A 50-year journey<\/p>\n
It was on June 1st, 1945, that Sukarno, then a prominent 44-
\nyear-old nationalist leader, asked the 62 members of the
\nPreparatory Committee for the Investigation of Indonesian
\nIndependence: What is freedom? When can one say if a nation is
\nready for independence?<\/p>\n
He received several answers. Sutardjo Kartohadikusumo, a
\nbureaucrat, said freedom could be gained only when all people
\nfelt free.<\/p>\n
Sukarno dismissed the idea. \"If all 70 million Indonesians
\nmust first be free in their minds before we can achieve our
\npolitical independence, then we will never see a free Indonesia,
\nnot until doomsday\", he said. Then he likened independence to a
\ngolden bridge. \"There, across that golden bridge, in that land
\ncalled Free Indonesia, we will make all Indonesians feel free,
\ntrain our youths to keep fit and create a strong, healthy and
\neverlasting society\". Sukarno's speech delivered that day is now
\nknown as The Birth of Pancasila.<\/p>\n
No more than two months later, on Aug.17, Sukarno and Hatta
\nproclaimed Indonesia independent and the following day they were
\nelected the first president and vice president of the new
\nRepublic. Some of Sukarno's ideas, regarding Pancasila and the
\nlikening of freedom with a golden bridge, for example, was later
\nperpetuated in the Preamble of the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow we will celebrate the golden anniversary of our
\nnation's birth. Now we are a 190-million-strong people. After 50
\nyears of crossing the golden bridge of independence, have all our
\npeople come to feel free in their minds? How far are we now in
\nour long trek towards a just and prosperous society?<\/p>\n
In the span of 50 years we have weathered storms and
\nearthquakes, famines and floods, rebellions and riots, and still
\nwe can stand proud and walk tall in the international community.
\nFor, as scores of countries and nations have collapsed and
\ndisintegrated, particularly in the last decade, we are still
\nwhole. Our unity remains as firm as it ever was and our will to
\nreach the national ideals of a just and prosperous society is
\nstill embedded deep within our hearts.<\/p>\n
In the last 25 years, under the leadership of our second
\npresident, Soeharto, our record in the sphere of economic
\ndevelopment has been impressive. In the last two decades our
\neconomy has grown by a sound six to seven percent annually, the
\nnumber of people who live below the poverty line has dropped
\nsignificantly and the standards of health and education have
\nimpressively increased. Anyone who cares to tour the country can
\neasily witness the improved conditions of the people.<\/p>\n
Naturally we have to thank God for all the blessings which
\nhave been bestowed upon us, including the 50 years of freedom
\nthat has been given us. Thus, it is most appropriate if the theme
\nselected to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of our Republic is
\nto thank God the Almighty and to thank the people for everything
\nthat has been achieved.<\/p>\n
At the same time, however, it is easy to see that behind all
\nthe smiles, shadows of concern still linger. Can we claim that
\nafter 50 years all of our people are free in their minds? How can
\none have a free mind if freedom of speech and freedom of assembly
\nare suppressed?<\/p>\n
That we have made a lot of progress within this time span of
\nhalf a century is beyond question. But obviously while we have
\ngained a lot, we also lost many things, mostly in terms of values
\nand norms. Corruption, neo-feudalism, political collusion and
\nother social ills remain rampant.<\/p>\n
We also have to admit that there is a widespread and growing
\nconcern at all levels of our society that on the long journey to
\nreach our national goals, somehow we have strayed from the right
\npath. Anyone can feel it by reading the numerous soul-searching
\nstatements made in many circles in the last several days,
\nincluding one from the Generation of 45.<\/p>\n
Apparently, while our economy is progressing, our political
\nstructure is stuck to the old and obsolete concept of decades
\nago. National development has been made a super-ideology and
\neverything else subordinate.<\/p>\n
Hence, it is time for us to take this opportunity of our
\nGolden Anniversary to look inwards. We must take stock of what we
\nhave done and make the necessary corrections where we have erred,
\nand reinforce our pledge to strive for the attainment of our
\nnational ideals.<\/p>\n
After all, in crossing the golden bridge of freedom we have
\nvowed to dedicate everything to the benefit of all the people,
\nand not just some of them.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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