Learn to say 'no', a new organization says<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An ambitious new organization founded yesterday
\nby a retired Army officer seeks to change one bad habit of
\nIndonesians: their inability to say \"no\" to the powers that be.<\/p>\n
\"Those who can say 'no', join us. To say 'no' is not
\nnecessarily being confrontational,\" said Roch Basoeki
\nMangoenpoerojo, chairman of the Generation of the Founders and
\nHeirs of the 1945 Values (GP2N45), while introducing the
\norganization to the public at Gedung Joang.<\/p>\n
\"Anyone who has the courage to say 'no' must be honored,\" said
\nthe man more widely known for his regular column at the Kompas
\ndaily than as an Army officer.<\/p>\n
The new group seeks to uphold and preserve the values of the
\ngeneration of the freedom fighters, the 1945 Generation.
\nPresident Soeharto is the only remaining figure of the 1945
\ngeneration who is still active in government.<\/p>\n
While Basoeki admitted that he could not spell out precisely
\nwhat those values are, he said that democracy is certainly one of
\nthem.<\/p>\n
The ability to say 'no' in politics is another value worthy of
\npreservation, he said, noting that in the current political
\nenvironment, many people find it difficult to say `no'.<\/p>\n
This problem calls for a cultural solutions, he explained,
\nwhich will be a top priority of his new organization.<\/p>\n
The government gave its blessing to the new organization.
\nPresent at the announcement was Edi Sedyawati, director general
\nof culture at the Ministry of Education and Culture.<\/p>\n
Saiful Sulun, a respected retired Army officer from the 1945
\nGeneration, also declared his support for the organization's
\nintent to preserve the 1945 values. He said 1945 values include a
\nsense of togetherness, unity and democracy. \"Democratic values
\nare the basis of strengthening people's prosperity.\"<\/p>\n
The organization lists three goals: to ensure a democratic
\ngeneral election next year, to reduce the disparity between the
\nrich and the poor, and to fight for increased salaries of members
\nof the civil service and the military. (05)1<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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