Soeharto opens meet on the disabled
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said yesterday that Indonesia was determined to ensure that disabled people enjoy the same business and employment opportunities as other Indonesian citizens.
"We are trying to see to it that disabled persons lead a life in accordance with their abilities and human dignity," he said when opening the fourth Disabled People's International Asia- Pacific Regional Assembly.
During the five-day conference, Soeharto told nearly 300 participants that Indonesia strived to improve the professional skills of social institutions and organizations dealing with disabled people.
The Indonesian government means to enhance the social awareness, solidarity and responsibility of the community to encourage greater public participation in dealing problems facing the disabled, he added.
Accompanied by Indonesian Minister of Social Services Inten Soeweno, government assistance to the disabled was in the form of guidance, care, compensation and rehabilitation.
The President said disabled people generally had advantages like diligence, steadfastness and perseverance which would enhance their potential.
The conference, he said, should come up with an action program aimed to improve disabled people's well-being.
Many of the disabled people attending the opening ceremony at the State Palace were confined to their wheel-chairs or using walking sticks while the blind also came with assistance.
Also present on the occasion was chief of the Association of Disabled Indonesians, Kusbiono Sarmanhadi.
Soeharto said that during the Disabled People's Decade (1993- 2002), the participants should formulate a common working plan.
"Such a plan would provide guidelines at both country and regional levels," he said.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said in his address, read aloud by Japanese ambassador Tazio Watanabe, that his government welcomed the conference.
"We are happy to provide assistance through the Japan International Cooperation Agency," said Murayama, who attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting two weeks ago. (pan)