"We must continue instilling and passing on the pride on the independence to the next generation."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The general chairperson of opposition Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Megawati Soekarnoputri, said there is still a lot to do to make the nation equal with other nations in the world.
"Indonesia`s independence is now reaching its 67th anniversary, which is still quite young," she said after a ceremony to mark the independence anniversary at the party`s headquarters here on Friday.
Megawati, who is the daughter of one of the independence proclaimers, first president Soekarno or popularly called "Bung Karno", called on the nation to be proud of the country`s independence.
"We must continue instilling and passing on the pride on the independence to the next generation," she said.
She said the independence was achieved through struggles and a lot of people had sacrificed their assets and lives for it, which was the things that the nation must always be proud of.
Megawati said without the struggle Indonesia would never have a national identity among nations in the world and would be nothing.
The ceremony was attended by party executives, cadres and parliament members from the party.
Megawati did not attend the national ceremony led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace despite the invitation.
On it she said that the anniversary could be celebrated anywhere. "I am a self-reliant person. According to me the independence anniversary could be celebrated anywhere and not always at the palace," she said.
The former president said a lot of newsmen had asked about her absence at the palace at the independence anniversary. "Why is it worth questioning. It seems we have been trapped by bureaucracy," she said.
She said the most important thing is knowing the essence. She said a lot of people had died during the fight for independence and that was what people should understand and be proud of.
This was not the first that she did not attend the ceremony at the palace.
(T.R024/H-YH/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
