Don't play up differences in society: Soeharto
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto warned the people yesterday against playing up differences between various groups in society because it could sow seeds of instability.
"Let's not forget our commitment to become a united nation," Soeharto said in a speech before participants of a leadership course organized by the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas).
"Remember our motto `Unity in Diversity'. We're indeed diverse but we are resolved to remain united," he said at the Bina Graha presidential office.
The President urged the course participants instead to turn to the challenges and threats both from within and outside as Indonesia continues with its nation-building endeavors.
"The external challenges are chiefly the negative excesses of the economic globalization process and the penetration of foreign culture that come supported by their sophisticated technology and information."
He called for special attention to the issues of human rights, democracy and the environment, which could be exploited to serve the interests of certain groups of people. "If this happens, it will threaten the national development and weaken the nation's resilience."
Lemhannas is the Armed Forces' think-tank whose main task is to formulate military concepts and doctrines.
Recently the institute organized a seminar which reviewed the functional relationship between the military command with government agencies and civil organizations in times of peace and emergency.
The result of the review has been presented to Soeharto, who is also the Armed Forces (ABRI) supreme commander. The president yesterday duly acknowledged the input and expressed his gratitude for the recommendations.
Participants
The institute, which comes under the Minister of Defense and Security, also runs leadership courses which are open not only to Armed Forces (ABRI) officers but also to civil organizations, including the civil service, political parties and professional associations such as journalists.
Lemhannas governor Lt. Gen. Moetojib reported to the president that the there were 95 participants in the ongoing course, including 39 from ABRI. There was only one woman participant, Sulistiowati, the director general of general and administrative court at the Ministry of Justice.
The president yesterday gave a few hints to the course participants of what it takes to become a good leader.
A leader should be able to turn an obstacle into an opportunity, make limitations into assets and be able to interpret and direct events while others are still wondering about them.
A good leader must also be able to solicit the support of others or else he will have difficulty carrying out his task, he said. "That's why a leader must be very perceptive and have a mature character." (emb)