President waried about unity

Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri warned the nation on Friday of disintegration due to the overwhelming trend by people who pursue their own group interests, resulting in intolerance of differences.

Megawati said people were constantly in competition with each other for the control of resources in a bid to strengthen their own position and meet their own objectives.

"This situation has led our country to the brink of devastation," the President said in her speech at the 14th congress of Ansor, the youth wing of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Ansor, which also celebrated its 68th anniversary on Friday, is holding its congress at Pondok Gede Haj Dormitory until Sunday. Former president Abdurrahman Wahid, a former NU chairman, was slated to attend the opening ceremony on Friday, but has opted to come on Saturday.

Vice President Hamzah Haz, who is also an NU member, will close the congress on Sunday.

Also present were NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi and National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Alwi Shihab.

Megawati said the spirit of unity and nationhood should not be impaired by the troubles the country was currently facing.

"Only by exercising tolerance and respect for differences, can we continue our life as one nation. Taking an extreme stance or building an exclusive group at the expense of other groups does not reflect our recognition of democracy," Megawati said.

On the same occasion, the chairman of the NU's lawmaking body, Sahal Mahfudz, said that it was difficult now to find leaders who were willing to put the nation's welfare behind their own.

"The spirit of nationhood is weakening, as we lack leaders who are fighting for national interests," he said, without elaborating.