Youth Pledge Day

It is probably not very far off the mark to say that few Indonesians remember, or even care about, the fact that today their nation marks the occasion, 74 years ago, when a handful of youthful leaders of the pre-independence nationalist movement proclaimed what has since become known as the nation's Youth Pledge. Yet, the event that took place in what was then the Netherlands East Indies' colonial capital, Batavia, on Oct. 28, 1928, can truly be regarded as one of the most important milestones in this country's modern history.

Obviously, in 1928, when the pledge was proclaimed, conditions differed vastly from today's. Indonesia, as a nation, did not even exist. Then, as today, the archipelago of more than 17,000 islands was inhabited by hundreds of ethnic groups and subgroups speaking just about as many languages and dialects.

It took the visionary forethought of a handful of youth leaders, who hailed from various regions of the archipelago during that meeting, for them to declare that they considered themselves as having a common fatherland, belonging to a single nation and speaking a common language -- that of Indonesia.

So, in essence, the idea of Indonesian nationhood was born. It was that idea that inspired this country's nationalist leaders in the generations that followed -- truly a monumental milestone in the history of the country, considering that even today Indonesia is one of the most diverse nations in the world.

Why, then, the apparent apathy on behalf of the current generation of Indonesians with regard to this historic event?

One could cite several reasons. Foremost, however, is the feeling that prevails in many regions of this vast archipelago that they are not being treated fairly. In other words, they are not being placed on an equal footing as more privileged areas closer to the center, in Java.

Fortunately, steps have in the past few decades been taken to correct much of the disparity that has for so long existed, although admittedly much more needs to be done. The turmoil in the special area of Aceh, to mention just one example, stems from such a feeling. Given the fact that Aceh, together with Yogyakarta, was one of the first regions to officially and voluntarily declare its full support to the Indonesian Republic shortly after it was proclaimed on Aug. 17 by Sukarno and Mohamad Hatta, this northernmost Indonesian province certainly deserves all the goodwill and consideration the government in Jakarta can muster to end peacefully the long, ongoing conflict.

For the Indonesian nation, there can be no Youth Pledge Day present more welcome than the peace agreement that is due to be signed -- barring last minute hitches -- on Thursday, Oct. 31, between the government in Jakarta and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The hope is that the signing of the peace agreement will effectively end the armed conflict and killings that have been going on in Aceh for the past few decades.

Unfortunately, experience of these decades has taught us that preserving the peace, once attained, is a job that must really be worked on by both sides if it is to last. It may also take much longer after all these years of strife to wipe away the ill- feeling on both sides that the prolonged conflict has created.

Even so, with the prospect of developments looking hopeful in Aceh and conditions for a restoration of peace and harmony in Maluku apparently starting to improve, there is hope that the nation can begin to start thinking about addressing the grievances of the various regions in earnest.

Only by so doing can Indonesians hope to bring back the motivation for all Indonesians, wherever they live, whatever language or dialect they speak and whatever religion they observe, to start living once again in peace and harmony, together as one nation.

Let us hope that this year's Youth's Pledge Day commemorations can be more meaningful for the nation than merely the observance of empty ceremonies. Only by standing united as a nation can Indonesians hope to become strong enough to meet the challenges of a globalized world.

Those visionary young pioneers of our nationhood in 1928 seemed to have seen the world that was in the making with a clarity that we today can only envy. But if they could do it, why can't we?