirement for Chinese Indonesians to produce certificates of citizenship (SKBRI) every time they apply for
      official documents such as identification cards and passports.

      "The Megawati government must phase out the requirement for Chinese Indonesians to have a certificate of
      citizenship, which they have to produce when applying for official documents," said Lieus Sungkarisma,
      chairman of the Chinese Descent Reform Party of Indonesia.

      According to Paulus Widiyanto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the
      government is currently assessing those laws in need of revision in order to eliminate discrimination.

      Former President Soeharto banned public display of Chinese culture and denied citizenship to recent
      migrants after Beijing was accused of involvement in an attempted coup blamed on the Indonesian
      Communist Party (PKI) in 1965.

      Although the ethnic Chinese community comprise less than 3 percent of Indonesia's 215 million population,
      their dominance in many areas of the country's economy has bred hostility among some of the less affluent
      Indonesian citizens.

      Discriminatory Laws and Regulations

      1. Presidium Cabinet Instruction No. 37/1967 about Main Government Policies on People of Chinese
      Descent

      2. Presidential Decree No. 14/1967 on Religion, Beliefs and Culture of People of Chinese Descent

      3. Justice Minister Decree No. JB/1978 about a Certificate of Citizenship for People of Chinese Descent

      4. Justice Minister Decree No. MO1441/1983 about a certificate of citizenship based on dual citizenship
      between RI and People's Republic of China

      5. Culture and Educational Minister Decree No. 170/1975 about assimilation directives in education

      6. Home Affairs Minister Decree No. 455.2/1998 about the management of temples

      7. A letter from Social and Welfare Minister to the Minister of Home Affairs No. 764/1983 about policies
      related to the Confucian community

      8. Internal Memo from the Ministry of Information No. 2/1988 about the banning of publications and
      advertisements using Chinese characters