Beware of attempts to split nation
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday warned of renewed attempts by foreign countries to split the nation, which he said were not dissimilar to the efforts to divide practiced by the Dutch during the colonial period.
While not mentioning specific countries, Soeharto said some advanced countries "are not too happy" with the economic as well as technological progress Indonesia has been making.
"They will constantly try to create issues to weaken Indonesia, not by aggression, but by splitting the nation," he said aboard the Palindo Jaya 500-1, the first ever passenger vessel designed and built in Indonesia.
He cited human rights, democracy and labor disputes as some of the issues that they would use to stir controversy in Indonesia in trying to split the people.
Soeharto sailed aboard the vessel from Surabaya after launching it on Thursday. He arrived in Jakarta yesterday afternoon.
Before reaching Tanjung Priok, he spoke to executives of PT PAL, the state-owned shipyard which built Palindo, about the reasons behind his policy of promoting strategic industries, such ship building, aircraft, cement, and telecommunications, including Indonesia's decision to own its own communication satellites.
Also present on board were State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who is also the president of PT PAL, Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Minister of Information Harmoko, Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad and Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto.
Soeharto said the strategic industries may be costly to build in the beginning, but that they are essential for an archipelago country of Indonesia's size, according to a transcript of his remarks made available to the press.
"If we can do this, and surely Indonesia's sons and daughters are capable, then the Second National Awakening that we've been talking about is not a dream. It will be a reality.
"We will become a big nation. The steps are there, and admittedly there are shortcomings. We need to fill these shortcomings and we have to be able to reach a par with other advanced nations," he said.
The President said that Indonesia had fallen into the rule of the Netherlands because its people had been split. "The absence of unity made us a weak nation," he said.
"Let's not repeat the same mistake we made in letting the Dutch come and rule us 350 years ago. The Dutch came here because of our own mistake of failing to unite."
Soeharto stressed the need for Indonesians to support the development of its own industries, although foreign competitors might offer better products at more competitive prices.
"For the interest of individuals, it may be best that they buy something less costly. But as citizens, if they think that buying foreign products will destroy the nation, they should refrain.
"They know that if they don't buy their own products, the factories will cease operating, the workers will lose their jobs, the state won't receive the taxes and the nation will collapse.
"Is that the choice?" he said.
Soeharto said he hoped PT PAL would set its sights far and start working on designing and building even bigger ships, the Palindo 1000 and Palindo 2000 series.
He said that PT IPTN, the state-owned aircraft manufacturer, had also begun planning to build bigger planes after the N-250, which will make its maiden flight next month. (emb)