Soeharto warns of weakening family bond<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto warned yesterday that the
\ntrend towards having small families has a downside: It weakens
\nthe family bond, clearing the way for a host of other problems.<\/p>\n
The move towards having small families is a welcome
\ndevelopment for Indonesia because it is making them more mobile,
\nsomething which is vital as the nation undergoes a transformation
\nfrom an agrarian to industrial society, Soeharto said yesterday.<\/p>\n
"But on the other hand, it can also weaken family ties, which
\ncan also mean declining appreciation for traditional family
\nvalues," Soeharto said during a ceremony to mark the first
\nNational Family Day.<\/p>\n
"Bear in mind that the familial spirit is one of the chief
\ncharacters of our society," he said at the ceremony held at
\nSemambung, a village in the Sidoarjo regency in East Java.<\/p>\n
Soeharto launched the second 25-year family planning
\ndevelopment program yesterday, which will focus more on the
\nbuilding of "prosperous families" as opposed to small ones.
\nDecreasing the size of the Indonesian family has been the stress
\nof the program during the first 25-year period.<\/p>\n
The first phase, which brought a significant reduction in the
\nbirth rate, concentrated more on the use of contraceptives, with
\ncampaigns for young people to postpone marriage and to limit the
\nnumber of children to two.<\/p>\n
The President stressed the importance of building a prosperous
\nfamily in the national building process.<\/p>\n
"Family is the smallest unit in society. Family is the chief
\nsource of living for a person. Before entering society, children
\ndevelop in a family environment.<\/p>\n
"Therefore, the quality of our families determine the quality
\nof our people and society in the future. We fully realize the
\nimportance of the family in developing our society."<\/p>\n
Soeharto said the family is an important bastion to filter the
\nonslaught of alien values that are now penetrating into Indonesia
\nas part of the rapid globalization process.<\/p>\n
"Not all values that come from outside are consistent with our
\nnational culture. Some are even destructive."<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the rising rates of juvenile delinquency,
\nalcohol and drug abuse and other social problems are indications
\nthat some families in Indonesia are not resilient enough.<\/p>\n
The President also appealed for special attention to the needs
\nof the poor families in the country.<\/p>\n
"I plead to those in the government, the private business
\nsector, social organizations and public figures, to enhance their
\nattention and role in building prosperous families," he said.<\/p>\n
Personal value<\/p>\n
The choice of June 29 as national family day has a significant
\npersonal value for the 73-year old president.<\/p>\n
The date was chosen to mark the reunion of freedom fighters in
\n1949 with their families after the siege of Yogyakarta by the
\nDutch, then the temporary capital of the young republic.<\/p>\n
Soeharto then was a young lieutenant colonel and he was
\nreunited with his wife Mrs. Tien Soeharto and a toddler -- his
\nfirst daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.<\/p>\n
On the occasion yesterday, the President presented the Wira
\nKarya awards to people for their services to the national family
\nplanning cause.<\/p>\n
They include Siti Hardiyanti, timber tycoon Mohamad (Bob)
\nHasan, East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman, Sidoarjo Regent Col.
\nEdhi Sanjoto, and Lumajang Regent Tarmin Hariadi.<\/p>\n
First Lady Tien Soeharto, State Minister of Population Haryono
\nSuyono, and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas
\nwere also present at the ceremony. (17\/emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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