Corrections through proper institutions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said yesterday that, while
\ncorrections might be necessary in Indonesia's development
\nefforts, these must be made through the established mechanisms
\nand in the spirit of national unity.<\/p>\n
In an address at the inauguration of a monument and museum
\ndedicated to the Defenders of the Motherland (PETA) regiment in
\nBogor, West Java, Soeharto said that, despite various
\nshortcomings and deficiencies, the general direction of
\nIndonesia's national development is the right one.<\/p>\n
\"We realize that a set of corrections must be made from time
\nto time. The important thing is that we make them in the spirit
\nof national unity and through the mechanisms we have worked so
\nhard to establish,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that, as the country develops, mastering science
\nand technology must go hand in hand with the maintenance of
\nnational identity, especially in view of the influx of many
\nforeign values.<\/p>\n
\"We realize that development brings a multitude of new
\nproblems. That's why, in our development, we want to strike a
\nbalance,\" he said, adding that foreign values must be filtered to
\ncorrespond with Indonesia's own positive norms.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that one source of inspiration for Indonesian
\nyouth is the country's historic independence struggle.<\/p>\n
\"The PETA cadres became one of the sources of the military
\nleadership which helped gain independence and later defended it,\"
\nthe president said as he inaugurated the monument, which is
\nlocated on the site of a former PETA training ground.<\/p>\n
PETA was formed with the aid of the Japanese occupation forces
\nin October 1943 as a detachment to help defend Indonesian shores
\nfrom Allied invasion.<\/p>\n
It soon evolved into a very patriotic regiment and, with its
\nmilitary training, played an important role when Indonesia
\ndefended its independence, proclaimed at the end of World War II,
\nagainst the Dutch forces which sought to reimpose colonial rule
\non the archipelago.<\/p>\n
\"Because of that many of our nation's leaders come from a
\nmilitary background,\" said Soeharto, a former Army general who
\nbegan his military career as a PETA member.<\/p>\n
\"Many former PETA cadres later helped to build and develop the
\nIndonesian National Army,\" said Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully the monument and museum will always remind our
\nnation of the greatness of our struggle and the goals of our
\nnation in the past,\" he added.(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/corrections-through-proper-institutions-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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