Pancasila as a uniting tool

With the continuous rise in value of the U.S. dollar against rupiah, people seem to be screaming as the prices of basic necessities skyrocket. When will this situation end? There is no sign that the country's economic condition will improve. On the contrary, our economy seems to be on the brim of bankruptcy.

Let us think with a clear mind and ponder the history of the birth of our republic when Bung Karno proclaimed Indonesia's independence on Aug. 17, 1945. Thus a republic was born and with God's revelation Pancasila (and Bung Karno was the first to receive it) became the nation's philosophical basis.

Although this country was created in the form of a republic, the holder of God's revelation was symbolically a king, or in other words, a man of especially high dignity. R.M. Sosrokartono, the brother of R.A. Kartini (the heroine), once said to Bung Karno in Javanese: "Kowe arep dadi ratu, yo!" (You are to become king!).

Pancasila really has divine power so that it can unite the whole Indonesian people, which are pluralistic in nature in terms of ethnicity, tradition and culture, religion. Pancasila has a powerful binding characteristic which has evidently succeeded in maintaining the unity and integrity of the nation. It is a big mistake to question the strength of Pancasila as the sole basis of the nation's integrity.

Did the second president, H.M. Soeharto, also receive God's revelation? Of course he did. How else could he have possibly brought the chaotic country to normalcy within a short time after the abortive communist coup (G-30S/PKI) in 1965 without the power of God's revelation, while also winning the world's confidence. Again by virtue of Pancasila philosophy as the sole basis of the country, Soeharto succeeded in maintaining the unity and integrity of the nation.

Then also by God's will, Soeharto had to quit presidency, which is known in Javanese as Lengser kaprabon. God does not permit anyone to wield power forever, which is haram (contrary to God's will according to Islam).

Now to get out of the present crisis that has gripped the country for so long, all components of the country should make a concerted effort to find another leader (holder of Pancasila), otherwise political and economic disorder will persist for heaven knows how long.

DR. AGUS UTORO

Serang, West Java