A 50-year journey
It was on June 1st, 1945, that Sukarno, then a prominent 44- year-old nationalist leader, asked the 62 members of the Preparatory Committee for the Investigation of Indonesian Independence: What is freedom? When can one say if a nation is ready for independence?
He received several answers. Sutardjo Kartohadikusumo, a bureaucrat, said freedom could be gained only when all people felt free.
Sukarno dismissed the idea. "If all 70 million Indonesians must first be free in their minds before we can achieve our political independence, then we will never see a free Indonesia, not until doomsday", he said. Then he likened independence to a golden bridge. "There, across that golden bridge, in that land called Free Indonesia, we will make all Indonesians feel free, train our youths to keep fit and create a strong, healthy and everlasting society". Sukarno's speech delivered that day is now known as The Birth of Pancasila.
No more than two months later, on Aug.17, Sukarno and Hatta proclaimed Indonesia independent and the following day they were elected the first president and vice president of the new Republic. Some of Sukarno's ideas, regarding Pancasila and the likening of freedom with a golden bridge, for example, was later perpetuated in the Preamble of the Constitution.
Tomorrow we will celebrate the golden anniversary of our nation's birth. Now we are a 190-million-strong people. After 50 years of crossing the golden bridge of independence, have all our people come to feel free in their minds? How far are we now in our long trek towards a just and prosperous society?
In the span of 50 years we have weathered storms and earthquakes, famines and floods, rebellions and riots, and still we can stand proud and walk tall in the international community. For, as scores of countries and nations have collapsed and disintegrated, particularly in the last decade, we are still whole. Our unity remains as firm as it ever was and our will to reach the national ideals of a just and prosperous society is still embedded deep within our hearts.
In the last 25 years, under the leadership of our second president, Soeharto, our record in the sphere of economic development has been impressive. In the last two decades our economy has grown by a sound six to seven percent annually, the number of people who live below the poverty line has dropped significantly and the standards of health and education have impressively increased. Anyone who cares to tour the country can easily witness the improved conditions of the people.
Naturally we have to thank God for all the blessings which have been bestowed upon us, including the 50 years of freedom that has been given us. Thus, it is most appropriate if the theme selected to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of our Republic is to thank God the Almighty and to thank the people for everything that has been achieved.
At the same time, however, it is easy to see that behind all the smiles, shadows of concern still linger. Can we claim that after 50 years all of our people are free in their minds? How can one have a free mind if freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are suppressed?
That we have made a lot of progress within this time span of half a century is beyond question. But obviously while we have gained a lot, we also lost many things, mostly in terms of values and norms. Corruption, neo-feudalism, political collusion and other social ills remain rampant.
We also have to admit that there is a widespread and growing concern at all levels of our society that on the long journey to reach our national goals, somehow we have strayed from the right path. Anyone can feel it by reading the numerous soul-searching statements made in many circles in the last several days, including one from the Generation of 45.
Apparently, while our economy is progressing, our political structure is stuck to the old and obsolete concept of decades ago. National development has been made a super-ideology and everything else subordinate.
Hence, it is time for us to take this opportunity of our Golden Anniversary to look inwards. We must take stock of what we have done and make the necessary corrections where we have erred, and reinforce our pledge to strive for the attainment of our national ideals.
After all, in crossing the golden bridge of freedom we have vowed to dedicate everything to the benefit of all the people, and not just some of them.