Government pledges to support cooperatives<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid reiterated on
\nWednesday his government will uphold Article 33 of the 1945
\nConstitution because it ensures people's rights to the state
\nriches.<\/p>\n
Speaking in a ceremony to mark the country's 53rd Cooperatives
\nDay at the State Palace, the President said he would fight any
\nplan to amend the ruling.<\/p>\n
\"I hope that Article 33 in its current form will not be
\nreplaced, because the government is determined to promote
\ncooperatives,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
The article stipulates the economy shall be organized as a
\ncommon endeavor based upon the principle of the family system.
\nMeanwhile branches of production which are important for the
\nstate and which affect the life of most people shall be
\ncontrolled by the state.<\/p>\n
\"Land and water and natural riches contained therein shall be
\ncontrolled by the state and shall be made use of for the people,\"
\nthe article says.<\/p>\n
The President also disclosed the government's strategy to
\nencourage private sectors, including foreign investors, to
\nprovide financial credits for private development. The government
\nwill concentrate on providing loans for cooperatives and small
\nscale businesses.<\/p>\n
\"The credits derived from the government will be provided for
\nsmall and medium scale businesses, which means for cooperatives,\"
\nAbdurrahman remarked.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, the President was accompanied by Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, and State Minister of
\nCooperatives Zarkasih Nur.<\/p>\n
Zarkasih's predecessors Subiakto Tjakrawerdaja and Adi Sasono
\nwere also present.<\/p>\n
Adi's presence attracted attention, because he reportedly was
\non a list of people to be questioned by the Attorney General's
\nOffice for his political activities.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month Adi, a close confidant of former president
\nB.J. Habibie, told an Australian newspaper that Abdurrahman
\nshould be replaced by Megawati due to his poor performance in
\nleading the country.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed
\nbetween the Indonesian Cooperatives Council (Dekopin),
\nrepresented by its chairman Nurdin Halid, and PT Siwani Trimitra,
\nrepresented by businessman Edward Soeryadjaya. (prb\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-pledges-to-support-cooperatives-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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