VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 12 - Chinese citizens are celebrating Chinese New Year 2572/2021. It is possible thanks to the role of former President KH. Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur).

Gus Dur's daughter, Alissa Wahid, said that Gus Dur's contact with Chinese descent was when a Chinese couple was denied marriage registration in the 90s. In fact, said Alissa, Gus Dur did not know the Chinese couple.

"But when he was asked to become an expert witness in court, Gus Dur then stepped forward. From there, Gus Dur was exposed to the life of the Chinese people," he said in the Bung Jubir Podcast, which was seen by rri.co.id, Friday (12/2 / 2021).

Before 2001, Chinese citizens could not celebrate Chinese New Year openly.

This happened because President Soeharto issued Inpres No. 14 of 1967 concerning the prohibition of Chinese religions, beliefs and customs. Liongsamsi, Chinese characters, and all things related to China including names: prohibited or restricted. Cannot be celebrated in general.

By many people what the New Order did was called ethnic cleansing. The regime argues that this policy is for the sake of a legitimate assimilation process. During the New Order era, ethnic Chinese were not recognized as ethnic groups.

Ethnic Chinese were forced to assimilate themselves with the majority ethnic group where they live. For example, when they were in Bandung, they had to be Sundanese. Religion too. Must choose as adherents of five recognized religions.

The 1998 Reform era brought new breath. BJ. Habibie issued Inpres No. 26/1998 which annulled discriminatory regulations against the Chinese community. Gus Dur went further. He appeared to defend the rights of the Chinese community with the concept of the new nationality he introduced.

Gus Dur eliminated the dichotomy between natives and non-natives. Gus Dur considered that Chinese people were the same as Javanese, Batak, Sundanese, Minang, Dayak, Papuan, Bugis, and so on. All have the right to live and guaranteed justice in this country.

Ultimately, Gus Dur issued Presidential Instruction No. 6./2000 which annulled Soeharto's Presidential Instruction. Since then, Chinese citizens have been free to return to practice their beliefs and culture.

In 2001, the curtain of darkness was opened. Chinese citizens are celebrating Chinese New Year with joy.

In the Gus Dur era, Chinese New Year was a facultative holiday, meaning that celebrating was allowed to take a vacation. President Megawati continued Gus Dur's policies by signing Presidential Decree No. 19/2002 which makes Imlek a national holiday.

Coinciding with the Cap Go Meh celebration at the Tay Kek Sie Temple on March 10, 2004, Gus Dur was named the Father of China. Gus Dur's photo was even posted at Boen Bio Temple, Surabaya, as a form of respect for Gus Dur's services. (RRI)