Beware of attempts to split nation

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)