Educated elite group asked to guide the nation

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto urged Indonesia's educated elite yesterday to guide the nation on its development course.

"As a developing nation, we need the strong support of the educated elite. They must not only explain the past, but also clear the path which we have to take and design, mobilize and supervise development," Soeharto said in Yogyakarta, one of Indonesia's centers of excellence.

The President returned to his home town to inaugurate a new auditorium at the state Gadjah Mada University. It was timed to coincide with the institution's 45th anniversary.

Although he never attended university, the President recognized the great contribution the nation's educated elite had made, especially in the struggle for independence.

"In the very first phase of the national movement, the spirit and understanding of nationalism were sowed and developed by the educated. Many of the nation's founders were graduates of higher education institutions and worked diligently and professionally to carry out the mandate the public gave to them."

"The alumni of high education institutions are still expected to remain pioneers in spearheading the global opportunities which are open to our goods and services."

The greatest challenge facing Indonesia is developing its immense human resources, especially since most Indonesians still live traditional rural lives, he said.

This traditional existence has some inherent problems. It lacks entrepreneurship, capital, management, market information and developed human resources. Yet, most Indonesians cling to it for their livelihood.

"We need to upgrade their integrity, respect and welfare. We have to work as fast as possible in pushing forward the traditional sector and make it an integral part of the modern sector," Soeharto said.

Higher education institutions, he said, must monitor development while formulating policies and strategies to help Indonesia face the quickly developing world. The schools must also groom the nation's future leaders.

Soeharto warned that international economic relations are now marked by opening markets and greater competition between countries.

"Whether we like it or not, want it or not, ready or not, the era of free trade is bound to come. That means that we must be prepared for the challenges and the opportunities. We have 15 years to establish our presence in the markets of industrialized countries and 25 years before we have to open all our markets."

Soeharto, who was accredited for pushing the free trade schedule within the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, once again appealed to the nation to stand behind him in the move towards free trade.

"I urge the people in this country to look at the challenges and opportunities (of free trade) in a positive light, that is, as an opportunity for us to realize our national goal: the establishment of an advanced, just, prosperous and harmonious society based on Pancasila."

"I ask the members of the academic world to prepare to answer these challenges," he said. (emb)