INDONESIA Religion-based Youth Organizations Act To Restore Nation’s Integrity

On 2008-10-3

JAKARTA (UCAN) – Leaders of seven religion-based national youth organizations and a Chinese association have joined to promote the resurgence of the nation, which they agree is struggling due to a lack of integrity.

After forming the National Integrity Council, the eight activists made their resolve public at a Sept. 22 meeting in Jakarta. About 150 people from various social, religious and youth organizations as well as political parties attended the meeting at the headquarters of Nahdlatul Ulama, the biggest Islamic organization in the country.

The council members include Idy Muzayyad of Nahdlatul Ulama Students Association, M. Izzul Muslimin of Muhammadiyah Youth, Dating Palembangan of Indonesian Christian Youth Force Movement (GAMKI, Indonesian acronym) and Natalis Situmorang of Catholic Youth.

Other members are Ronny Hermawan of Indonesian Buddhist Young Generation, Nyoman Gde Agus Asrama of Indonesian Hindu Youth Association, Kris Tan of Confucian Young Generation and Lieus Sungkharisma of Anti-Corruption Chinese Community.

They established the National Integrity Council on Aug. 6 as a “common vehicle to push for cultural change, from a culture that hungers for power, position and money to a culture that espouses integrity,” according to its founding declaration.

The government declared 2008 the Year of the Resurgence of the Nation’s Integrity, to mark the 100th anniversary of National Awakening Day. That annual observance commemorates the founding of Budi Utomo (high endeavor), the first Indonesian nationalist organization, on May 20, 1908.

On Jan. 31, 2008, government officials and educational, business and civic figures signed the 2008 Declaration of National Integrity, in which they stated the country remains depressed because of its lack of integrity. The declaration defines integrity as “honesty, sense of responsibility, willingness to work hard, patriotism, care for society and respect for regulations, norms, ethics and other people’s rights.”

Sungkharisma said at the Sept. 22 meeting that the general election in April 2009 will be the initial focus of the National Integrity Council. Its main work will be to compose, formulate and present guidelines for a national policy of integrity, he elaborated, quoting the founding declaration.

It will work on this with people from the government, businesses, political parties and society at large willing to work together to change the nation’s political culture for the better.

To realize this, the eight founding members, calling themselves Team-8, are working to set up a 45-member team comprising religious, academic, professional, business and civil society figures.

According to Sungkharisma, Team-45 will develop criteria based on principles of integrity, the 1945 Constitution and the Pancasila ideology, and it will nominate candidates for the presidency, vice presidency and 17 Cabinet ministerial posts. The numbers 8, 17 and 45 are derived from the proclamation of Indonesian independence on Aug. 17, 1945.

The preamble of the 1945 Indonesian Constitution affirms Pancasila (five pillars) as the national ideology. It comprises belief in the one and only God, a just and civilized humanity, the unity of Indonesia, democracy guided by the inner wisdom of consensus arising from deliberations among representatives, and social justice for all.

Sumiati, 41, a Muslim social activist at the meeting, said she believed Team-8 could bring change to the country, which has been hit by economic crises and lack of trust in its leaders.

“I have voted in presidential elections but have experienced no change. May Team-45 nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates who will make a difference in this country,” she told UCA News.

Several council members explained to UCA News why they joined.

Tan said his Confucian organization approves the initiative because the council is “a moral movement to build a nation with integrity and it urges people to engage in politics in a clean way.”

Situmorang wanted to manifest his organization’s belief that “a Catholic in Indonesia must be 100 percent Catholic and 100 percent Indonesian.” He said he wanted Catholics to be in the frontline to defend the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and participate in the 2009 election.

Albert Siagian, GAMKI general secretary, told UCA News Team-8 will ask people to “look for the best men or women to lead this country.” He stated that “a president with integrity will make Indonesia a great nation.”

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Article printed from Union of Catholic Asian News: http://www.ucanews.com

URL to article: http://www.ucanews.com/2008/10/03/religion-based-youth-organizations-act-to-restore-nations-integrity/

~ by gemaku on October 7, 2008.