Youths call for national unity to survive crises<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan and Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta\/Makassar<\/p>\n
The time is right for young people across the country to take
\nan initiative in campaigning for national unity in the face of
\nserious threats of regionalism, separatist movements and
\nterrorism, youth activists said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Kholis Malik of the Islamic Student Association (HMI) said
\nthat the campaign was necessary to convince people and political
\nelite groups that the current trend was moving in the wrong
\ndirection.<\/p>\n
"We cannot follow this current direction. We should encourage
\nthe local government to exercise regional autonomy to eradicate
\npoverty, not to create excessive regionalism," he told the
\nJakarta Post in observance of Youth's Oath Day.<\/p>\n
"We also need to start addressing the issue that terrorism is
\nnot related to religion, but an independent action carried out by
\ncriminals."<\/p>\n
He urged youth organizations in the country to hold various
\ntraining sessions and workshops to help restore people's
\nconfidence in national unity.<\/p>\n
He hailed a move by 12 youth organizations, representing the
\nHindu, Buddhist, Islamic, Protestant and Catholic faiths, who
\nsent a peace and advocacy team to Bali to help locals and to
\nreduce hatred among followers of other religions in the wake of
\nthe Bali terrorist attacks on Oct. 12.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Makassar, South Sulawesi, 200 youths from
\nvarious organizations celebrated Youth's Oath Day with a vow to
\nfight terrorism and maintain national unity.<\/p>\n
Irwan Wijaya, a spokesman for the Makassar Youth, said the
\nterrorist attack in Bali should trigger all elements in the
\ncountry to unite in their steps to stop terrorism.<\/p>\n
"We'll take part in fighting terrorism in the country and keep
\nour national unity intact," he told the Post.<\/p>\n
Youth Oath Day in Makassar was marred by an antigovernment
\nrally as hundreds of students grouped under the People's
\nRevolution Front (FRR) called on President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nand Vice President Hamzah Haz to step down for failing to reduce
\npoverty.<\/p>\n
"We want leaders who are for poor people, who are free of
\ncorruption and uphold the law," one of the students said.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the local chapter of the Indonesian Nationalist
\nStudents Movement (GMNI) Bambang Rumada suggested that the
\ncountry's youths consider entering the political arena earlier as
\nthe current politicians were no longer reliable to manage the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
"By entering the political field earlier, we can make idealism
\na reality. It's better than putting our hope in these corrupt
\npolitical leaders," he said.<\/p>\n
He warned that if corruption continued, regionalism would
\nstrengthen as local leaders and locals would no longer believe
\nthe central government.<\/p>\n
Regarding the terrorist issue, Bambang agreed that Indonesian
\nyouths bore the responsibility of encouraging people in the
\ncountry to fight terrorism together, without having to suspect
\neach other.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/youths-call-for-national-unity-to-survive-crises-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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