Megawati closes jamboree with new call for unity

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri officially closed the National Boy Scout Jamboree 2001 on Wednesday with fresh calls for national unity.

Addressing some 10,000 jamboree participants at Wana Wisata area in Baturraden tourist resort, Megawati said that unity was essential for Indonesians.

"I see unity as very important. Lately we've seen signals of the destruction of our unity," she said, citing people who demonstrated their determination and spirit to fight for the nation's unity, yet were in actual fact undermining it by encouraging hatred and anger among members of the public. These have triggered fights among the public and threatened national unity, she said, though she did not cite any particular names.

The jamboree was opened by President Abdurrahman on July 3.

"Among the political, economic, social and security problems we have been facing, the threat to unity has posed a very serious threat, which we must deal with," she said.

"I have high hopes that all of us are concerned with this (unity) problem, because our failure as leaders will be remembered by our children as a terrible sin."

Through respecting each other, helping each other as Indonesians -- as a nation -- Indonesia would grow stronger and stronger, she added.

"Therefore such a boy scout meet is a very positive way for participants to fill their holiday with productive and educational activities."

Megawati and her entourage, including Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin and Minister of Forestry Marzuki Usman, arrived in Purwokerto by train at 12:30 p.m.

Megawati, who is chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan), stopped by at the residence of a party official in Banyumas to change from her casual dress into a boy-scout uniform.

Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja and Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo Adisucipto failed to join the entourage as scheduled.

There were no explanations as to why they canceled their trip.

Chairman of the National Boy Scouts Rifai Harahap said in his report that the jamboree was successful. "There were no serious complaints, though we lacked clean water during the event."

Rifai also blamed the media for blowing up reports of the number of participants who were sick during the nine-day jamboree. Hundreds of them visited health posts, but that did not mean that they were seriously sick."

Clean water

Despite criticism, the jamboree was generally well accepted by participants.

J. Nababan, a participant from Tapanuli, North Sumatra, said that the jamboree was a success. "However, I found no (natural) challenge here as I see such a place everyday in our hometown."

"The only thing missing at this meet was insurance for participants. The participants of the Cibubur (Jakarta) jamboree, which I also attended, were all insured. Those having accidents could directly claim for compensation. The supply of clean water was also bad. Preparations had been poorly managed."

Participants from Irian Jaya and Bandung also complained about the water supply. "Many of us did not take a bath during the jamboree," said Marthin, a participant from Irian Jaya.

"However, I was very happy. The jamboree enhanced our sense of belonging to the nation. We just felt that we were one, there were no conflicts."

"This jamboree was not as bad as the one in Cibubur four years ago. But, clean water was a real problem here and I felt unhealthy as I couldn't take a bath," said Sudharyanto, a senior boy scout from Bandung.

One of participants died from serious illness on Tuesday.

Amir Mahmud, 43, died from hepatitis and had been ill since his arrival at the jamboree on July 3.

Security was also a problem at the jamboree site. Two motorcycles were stolen in the first few days of the jamboree. (45)