Can Indonesia survive intact as a nation?

If Indonesia's founding fathers were still alive, what would they say about the country's current situation? Is today's Indonesia the nation they fought for? Has the nation progressed along the same ideals that had in the past forged unity and solidarity among its diverse people?

These are questions Indonesians face as they embark on yet another year of struggle to remain united and survive as a nation.

Fifty-seven is a relatively young age for a nation-state. History has shown that most countries that are less than a century-old are vulnerable to the threats of disintegration. There are many disintegrating factors that could lead to Indonesia breaking up. It is up to the people to carry on the commitment of the country's founding fathers to, among other things, maintain unity and diversity, create prosperity and social justice for all.

Today's Indonesia seems a far cry from the ideal. Social injustice, the lack of solidarity, ethnic and religious conflict, separatist claims, the repression of the weak and poor by the rich and state apparatus are the norm and an indication of a weakening sense of nationalism.

Are there hopes for Indonesia to survive as a country and nation?

The Jakarta Post's Ahmad Junaidi, Kurniawan Hari and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak talked to young people and experts on the above problems. The young people interviewed were all aged between 15 and 25. It is in the hands of this age group that the fate of this nation remains. What do they have to say about the current situation? And what do they think Indonesians could possibly do to avert the fate of other nation-states that have since disappeared? The following are their reports.