INSTRUCTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF

INDONESIA No. 14 IN THE YEAR 1967 ABOUT CHINESE

RELIGION, BELIEFS AND TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS
I, AS ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
Considering:
that Chinese religion, beliefs and traditional customs in Indonesia
which focus on the country of their ancestors, and which in their
manifestation can give rise to inappropriate psychological, mental and
moral influences on Indonesian citizens and so form an obstacle to
the process of assimilation, need to be regulated and their functions
placed in their proper proportion.
In view of:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Article 4 subsection 1 and Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution;

Decision of the MPRS No. XXVII of 1966 Chapter III Article 7
and Explanation Article 1 subsection (1);
Instruction of Cabinet Presidium No. 37 of 1967;
Presidential Decision No. 171 of 1967, in conjunction with No.
163 of 1966.

INSTRUCTS
To:
1.
2.
3.

The Minister of Religion

The Minister for Internal Affairs
All bodies and Instruments of Government both Central and
Regional
In Order to:
Implement the basic policy on Chinese religion, beliefs and traditional
customs as follows:
First:
Without reducing the guarantee of freedom to embrace religion and
carry out its observance, in the case of Chinese practices of
observance which possess aspects of cultural affinity focusing on the

country of their ancestors, their performance must take place

internally within the family or individually.
Second:
Celebrations of Chinese religious festivals and nontraditional customs
should be done in a way which is not conspicuous in public, rather
they should be done within the family environment.
Third:
Determination both of the categories of Chinese religion and belief
and of the performance of methods of observance of Chinese religion,
beliefs and traditional customs are regulated by the Minister for
Religion upon hearing the advice of the Attorney General.
Fourth:
Maintenance of security and order in the implementation of this basic
policy will be regulated by the Minister for Internal Affairs together
with the Attorney General.
Fifth:
This instruction will take effect on the date of issue.
Issued in JakartaDate: 6 December 1967
ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
signed SOEHARTO General of the TNI

DECISION No. 240 of 1967of the PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

OF INDONESIA concerning THE BASIC POLICY RELATING TO
INDONESIAN CITIZENS OF FOREIGN DESCENT
I, AS ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
Considering:
that on the basis of the Pancasila and holding to the principle of a
state based on the rule of law and motivated by the aspirations of the
Indonesian Nation to foster unity and unification of the Nation, there

needs to be a clarification of the status and fostering of Indonesian

citizens of foreign descent;
In View Of:
5.
6.
7.
8.

Article 4 subsection 1 and Article 27 of the 1945 Constitution;

Article 4 of MPRS Resolution No. III of 1966;
Presidential Decision No. 171 of 1967 in conjunction with
Decision No. 163 of 1966;
Decision of the Presidium Cabinet No. 127 of 1966.

HEREBY DECIDES:
To determine: Basic policy relating to Indonesian Citizens of Foreign
Descent as follows:
CHAPTER 1
THE STATUS OF INDONESIAN CITIZENS OF FOREIGN DESCENT
Article 1
Indonesian citizens of foreign descent have the same status in
Administrative Law as other Indonesians.
Article 2
Indonesian citizens of foreign descent are Indonesians with rights and
obligations that do not differ from those of other Indonesians.
CHAPTER 2
FOSTERING INDONESIAN CITIZENS OF FOREIGN DESCENT
Article 3
The fostering of Indonesian Citizens of foreign descent is put into
effect through the process of assimilation, particularly to prevent the
occurrence of racial exclusiveness.
Article 4
Discrimination between Indonesian citizens of foreign descent and
indigenous Indonesian citizens is denounced and not permitted.
Article 5

In particular, Indonesian citizens of foreign descent who still use

Chinese names are urged to replace them with Indonesian names
pursuant to current legislation.
Article 6
Indonesian citizens of foreign descent are given the same
opportunities as indigenous citizens to mobilise their funds and forces
in all areas in order to accelerate development and to raise the level
of prosperity and welfare of the Indonesian Nation and State.
CHAPTER 3
SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE BASIC POLICY
Article 7
Supervision and Coordination of the Implementation of the Basic
Policy relating to Indonesian citizens of foreign descent as intended in
this Decision are the responsibility of the Minister for Internal Affairs.
Article 8
This decision shall come into effect on the day of its issue.
Issued at: JAKARTA Date: 6 December 1967
ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
signed.SOEHARTO GENERAL OF THE TNI

DECISION OF THE CABINET PRESIDIUMNo. 127 of 1966

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CABINET PRESIDIUM,
Considering:
1.

2.

That in the framework of Indonesian nation and character

building the process of assimilation of Indonesian citizens of
'foreign descent' into the body of the Indonesian nation must be
accelerated;
That replacing the names of Indonesians of foreign descent
with names which conform to indigenous Indonesian names will
assist in assimilation;

3.

That because of this, Indonesian citizens who still use Chinese

names, and who wish to change their names to conform to
indigenous Indonesian names, need to be given the fullest
facilities by implementing a special procedure.

In view of: Law No. 4 of 1961

DECIDES:
Determines: REGULATION ON NAME CHANGING FOR
INDONESIAN CITIZENS WHO USE CHINESE NAMES AS
FOLLOWS:
CHAPTER 1GENERAL
Article 1
(1) Indonesian Citizens who still use Chinese personal and family
names and who wish to replace them with names more in conformity
with those customarily used in the Indonesian community, should
state their wishes in writing to the Level II District Head or to an
appointed official;
(2) Names chosen must not contravene the custom of a region, must
not be considered as a title, and must not offend against propriety.
*****
Article 3
OTHER MATTERS
*****
(4) This decision shall come into effect on 1 January 1967 and cease
to have effect on 31 March 1968.
Issued at: JAKARTADate: 27 December 1966
AMPERA CABINET PRESIDIUMCHAIRMAN,
Signed SOEHARTOGeneral of the TNI