Youth leaders pledge to uphold unitary state<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Youth figures representing various organizations
\ndeclared their commitment on Tuesday to maintain the unitary
\nRepublic of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A joint statement was issued in response to rising calls for
\nindependence and a federal state for the country, Syaifullah
\nYusuf, who chairs Anshor, the youth wing of the Nahdlatul Ulama
\nMuslim organization, said.<\/p>\n
\"We call on Aceh and Irian Jaya people to stay within the
\nunitary state of Indonesia with a large scale of autonomy,\"
\nSyaifullah said as he read out the joint statement.<\/p>\n
The youth leaders urged the government of Abdurrahman Wahid to
\nsettle Aceh, Maluku and Irian Jaya cases and to make it the top
\npriority. They also suggested that those issues be tackled in a
\nproactive, systematic, firm and wise manner.<\/p>\n
They warned the public of efforts to break up the country
\nthrough foreign intervention and from Indonesian citizens with
\nclose ties to foreign countries.<\/p>\n
Several youth figures attended the year-end conference,
\nincluding Irian Jaya youth leader Yorris Raweyai who is the
\ndeputy chairman of Pemuda Pancasila, Fadly Zon from the Crescent
\nStar Party and deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Roy B.B. Janis.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Muslim Worker's Union Eggi Sudjana, the
\nchairman of Pemuda Muhamadiyah, Imam Addaruqudni, Farid
\nPrawiranegara of the Pendidikan Kebangsaan Foundation and Ahmad
\nMuzani of the Muslim Youth Movement were also at hand.<\/p>\n
\"Although we come from various backgrounds, we can sit
\ntogether here. Some of us are often called agent provocateurs,\"
\nEggi, who is known for leading street rallies in the city, said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Yorris, denied allegations that he was behind the
\nseparatist movement in Irian Jaya. Activists in Irian Jaya said
\nYorris supported the hoisting of the separatist flag in the
\neasternmost province on Dec. 1.<\/p>\n
Yorris said the Irianese who joined the flag hoisting event
\nruled out a possible breakaway from the republic.<\/p>\n
Separately, the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction at the
\nHouse of Representatives also rejected the adoption of a federal
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
\"A federal system is not the solution to the nation's
\nproblems. Autonomy and fair distribution of wealth would be more
\napplicable,\" the faction's chairman Taufikurrahman Saleh said at
\na year-end conference on Tuesday. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/youth-leaders-pledge-to-uphold-unitary-state-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}