YKPK undaunted by absence of govt officials<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Leaders of the National Brotherhood Foundation
\nsaid yesterday that they were not worried that government
\nofficials invited to their discussion this week did not show up.<\/p>\n
Foundation chairman Lt. Gen. (ret.) Bambang Triantoro however
\nsaid he hoped this did not mean there was any ill feeling towards
\nthe organization.<\/p>\n
\"We are not disappointed,\" he told reporters during a break of
\nthe discussion reviewing Indonesia's path towards nationhood.<\/p>\n
\"They may have been busy,\" he said. \"But if they didn't come
\nbecause of some prejudices towards us, we deeply regret this.\"<\/p>\n
The foundation, popularly known by its Indonesian acronyms
\nYKPK, is one of several organizations formed last year with the
\nproclaimed objective of defending the nation against
\ndisintegrating forces.<\/p>\n
Despite receiving tacit support from a number of senior
\ngovernment officials, the foundation, which is made up of senior
\nstatesmen, was not able to invite a single government official to
\naddress their two-day discussion here. Even East Java officials,
\nincluding Governor Basofi Soedirman and Brawijaya Military
\nCommand Chief Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo, who were invited to attend
\nthe opening ceremony on Monday, did not turn up.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a member of the staff of the Coordinating Minister
\nfor Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman yesterday
\ndenied a report by The Jakarta Post last week suggesting that the
\nminister had ever expressed his public support, or was linked, to
\nthe YKPK.<\/p>\n
\"That report is incorrect,\" the minister's staff told The Post
\nby phone in Jakarta yesterday.<\/p>\n
The YKPK discussion also provided a first test of the new
\ngovernment policy waiving an old and controversial regulation
\nrequiring people to obtain police permits for seminars and other
\nmass gatherings.<\/p>\n
The seminar's chief organizer, Martono, said he had submitted
\nan application to the local police for the permit in the first
\nweek of December, when the old rule was still applicable.<\/p>\n
He received no response, but since the new rules had just been
\nintroduced, he took it that the government had no objection.<\/p>\n
Bambang said yesterday that what counted most was the strong
\npublic support YKPK has attracted, rather than an official
\nblessing.<\/p>\n
\"We are very grateful and touched,\" he said, pointing to the
\npacked audience, the presence of most invited panelists, and the
\nseriousness of more than 200 participants from various regions.<\/p>\n
Among the speakers addressing the discussion were House
\nSpeaker Wahono, noted Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid,
\npoliticians of Golkar, and former Army officers.<\/p>\n
Bambang questioned the wisdom behind Indonesia's tradition of
\nneeding official blessings for almost everything, including
\nfounding an organization or organizing a discussion.<\/p>\n
Most YKPK members attended the event. They include Maj.Gen.
\nSembiring Meliala, Moslem leaders Mustofa Bisri and Cholil Bisri
\nand former envoy to Malaysia Maj.Gen. Sunarso Djajusman.<\/p>\n
The discussion yesterday focused on politics, culture and the
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
In the session on politics, which was moderated by former
\nIrian Jaya governor Barnas Suebu, former Golkar executive Midian
\nSirait said he hoped for a gradual change, or what he called \"a
\nreform from within\", in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He urged people not to blame Golkar for many of the nation's
\ncurrent ills, \"because political parties have followed Golkar's
\nlead\" in practicing nepotism, for example.<\/p>\n
Barnas said that in Indonesia, something else reigns supreme
\nabove the People's Consultative Assembly, which constitutionally
\nshould be the highest state organ.<\/p>\n
\"There is an invisible power\" typical of feudal systems, which
\nhas contributed to the low quality of many Indonesian leaders, he
\nsaid. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ykpk-undaunted-by-absence-of-govt-officials-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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