President sets up committee for RI anniversary

President sets up committee for RI anniversary

JAKARTA (JP): This year's golden anniversary of Indonesia's
independence will be dedicated to the people and to expressing
gratitude to God Almighty, the government says.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono announced yesterday the
formation of a national committee to organize the celebration of
Indonesia's 50th anniversary.

Presidential Executive Order No. 7, issued on Feb. 3,
appointed Moerdiono as chairman of the national committee which
includes a number of well known figures within and outside of the
government.

Emil Salim, the former environmental minister, is executive
chairman of the committee, senior diplomat Nana Sutresna is his
deputy and Cacuk Sudarijanto, former president of state
telecommunication company PT Telkom, is the executive director.

The inclusion of Cacuk, considered one of Indonesia's finest
managers, raised eyebrows among government watchers because he
was removed from Telkom in controversial circumstances in 1992, a
subtle suggestion that his government career was over.

Yesterday, the four men reported to President Soeharto at his
Jl. Cendana residence.

"Fifty years is quite a long period for us to reflect on. This
is a time to look at what we have achieved, our strengths and our
weaknesses, so that we can confront the future," Moerdiono
commented.

Soeharto, he said, wanted the anniversary not only to remind
the nation of what has been done in 50 years of independence, but
to illustrate what the nation has not yet achieved.

He pointed to the presence of 25 million Indonesians still
living below the poverty line as a case in point.

Soeharto, according to Emil, stressed two major themes of the
anniversary: dedication to the people, and thanking God for 50
years of independence.

"We fulfill our thanks to God by strengthening the republic's
roots. If it wasn't for the common people -- rather than those
who wear neckties -- this nation would not have been
established," he said.

The activities, whether those organized by the government or
private organizations, must not be turned into profit-oriented
projects, Emil paraphrased the President as saying.

"If there are seminars, the speakers shouldn't ask for
payment. If newspapers run Independence Day ads or logos they
shouldn't charge a fee. Do all of this in the spirit of
togetherness. Don't try to get rich through the celebrations."

One national event already included in the agenda is a mass
prayer on Aug. 18, Emil explained. It was on this date that the
1945 Constitution was enacted. Emil said he would be consulting
with the country's religious leaders about the agenda.

"Traditional folk celebrations, exhibitions and other similar
festivities will be held not only in Jakarta but throughout the
country," he assured, adding the committee would travel to all 27
provinces to promote the idea.

The committee is counting on countries which lent support in
the republic's early years to contribute, he said.

Emil said the Australian labor movement and the Myanmar
government supported the independence movement in 1945; India
organized a conference that paved the way for Indonesia's
admission to the United Nations; Saudi Arabia and Egypt were the
first countries to recognize Indonesia. These countries as well
as Belgium and the United States are expected to participate.

"We want to revive the spirit the republic had when it was
founded," he said.

Dutch Queen Beatrix has confirmed that she will visit
Indonesia in August to take part in the 50th independence day
celebrations.

Indonesian leaders proclaimed independence on Aug. 17, 1945,
but it took four-and-half years of fighting before the
Netherlands, which ruled the territory known as the Dutch East
Indies for three and half centuries, agreed to recognize
Indonesia's sovereignty. (pwn)