Yudhoyono regretted that violence, thuggery, anarchism, and communal conflicts have blighted the nation.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed concern about anarchism and violence in many regions due to ignorance amongst people concerning their personal rights.

Violence and anarchism, which are among the negative excesses of the reform and democratization processes, must be stopped by promoting the meaning of unity and mutual understanding, the president said in his opening speech of the National Congress of the Younger Generation at the Indonesian Military-Police Officers` Children's Communications Forum, here, Friday.

"In the current democratic era, in the era of freedom of expression, the promotion of human rights, the freedom to
establish associations, the freedom of the press, decentralization and regional autonomy, mostly brings goodness because it`s the mandate of the reform," the president said.

But, there are also setbacks, such as in the sense of solidarity, brotherhood, and unity, he added.

Yudhoyono regretted that violence, thuggery, anarchism, and communal conflicts have blighted the nation.

He said Indonesia had once experienced liberal democracy in the 1950s, which had caused instability and badly harmed the development process.

Following the fall of the liberal democratic era, the country experienced an authoritarian period. And when the authoritarian era ended in 1998, Indonesia entered an age of reform, which has been ongoing.

The head of state urged the Indonesian people to deal with the liberal values of the reform era and democratization`s negative excesses, such as the erosion of a sense of unity.

"To all Indonesian people, with goodwill, let's make the necessary corrections. We should not wait for history to correct it," he said.

The National Congress is being held until February 26, in which 390 people representing the country`s 33 provinces, are taking part.

Among the dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony, were Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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