Youths question uneven development<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Participants in the National Youth March,
\nsharing their impressions on development in various regions with
\nPresident Soeharto yesterday, questioned him about the uneven
\nrate of progress across the provinces.<\/p>\n
They referred to their own experience, after visiting various
\nregions as part of the march program, which this year involved
\n1,149 youths selected from 27 provinces.<\/p>\n
The first Youth March, initiated and chaired by businesswoman
\nSiti Hardiyanti Rukmana, was held in 1990.<\/p>\n
In the discussion at the Jakarta Convention Center, a
\nparticipant from West Nusa Tenggara said he felt his province had
\nbeen left far behind by the other provinces.<\/p>\n
\"What I saw (during my stay of) 23 days was the wealth of
\nrubber, coffee and chocolate in North Sumatra...and this is very
\ngreat, compared to where I come from.<\/p>\n
\"We still have many villages funded by the Least-Developed
\nVillage aid program ...It is difficult for young people and
\ncommunity members to make progress...There are still isolated
\nvillages where planting is only done once a year because of the
\nlack of rain.<\/p>\n
\"We are sure that West Nusa Tenggara can become well known
\nlike other regions...It is sad that many people in North Sumatra
\ndo not know about West Nusa Tenggara yet,\" the participant said.<\/p>\n
In response to these statements, Soeharto said that the
\nimpression gained by the youth did not mean that certain regions
\nhad been neglected by the government in its development efforts.<\/p>\n
\"North Sumatra, because of its strong crop exports, has always
\nbeen more advanced compared to many other areas,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Lubis, a student from Central Kalimantan, said after his
\nstay in South Sumatra that he felt development there is
\nrelatively equally distributed.<\/p>\n
\"There are certain areas which are lagging behind but the
\ngovernment already has programs for those areas,\" Lubis said.<\/p>\n
A participant from Irian Jaya expressed concern over the
\nlimited number of investors in eastern Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"The government has encouraged investors to invest in eastern
\nIndonesia, but many have refused...They feel my area is very
\ndifficult,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Investors are only interested in mining, while Irian Jaya has
\nmuch more potential, including agriculture and forestry.\"<\/p>\n
Soeharto replied that the government is now emphasizing the
\ndevelopment of infrastructure, such as the construction of the
\nroad from Jayapura to Wamena in Irian Jaya, to attract more
\ninvestors to more diverse sectors.<\/p>\n
\"Since the liberation of Irian Jaya in 1962, it has been
\ndifficult for people in the mountains, who are scattered far from
\neach other, to progress, as long as they are not brought nearer
\nto infrastructure,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto also spoke of Pancasila democracy, saying that if it
\nwas implemented consistently, there would be no need for voting
\nto settle differences and disputes.<\/p>\n
\"If necessary, we must vote...but with the same ideal to
\nimplement deliberation for consensus,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"But if we really understand and implement Pancasila
\ndemocracy, voting is unnecessary...It involves the need to
\ndeliberate, to debate ...The argument which most favors our
\nnation (should be) justified, so the elected (person in an
\norganization\/country) must sacrifice himself to agree with the
\nlarger majority,\" Soeharto said. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/youths-question-uneven-development-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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