'Don't bring up past generations' mistakes'

'Don't bring up past generations' mistakes'

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto told the younger generation yesterday to emulate the good deeds of past generations and avoid repeating their mistakes.

He also said the younger people should not keep bringing up the mistakes of the past generations with the intention of discrediting them.

Addressing thousands of students who were attending a ceremony for the commemoration of the national heroes in Surabaya yesterday, Soeharto quoted a Javanese saying, 'mikul dhuwur mendem jero', which tells people to honor their forefathers and bury their mistakes deeply.

"Don't keep on bringing up the mistakes of past generations," he said.

He told the students that everybody has both good and bad sides. "Imitate the good, and don't repeat the bad deeds," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

"What should be imitated from the past generations is their heroism," he said.

During the ceremony, Soeharto launched the National Drive to Instill and Emulate Heroic Values.

"Our heroes have sacrificed themselves and their belongings, fighting selflessly, willing to work hard," he said. "These characteristics are still relevant for the younger generation today."

Soeharto said that in today's world the young people could show their heroism by supporting government programs to alleviate the suffering of the 25 million poor in the country.

The government launched the program in 1993, providing annual aid of Rp 20 million (approximately US$8,800) to each of the nation's 20,622 poorest villages. The money is used for the villagers to launch income generating projects.

In addition, businessmen have been asked to annual aid of Rp 20 billion to help the poor not yet reached by the government program.

"Our enemies today are poverty and ignorance," Soeharto said.

During the ceremony, President Soeharto watched a tableaux depicting freedom fighters climbing onto the roof of a train and waving the national flag in defiance of their enemies.

Heavy rain provided a backdrop for the scene which took place near the Heroes Monument. The monument is a memorial for the freedom fighters who died in 1945 during armed conflicts with Dutch troops trying to reassert the Netherlands' colonial rule.

In his speech earlier in the day, President Soeharto reminded the people to work hard and improve the quality of the services they provide and the goods they produce.

Only with such efforts can Indonesia face stiff competition in the international market, he said.

"There's no other way for us but to prepare ourselves as best as we can," he said. "Only then can we compete with more advanced countries."

"The international community will choose goods and service of good quality and with competitive prices," he said. "Our people should be able to improve their performance so that we can stand up in confidence within this competitive world." (swe)