Don't play up differences in society: Soeharto
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)