Pancasila national culture?

Pancasila national culture?

From Kompas

The article by Hendardi, chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid
and Human Rights Association (PBHI), published in Kompas on Nov.
19, calls for a comment, particularly in regards his claim that
the five principles of the Pancasila state philosophy came from
foreign cultures.

While the source of this statement and the studies to support
it should be questioned, any discussion on Pancasila should first
refer to the June 1, 1945 speech of Bung Karno (first president
of Indonesia) before the first session of the Indonesian
Independence Preparatory Body.

In addition, the explanation of Brig. Gen. Ratyono MSc., head
of the Army Information Office, that Pancasila has existed since
the Sriwijaya and Majapahit (Kompas, Nov. 23) eras, although it
was not yet formalized in those periods, is correct.

Bung Karno said in his speech that our country had twice
experienced a national state, in the Sriwijaya and Majapahit
eras, so he recommended nationalism as the first principle.

Cosmopolitan internationalism as the second principle is, said
Bung Karno, rooted in Indonesia's nationalist culture. The third,
consultation and representation, have been an inherent part of
village culture in the country.

The fourth principle, democracy, is one that can bring social
welfare for Indonesian people, instead of the Western model of
economic democracy. The fifth is belief in Almighty God.

In his lifetime, Bung Karno frequently described the
principles of Pancasila as stemming from the national culture, at
home as well as in international forums, including the United
Nations.

B. MOENADJAD

Jakarta