Soemitro tells youths to keep self-respect

JAKARTA (JP): Senior military figure Gen. (ret.) Soemitro called on Indonesian youths to be independent and not sell their pride for position or wealth.

"Young people should grow and develop on their own, and remain confident of their skills and knowledge," Soemitro said Saturday at a reception marking his 70th birthday at his home in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

"I hope our young people today will never sell out their self- respect for higher positions in the bureaucracy or for wealth," he said.

"With pride, a person will survive the challenges that life gives him. Only with pride can a person stand tall."

"People may not like you because you stand firm on what you believe and maintain your pride. But at least your children and grandchildren will respect you highly," he said.

Soemitro, former chief of the powerful Internal Security Agency, also called on young Indonesians to maintain national brotherhood.

"The young people should be able to develop solidarity in spite of diversity... maintaining friendship with all layers of society and avoiding hostility," he said.

Soemitro, who now runs his own business, said youths should hone their business skills as economics would be the nation's mainstay in the future.

"Do not borrow the money if you are not sure that you can return it," he said.

Attending Soemitro's birthday celebration were former chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Body Yoga Sugomo and former governor of the National Resilience Institute Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo.

Soemitro's business partners, relatives and military friends were also present. (imn)