Politicians react to Soemitro's recent statement

JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret) Soemitro's recent statement that the generations since the 1945 struggle for independence lack character met with strong reactions yesterday.

Soemitro, a former commander of the internal security agency said on Monday that those born after 1945 were "pessimistic, cynical, emotional and easily discouraged".

Politicians from the ruling Golkar grouping, the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP) and the populist Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) called Soemitro's allegation "too much of a generalization."

"He's entitled to his opinion," Golkar chairman Harmoko said. "But we can see for ourselves how various generations, including the 1945, are presently involved in the decision-making processes in all layers of society."

A stronger reaction came from Aisyah Amini of PPP, who retorted that people from Soemitro's generation were not free from the flaws he listed.

"We know many figures from the generation of independence fighters who never uttered a single word (of criticism of the system) until they retired."

Royani Haminullah from PDI threw Soemitro's allegation back to the present political system which he said does not allow much leeway for the younger generations to act.

"General Soemitro shouldn't have made a sweeping generalization like that," he said. "The face of today's generation is influenced by the deeds of our predecessors."

Talk only

Soemitro said he was concerned with the current condition in which people "can only talk, but can't solve problems".

This syndrome, he says, does not affect people of his 1945 generation because they have achieved their goals and almost completed their duties.

"It's time for the younger generations to decide where they are leading this nation," the former independence fighter said.

The situation is more of a challenge for generations born after 1945 who have grown to become people of lesser character, he said.

"Whenever they face problems they can't solve, they become apathetic and discouraged...their energy depleted," he said. "If these traits are not corrected, they will be unable to take future challenges."

"Take care. We don't want our nation to lose direction after Pak Harto (President Soeharto) steps down," he said further.

Soemitro acknowledged that he could find many members of the younger generations who have vast knowledge and clear visions. However, they tend to be too narrow and remain entrapped by the boundaries of their organizations, he said.

Courage

Harmoko said that the majority of the younger generations is constantly exposed to lessons on values derived from the state- ideology Pancasila, and so they are bound to have idealism and courage.

"They bear the responsibility of seeing the tasks of present and future development completed," he said.

Both Aisyah and Royani admitted that there are people from the younger generations who fit Soemitro's description, but not too many to warrant such a negative outlook.

"First, let's not forget that there are too many factors which play a role in this situation," Royani said. "No generation can claim that they are innocent from the guilt of giving one or two bad examples."

Royani pointed that the current political condition was such that most people, especially from the younger generations, are unable to speak up.

"What we call a mechanism for democracy isn't really democratic," he chided. "Certainly there are people who are bound to be apathetic in this condition."

He said people from various generations bear the same responsibility to rectify the situation, but feel that the government should initiate the change.

"Let's capitalize on the fact that there are still many people of the younger generations who are idealistic and do care about how this nation will fare," he said.

Aisyah urged public leaders from Soemitro's generation to give good examples and help push for the development of strong, courageous younger generations.

"We sure can use some encouragement from them," she said.

Rejecting Royani's view that the political system is to blame, the chair of the Commission I on political affairs and security at the House of Representatives (DPR), instead pointed a finger at the "cultural factors".

"We don't have the tradition where people can comfortably express different, even conflicting, opinions," she said. "We are not used to freely speaking our minds." (swe)