'Political arena will become more competitive'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Young people opting for a political career in
\nIndonesia will face tough competition, though conditions will be
\nfairer than in the past, a noted statesman said.<\/p>\n
Akbar Tandjung, a cabinet minister who began his political
\ncareer as a student leader, said during a seminar yesterday that
\nthe globalization and democratization processes will make the
\npolitical recruitment process in Indonesia more transparent.<\/p>\n
Recruitment will no longer be determined by a single channel,
\nAkbar told a meeting with youth leaders of Golkar, the ruling
\npolitical organization.<\/p>\n
In an industrialized society, political leadership will be
\nrecruited from various sources, he said during the \"National
\nYouth Dialog\" opened by Golkar chairman Harmoko.<\/p>\n
\"A person's position in the country's political structure will
\nno longer be determined by that person's emotional relation to
\nthe centers of the power structure,\" Akbar said. \"It will be
\ndetermined by objective and rational factors -- the person's
\npolitical capacity, capability and acceptability,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Indra Bambang Utoyo, chairman of the Indonesian Youths for
\nDevelopment (AMPI), said only the best candidate will succeed in
\nthis process of \"natural selection\".<\/p>\n
\"Those who rely on other people's help will be defeated by the
\ncompetition,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He admitted that although not by choice, political patronage
\nstill prevails in Indonesia today. \"But I believe that it will no
\nlonger happen in the future.\"<\/p>\n
Akbar, the State Minister of People's Housing, said Indonesian
\nyouths must be prepared for their roles when change occurs.<\/p>\n
\"Youths, as the country's future leaders, must master the
\nmodern and proper skills in order to bring the country into the
\ninternational and global constellation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We, of course, do not want to simply remain spectators of
\ninternational development,\" he added, arguing that being
\nspectators is an indication of one's inability to fill the role.<\/p>\n
Akbar urged the government and the people to provide a
\nconducive climate for young people to find their identities. \"The
\nyouth will never grow up and become independent without enough
\nroom and support to develop themselves,\" he said.<\/p>\n
About 400 participants from various youth and student
\norganizations attended the opening of the two-day dialog. They
\nare representatives from the Islamic Students Association; the
\nGolkar-backed youth organizations AMPI, MKGR, and Kosgoro; and
\nstudent senate leaders from both government and private
\nuniversities in Jakarta and other provinces in Java.<\/p>\n
Amir Santoso, a lecturer at the School of Social and Political
\nStudies at the University of Indonesia, said in another session
\nthat in order to face international competition, the government
\nmust first improve human resources.<\/p>\n
\"The government should change the definition of development to
\ninclude human resources,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono highlighted in his
\npresentation the \"dangers\" of communism, which he has detected
\nrecently in various articles.<\/p>\n
He did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
\"We must be careful with communism. History taught us that it
\nhas been harmful and destructive to our development program,\"
\nMoerdiono added. (imn)<\/p>",
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