President waried about unity

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.