Youth Pledge Day<\/p>\n
It is probably not very far off the mark to say that few
\nIndonesians remember, or even care about, the fact that today
\ntheir nation marks the occasion, 74 years ago, when a handful of
\nyouthful leaders of the pre-independence nationalist movement
\nproclaimed what has since become known as the nation's Youth
\nPledge. Yet, the event that took place in what was then the
\nNetherlands East Indies' colonial capital, Batavia, on Oct. 28,
\n1928, can truly be regarded as one of the most important
\nmilestones in this country's modern history.<\/p>\n
Obviously, in 1928, when the pledge was proclaimed, conditions
\ndiffered vastly from today's. Indonesia, as a nation, did not
\neven exist. Then, as today, the archipelago of more than 17,000
\nislands was inhabited by hundreds of ethnic groups and subgroups
\nspeaking just about as many languages and dialects.<\/p>\n
It took the visionary forethought of a handful of youth
\nleaders, who hailed from various regions of the archipelago
\nduring that meeting, for them to declare that they considered
\nthemselves as having a common fatherland, belonging to a single
\nnation and speaking a common language -- that of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
So, in essence, the idea of Indonesian nationhood was born. It
\nwas that idea that inspired this country's nationalist leaders in
\nthe generations that followed -- truly a monumental milestone in
\nthe history of the country, considering that even today Indonesia
\nis one of the most diverse nations in the world.<\/p>\n
Why, then, the apparent apathy on behalf of the current
\ngeneration of Indonesians with regard to this historic event?<\/p>\n
One could cite several reasons. Foremost, however, is the
\nfeeling that prevails in many regions of this vast archipelago
\nthat they are not being treated fairly. In other words, they are
\nnot being placed on an equal footing as more privileged areas
\ncloser to the center, in Java.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, steps have in the past few decades been taken to
\ncorrect much of the disparity that has for so long existed,
\nalthough admittedly much more needs to be done. The turmoil in
\nthe special area of Aceh, to mention just one example, stems from
\nsuch a feeling. Given the fact that Aceh, together with
\nYogyakarta, was one of the first regions to officially and
\nvoluntarily declare its full support to the Indonesian Republic
\nshortly after it was proclaimed on Aug. 17 by Sukarno and Mohamad
\nHatta, this northernmost Indonesian province certainly deserves
\nall the goodwill and consideration the government in Jakarta can
\nmuster to end peacefully the long, ongoing conflict.<\/p>\n
For the Indonesian nation, there can be no Youth Pledge Day
\npresent more welcome than the peace agreement that is due to be
\nsigned -- barring last minute hitches -- on Thursday, Oct. 31,
\nbetween the government in Jakarta and the Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) in Geneva, Switzerland.<\/p>\n
The hope is that the signing of the peace agreement will
\neffectively end the armed conflict and killings that have been
\ngoing on in Aceh for the past few decades.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, experience of these decades has taught us that
\npreserving the peace, once attained, is a job that must really be
\nworked on by both sides if it is to last. It may also take much
\nlonger after all these years of strife to wipe away the ill-
\nfeeling on both sides that the prolonged conflict has created.<\/p>\n
Even so, with the prospect of developments looking hopeful in
\nAceh and conditions for a restoration of peace and harmony in
\nMaluku apparently starting to improve, there is hope that the
\nnation can begin to start thinking about addressing the
\ngrievances of the various regions in earnest.<\/p>\n
Only by so doing can Indonesians hope to bring back the
\nmotivation for all Indonesians, wherever they live, whatever
\nlanguage or dialect they speak and whatever religion they
\nobserve, to start living once again in peace and harmony,
\ntogether as one nation.<\/p>\n
Let us hope that this year's Youth's Pledge Day commemorations
\ncan be more meaningful for the nation than merely the observance
\nof empty ceremonies. Only by standing united as a nation can
\nIndonesians hope to become strong enough to meet the challenges
\nof a globalized world.<\/p>\n
Those visionary young pioneers of our nationhood in 1928
\nseemed to have seen the world that was in the making with a
\nclarity that we today can only envy. But if they could do it, why
\ncan't we?<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/youth-pledge-day-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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