Soeharto solutes mothers on Woman's Day

Soeharto solutes mothers on Woman's Day

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto paid tribute to mothers and
the role they play in family life during his speech
commemorating National Women's Day yesterday.

The challenges facing Indonesia require the emergence of a new
generation that is capable, highly qualified and able to treat
problems with self confidence, Soeharto said in Palembang, South
Sumatra, where the celebration was held.

Everything begins with the family, proper nurturing and care, he
said. "All of these bring us to the realization of how important the
role of a mother is in the caring, rearing and education of her
children. It also goes to show how big the role of mothers will be
in the nation's future."

Having recognized the role of mothers, Soeharto said the nation
must therefore strive to improve the quality of women.

"We need to give greater attention to the education of women. Now
their overall education is still behind that of men, even though
their duties are increasing."

National Women's Day was held to mark the 66th anniversary of the
historic gathering of various women's organizations in Indonesia,
then still the Dutch East Indies, on Dec. 22, 1928.

Soeharto said this goes to show that Indonesian women have all
along participated in various national endeavors, both before and
after independence and including the nation's current development
program.

Soeharto combined his commemoration trip to Palembang yesterday
with the inauguration of the Sriwijaya Kingdom Ancient Park and also
the launching of three industrial plants -- Unit IB of state urea
producer PT Pupuk Sriwijaya (PUSRI), a melamine plant owned by PT
Sri Melamin Rejeki, and a polystyrene plant of PT Pacific Indomas
Plastic Indonesia.

The new PUSRI unit replaced the first plant which was built in
1963 and now considered no longer efficient. The new $267 million
unit boosts the capacity of PUSRI to 2.28 million tons a year from
1.52 million previously.

Soeharto also used the occasion to launch a nation-wide campaign
for the Development of Workers' Family Prosperity, a plan calling on
employers and employees to work shoulder to shoulder to improve the
welfare of workers.

The campaign, which Soeharto stressed is in the companies' best
interest, is an extension of the national movement of family
planning through work places.

In return for additional assistance from employers, he said
workers are expected to join the family planning program, send their
children to school at least through junior high school and take care
of their own health.

"I hope the movement will also strengthen the relationship between
employers and workers. Such a partnership will create a healthy
working atmosphere which will encourage efficiency and strengthen
companies."

At the Sriwijaya Kingdom Park, Soeharto restored a plaque dated
year 682 to confirm that the Hindu kingdom which spanned most of
Indonesia, had its seat in the area.

The site in Karang Anyar in Palembang has now been turned into a
park and also an archeological site as a research center to
rediscover the greatness of the empire.

Historians are still debating about the exact locations of
Sriwijaya, with some suggesting that it is in Jambi province further
north from Palembang. (emb)

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