On national reconciliation

On national reconciliation

The meaning of reconciliation as referred to by Gen. (ret.)
Abdul Harris Nasution became clearer when, by way of
illustration, he said that peace should be made (by the
government and the national leadership) with the group of Ali
Sadikin and the students.

It may be concluded that the kind of reconciliation which the
former chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly has in mind
involves those groups in our society which hold a critical view of
the government and the New Order and are inclined to convey their
criticisms in an offending manner. This affects relationships,
including personal relationships.

In the context of our past and as we look towards the future
it is worth the effort to give the concept of reconciliation a
broader and more all-embracing meaning as we mark the 50th year
of Indonesia's independence.

We should rejuvenate the ideas of the founding fathers of this
Republic, freshen the vision and ideals which are contained in
the preamble and in the entire text of our Constitution, renew
the great ideas of our great leaders such as Sukarno, Mohammad
Hatta, Sutan Sjahrir, HOS Tjokroaminoto and others. Actually it
is their ideas that form the basis of our Constitution.

-- Kompas, Jakarta