Indonesia won't 'export' state ideology Pancasila<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto says Indonesia has no
\nintention of \"exporting\" the state ideology Pancasila, but must
\nexplain it to curious countries.<\/p>\n
The President, however, cautioned that officials explaining
\nPancasila to other countries should not sound as if Indonesia
\nmeant to impose its ideology on them.<\/p>\n
\"We do not want to introduce Pancasila the way communism and
\nliberalism were propagandized,\" he was quoted as saying in
\nWashington last week by the deputy chairman of the Agency for
\nPancasila Propagation, Alwi Dahlan.<\/p>\n
Alwi was reporting to the President on Indonesia's plan to
\nconduct a Pancasila workshop in Kazakhstan. They also discussed
\nthe Scholastic Ambassador Program, under which posters and books
\non Indonesia will be distributed to about 80,000 high school
\nteachers across the United States.<\/p>\n
Alwi was accompanied by U.S Committee of the Indonesian
\nChamber of Commerce chairman Tony Agus Ardie, Scholastic Inc.
\nvice president Ernest Fleishman, and deputy chairman of the
\nAmerican-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce Wayne Forrest, who helped
\nsponsor the program.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said Indonesia is eager to help any country
\ninterested in learning Pancasila and sharing Indonesia's
\nexperience.<\/p>\n
Pancasila, devised by Indonesia's founding fathers in 1945 to
\nunify the country's different ethnic, religious and cultural
\ngroups, is based on five tenets: belief in one supreme God,
\nhumanitarianism, national unity, democracy through deliberation
\nfor consensus, and social justice.<\/p>\n
The President said former Soviet Union countries in Central
\nAsia, which have discarded communism and are looking for a
\nsubstitute ideology, want to learn Pancasila.<\/p>\n
\"They are interested in knowing more about Pancasila because
\nit contains universal values,\" Soeharto was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
According to Alwi, Soeharto welcomes the Scholastic Ambassador
\nProgram on Indonesia. It targets over 16 million American
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
The program was implemented by Scholastic Inc. and co-
\nsponsored by the American Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of
\nCommerce and Industry and American-Indonesian Chamber of
\nCommerce.<\/p>\n
The posters and books on Indonesia's history, culture,
\ngeography and economy are prepared in cooperation with Scholastic
\nEducation Inc., the largest publisher and distributor of
\ntextbooks for American high schools.<\/p>\n
Colorful posters will be used in American schools along with a
\nteacher's guide and student resource materials.<\/p>\n
The program aims to provide American students with more
\ninformation on Indonesia. They know little about the world's
\nfourth most populous country.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said a lack of knowledge about Indonesia among
\nAmericans has led to misunderstandings.<\/p>\n
\"We are yet to be more active in disseminating information on
\nIndonesia in the U.S. due to the lack of funds and the Americans'
\nlack of interest,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
\"If Americans learn about Indonesia from childhood, they will
\nbe eager to learn more about Indonesia when they grow up,\" he
\nreasoned.<\/p>\n
The Scholastic Ambassador Program will include a writing
\ncontest on Indonesia for American high school students.<\/p>\n
The President suggested that the winners, their parents and
\nteachers be invited to Indonesia where they can tour the country
\nand exchange ideas with local students.<\/p>\n
During the meeting Tony gave Soeharto a copy of Pengenalan
\nPancasila (Introducing Pancasila) by Alwi Dahlan. (pan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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