No turning back on free trade

No turning back on free trade

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia must cautiously move with the global
trend towards free trade but it must not waver because that is
the direction the world is heading, President Soeharto said
yesterday.

Soeharto was placating critics who say that he was too quick
in pushing for the free trade declaration at the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum he hosted in Bogor last month.

"It is normal that some people question whether or not we are
capable and ready to tap the opportunities (of free trade)," he
said when receiving participants of a seminar organized by the
Institute of National Resilience (Lemhannas).

"The question stems from the cautious attitude which we must
always retain," he asserted. "But we have to realize that whether
we're ready or not, or capable, the free trade system has been
chosen by the world."

"Our cautiousness must not degenerate into doubt or
apprehension. Our cautiousness must be turned into a commitment
and resolution to prepare ourselves to face the challenge and
take advantage of the opportunities offered."

Soeharto has been widely accredited for pushing APEC's 18
member economies -- including the United States and Japan -- to
commit to a regional free trade area by the year 2020 in the
Bogor joint declaration. It sets a time frame of 2010 for
developed economies and 2020 for developing ones.

At home, however, some politicians and scholars have
questioned the decision. They fear that Indonesia would be
flooded by imports which could cost jobs and even slow national
development. They believe the free trade concept could also
undermine Indonesia's sovereignty.

Soeharto responded to these concerns by stressing that
Indonesia still has time to prepare itself before free trade is
implemented.

"In areas where we're not ready, let's get prepared. Factors
which are not yet right, let's make them right. We should also
put our regulations and procedures in order."

"Making us ready and capable will be a joint effort," he
added.

He stressed that Indonesia must develop its human resources in
particular.

He added however that this is nothing new. "We have been
developing them, we are developing them and we will continue to
prepare our human resources in every field."

The Lemhannas regular course is organized for military and
civilian figures who are in leadership position. The participants
will also be locked in a seminar to explore the Pancasila
culture, named after the state ideology.

Soeharto said that the principles of Pancasila have been
translated into the doctrines of National Resilience and the
Archipelago State in order to turn the abstract into practical
points.

These two doctrines will help Indonesia remain united,
particularly against disintegrating factors, and deal with future
complex challenges.

The two doctrines can be modified to accommodate any changes
in society and the world.

This, the President added, is why Pancasila is considered an
open ideology. While its principles must remain, its doctrines
can change with the times. (emb)