Celebrations focus on meaning of independence
JAKARTA (JP): For the remainder of the year, Indonesians will engage in a multitude of 50th anniversary activities with nationhood and the Pancasila ideology as themes.
Emil Salim, executive chairman of the National Committee for the 50th Independence Anniversary, told journalists yesterday that a host of both national and regional level activities are planned to enliven the occasion.
He said the celebrations will focus on remembrance and thanksgiving for the events of the past, which freed the nation, while reflecting on the tasks tomorrow may bring. He said in no way would the commemoration of the nation's independence be a party in which the participants have fun for one night and hangovers the next morning.
Under the theme of "Expressing Reverence and Gratitude for Independence by Enhancing the Roots of Our Republic's Populace," the planned celebrations fall into three categories.
The first category includes programs which reflect the five tenets of the Pancasila ideology: belief in God, national unity, consensus through deliberation, humanism and social justice.
The belief in god tenet will be carried out through a mass Islamic religious gathering, or tabligh, here in Jakarta on Aug. 28.
The committee's executive director, Cacuk Sudarijanto, revealed that various religious councils have issued guidelines for a thanksgiving prayer on Aug. 18.
The Indonesian Ulemas Council is urging Moslems to perform a bow of thanks following the Friday prayers.
The humanism and social justice tenet will manifest itself through a national seminar on human rights which will take place here in December.
The Arung Samudra '95 sailing extravaganza involving hundreds of ships of various sizes from many countries is meant to symbolize the tenet of national unity. At the same time many cultural events will take place throughout the country.
The Pancasila principal, which bases itself on democratic principles, be manifested through a nationwide celebration on Aug. 19. In Jakarta this celebration will be highlighted by a laser show donated by the French business community here in Jakarta.
The festive mood of the month will be felt strongly on Saturday as the country's top dangdut music stars perform together in Ancol, North Jakarta.
Dangdut is a highly popular music genre often identified with Indonesia's lower economic class.
For the fifth Pancasila principal of social justice, the committee is apparently advocating a theme of social solidarity on a nationwide sale.
Emil pointed out that he is calling on businesses to give something back to the community by decreasing their profit margins to benefit the public in a giant sale.
"And this discount shouldn't be on used or defect goods either," he said of the sale which is also scheduled for Saturday.
Also on Saturday, various professional organizations, such as the Indonesian Doctors Association, will help start the upgrading of traditional markets all over the country.
"Traditional markets are still very important for Indonesia's lower economic class," Emil pointed out.
Under the theme of invoking the feeling of nationhood, a national exhibition of revolutionary memorabilia will be held throughout Indonesia in December under the auspices of the National Archives and the Armed Forces History Center.
Under the direction of the Ministry of Social Services, the repair and renovation of heroes memorials all over the country will be done in October.
Emil Salim pointed out that the activities mentioned constitute only a few of the many planned for the various regions throughout the nation.
He said regional events would be financed by their respective administrations, without unduly burdening the people, while the national-scale activities are financed with a budget of Rp 3.5 billion (US$1.5 million) to be provided by the state secretariat. (mds)