Independence pioneers are models: Soeharto
Independence pioneers are models: Soeharto
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia needs to rekindle the spirit shown by
its freedom fighters 50 years ago to overcome the challenges in
development, President Soeharto said yesterday.
"We need to strengthen our development spirit and multiply
development activities," Soeharto said in addressing a gathering
of the Association of Pioneers of Independence.
"History has shown that we can overcome every challenge and
put aside every barrier. The struggle of the pioneers of
Independence during the Revolution and the War of Independence
proved that point.
"Before we became an independent nation, many people in the
world doubted that we could stand as a free nation and run an
independent nation," he said in his keynote address delivered at
the State Palace.
This is the seventh general assembly of the association which
has seen its members dwindling over the years from an original
13,000 to a mere few hundreds now. Their average age is now 80.
The gatherings are aimed at finding ways of maintaining at
least the spirit of the association's members -- those who took
part in various independence movements before Indonesia
proclaimed its own independence in Aug. 1945 immediately at the
end of the World War II. There were suggestions that the children
of the pioneers maintain and run the association.
"Times change. In the coming years, there will be even greater
and more rapid changes. Clearly the answer to these challenges
and problems are no longer the same, but experience and wisdom
remain the chief force to answer to the challenges of the time.
"The Pioneers of Independence possess the valuable experience
and the wisdom. Therefore their contribution to the national
development remain significant," Soeharto said in his speech.
He said the most pressing issue for Indonesia is in dealing
with its economic problems and that failure to overcome them
could lead to turmoil.
He said the world economy is now shrouded with uncertainty,
and developing countries face economic pressures due to large
amounts of foreign debts, low-priced commodities and a shortage
of financial aid. (pwn)