In the Minority

There is reason for celebration with the observance of Chinese New Year this month. Malls are adorned with festive red and gold, and the dragon and lion dancers are having their moment at center stage.

There is more to the observance than raging mass commercialization or yet another national holiday.  After the grim years of the New Order regime, when expressions of Chinese culture were prohibited, the Lunar New Year finally became a holiday in 2000. That followed the terrible May 1998 riots in which the ethnic Chinese community bore the brunt of the violence and destruction.

This month’s Centerpiece focuses on the Chinese-Indonesian experience, their resilience despite periods of oppression and persecution and the effects of a more democratic Indonesia post-1998. At the very least, after the decades when they learned to play by the majority rules to survive, Chinese-Indonesians can now speak more freely than in the past.

I am happy to say that the Weekender holds its own in matters of promoting diversity. Our contributors – writers and photographers – represent the diversity of Indonesia today, including Indonesians from all their colorful backgrounds, long-time expats and those who recently became beguiled by this great land. We are all united in our love of Indonesia and that, I believe, is the way it should be. 

( Bruce Emond )

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