Soeharto invokes nationalism for development

Soeharto invokes nationalism for development

JAKARTA (JP): Amid much pomp and circumstance, President
Soeharto proclaimed May 20 the beginning of the second National
Awakening to take Indonesia on a path towards a just and
prosperous nation.

During a celebration to mark the 86th anniversary of National
Awakening Day on Friday, Soeharto said the lofty goals of the
second long-term development program which began on April 1 would
not be attainable without a common national vision.

"If the first National Awakening in 1908 was intended to
establish a free, united and sovereign nation, then the second
National Awakening is intended to strengthen the nation's
development so that the objectives of justice and prosperity are
realized," Soeharto said in a ceremony at the Jakarta Hilton
International Convention Center.

Indonesia must stand as an equal among the community of
nations and cannot remain in the lower ranks, he stressed at the
ceremony that was colored by patriotic songs and dances to recall
how far the nation had progressed since the founding of Boedi
Oetomo, the first organization that resembled a nationalist
movement when Indonesia was a Dutch colony, on May 20, 1908.

"That was an historic moment that evoked awareness among the
Indonesian people that we could only free ourselves from colonial
chains by using methods appropriate at the time and to unite as a
nation."

Soeharto said Indonesia must strive to invigorate its sense of
nationalism, both to ensure unity among the different groups of
people in the country, and to meet the challenges posed by global
changes.

Upheavals

He said that the lack of a national vision had led to other
nations experiencing prolonged upheavals.

"We cannot envisage what would have become of this nation if
we had tolerated the seeds of separatism. Maybe this nation would
have been broken up into small and weak states that would have
been easy prey for others," he said. "We cannot imagine what
would have happened to this nation if we had not had a national
vision."

The second national development program, which spans 25 years,
will be a time for Indonesia not only to catch up with other more
advanced countries, but also to redistribute the fruits of
development, he said. "This task is very difficult, but it's not
something that is impossible to accomplish."

Soeharto used the occasion to remind younger people who are
now moving into leadership positions in virtually all fields that
the onus falls on them to complete the task started by their
elders.

"The young generation of our nation must prepare themselves as
well as they can to continue, expand and speed up the process of
nation-building for their own sake as well as for the sake of
future generations," he said. (emb)