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)