Scholars to discuss national pride, identity

SURABAYA (JP): Hundreds of scholars will discuss at a seminar today how education should be developed so that it can rebuild "national identity and dignity".

The seminar, to be held at the University of Indonesia in Depok, West Java, is to submit its recommendations to the government, either directly or through the House of Representatives.

It also commemorates National Education Day which falls today.

The board of the Association of Alumni of Indonesian Universities, whose membership encompasses graduates from 72 state universities and 1,128 private universities, organized the seminar.

From Airlangga University here, former rector Marsetio Donoseputro, heart surgeon Puruhito and economist Tjoek Sukiadi are expected to attend.

Marsetio has prepared a paper in which he expounds the virtues of restoring the nation's identity and dignity through self- respect and responsibility.

"I notice that Indonesians lack these two things. My concept is to develop and maintain self-respect and a sense of responsibility through education.

"What I mean by self-respect is that you are not cheating, lying or doing something that is against your conscience, which is what many of our leaders are doing."

He said the words of officials and the nation's leaders did not match their actions.

"Student demonstrations have now reached the fourth phase (of activism)," he said.

"First, they were disappointed (by the situation and leaders deceiving the people). Second, they became angry. In the third stage, they began blaming the government (for the situation).

"Now, they demand that the government take responsibility.

"Many of our leaders give irresponsible statements, or simply don't take responsibility for their actions."

Marsetio cited, as an example of the lack of respect, news reports in which members of the House of Representatives were beaming with pride because President Soeharto invited them to an unprecedented meeting of officials, military leaders, and political organization leaders.

"It was really inappropriate," said Marsetio, a former House member from the ruling Golkar. "In fact, it should have been the House members themselves who invited the President to the meeting, instead of the other way around.

"Second, the President did not invite them in person, through a formal invitation, but by telephone calls made by the assistants of the secretary-general of the House of Representatives." (26)