Soeharto tells Golkar to learn from history

JAKARTA (JP): "Never forget the past," President Soeharto told members of the ruling political grouping Golkar yesterday.

"In looking ahead, meeting challenges in developing the future that we dream about, we must never forget our past," Soeharto said in a speech read by Vice President Try Sutrisno during a reception celebrating the 31st anniversary of Golkar at the Jakarta Convention Center.

"History is the wisest teacher. It teaches us about our strengths and weaknesses," he said. "It tells us the consequences of past mistakes and errors. We should learn from them."

Soeharto speech was made in his capacity as the chairman of Golkar's board of patrons. Try is also a member of the board.

Soeharto was not present at yesterday's celebration, which peaked in a grand performance of famous artists and singers. Soeharto is currently in Cartagena, Colombia, attending the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

In his speech, Soeharto spoke about the birth of Golkar, the critical conditions caused by the communist movement that preceded its establishment and the sanctity of the state ideology Pancasila.

"It is the responsibility of the cadres of Golkar and of the other social and political forces...to ensure that such tragedies do not happen again," he said.

Golkar also issued a political statement yesterday prepared during its three-day leadership meeting which ended on Thursday. Among the issues addressed in the statement, read by leading Golkar member Rambe Kamaruzaman, were campaign methods, monopolistic business practices, peaceful coexistence among religious groups and the protection of human rights.

"Golkar expects campaigns for the coming general elections to be held in a more communicative ways, involving both candidates and their voters," Rambe said.

"Golkar firmly opposes any form of abuse...of religious teachings, by any one, aimed at dividing," the statement said.

Golkar laid special emphasis on the attempts of certain groups of people, claiming to be speaking for openness and democracy, to destabilize the country, to disparage state institutions and the existing social and political organizations, and to undermine development.

The grouping also "fully supports all efforts to protect human rights and uphold democracy by strengthening political communication," the statement said.

Golkar also called for the abolition of monopoly practices by individuals or groups in society and for consistent efforts on the part of the government to combat them.

Monopoly practices reflect greed, something which is against Indonesia's development principles, the statement continued.

Golkar Chairman Harmoko vowed in his speech that the grouping would remain "the unifying force of the nation's potential...without disregarding the existence and aspirations of various groups in society".

Some 10,000 Golkar members and supporters joined the celebration. Among the dignitaries present were Malaysia's Minister of Information Dato Muhammad Rahmat, Singapore's Minister of Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng, several Indonesian cabinet ministers and chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Earlier in the day, all participants in Golkar's leadership meeting went to the Kalibata National Hero Cemetery to pay their respects to past leaders.

Also yesterday, Golkar conferred upon 11 senior activists the title pinisepuh, a Javanese word for respected elder. The title was conferred on former minister of religious affairs Munawir Sjadzali, former tourism minister Achmad Taher, former cooperatives minister Bustanil Arifin and chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas Hasan Basri.

The other recipients were the wife of former chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, M. Panggabean, former Army chief Makmun Murod, former commander of the Indonesian Air Force, R. Soekardi, former Central Java governor, Munadi, businessman Hasyim Ning, former minister of finance, Radius Prawiro, and former Lampung governor, Yasir Hadibroto.

In another part of his speech yesterday, Soeharto reminded Golkar members that, despite the successes and glory achieved during the past three decades, the nation still has to contend with the question of social inequality.

"There's a great challenge we have to overcome, which is the gap," he said, adding that the next long-term development plan will be dedicated to closing the gap. (imn)