Try tells youths to cooperate, set aside differences<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno told some 120 youth
\nleaders from 12 Asian and Pacific countries yesterday never to
\nlet differences hamper cooperation.<\/p>\n
Opening the Forum for Asia-Pacific Youth Leaders meeting in
\nBandung, West Java, Try said \"differences are beautiful\" and
\nshould be a source of strength to build \"cohesion and
\nfriendship\".<\/p>\n
\"Differences should not become a divider that can lead to gaps
\nof status among the youths in the regions,\" he said. \"Differences
\nshould be used to develop respect for each other ...\"<\/p>\n
Try said that efforts to instill strong sense of
\nresponsibility among youths should start with the development of
\nmutual respect and understanding. \"The efforts should then be
\ncontinued by building cooperation and sensitivity toward the
\nconditions in and development of the community,\" Try said.<\/p>\n
\"Mutual trust among youths should be further developed, given
\nthe heterogeneity of nations in the region, in terms of skin-
\ncolor, levels of social welfare and historical background,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Vice President was quoted by the Antara news agency as
\nsaying that the Asia-Pacific region was once a source of dispute
\namong colonial powers because of its wealth of natural resources.<\/p>\n
The next century, he said, will see the region develop into a
\ncenter of the world economy. \"This is why the young people of
\nthis region should from now on prepare themselves for the future
\nby building their sense of responsibility,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The three-day gathering is organized by the Indonesian
\nNational Youth Committee (KNPI) in cooperation with the Asia-
\nAustralia Institute.<\/p>\n
KNPI chairman Tubagus Hayono said the forum is seeking to
\nformulate common concepts on youth leadership, taking into
\naccount the diversity among groups. The event is aimed at helping
\nthe youths prepare to greet the 21st century, which has been
\ndubbed to be the \"Century of the Asia-Pacific\".<\/p>\n
Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Hayono Isman and West
\nJava Governor R. Nuriana also addressed the gathering. Several
\ncabinet ministers, including Minister for Tourism, Post and
\nTelecommunications Joop Ave, attended the opening ceremony.<\/p>\n
Crises<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Jakarta, a number of local youth leaders said
\nthat Indonesian young people are currently undergoing \"a crisis
\nof achievement\" and that they lack the ability to apply the
\nspirit of the past youth leaders, as expressed in the 1928 Youth
\nPledge, to today's realities.<\/p>\n
The criticism was voiced in a discussion to mark the 66th
\nanniversary of the Youth Pledge. Those who spoke at the gathering
\nincluded chairman of the GP Ansor Moslem youth organization, M.
\nIqbal Assegaff, KNPI leader Kristiya Kartika, and chairman of the
\nIndonesian Buddhist Center, Rusjdi Rukmarata.<\/p>\n
\"The lack of creativity and a pro-active attitude has
\naggravated the condition of our young people, who are
\nalready...less than dynamic,\" Iqbal said.<\/p>\n
\"Past youth leaders, under the oppression of the colonial
\npower, were able to produce the monumental Youth Pledge. Now,
\nwhat can our young people do to contribute to the life of this
\nnation?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
\"Too many young people are busy talking, but fail to do much,\"
\nhe said. \"The problem of social gaps is now on the agenda of the
\nnation and needs to be urgently addressed. Will talking be
\nenough?\" he asked further.<\/p>\n
He criticized contemporary young people as lacking
\nindependence. \"If their parents provide opportunities for them,
\nthey progress. If not, they just follow passively,\" he said. \"The
\nyouths are suffering from a fear to act..They are afraid to do
\nthings...\" he added. (swe)<\/p>",
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