As a form of commitment and UGM identity as a university that has the values of Pancasila, UGM hosts the 9th Pancasila Congress from Saturday-Sunday, 22-23 July 2017. It is preceded by Pancasila course that is attended by about 300 participants from various universities, institutions, and community groups on Friday (21/7) at the Senate Hall.
UGM professor, Prof. Dr. dr. Sutaryo, Sp.A(K)., steering committee chairman, said the Pancasila course became an important event amidst the current domestic condition when many people, even state officials, have not fully understood the meaning and significance of Pancasila.
He said the essence of Pancasila values presented by President Ir. Soekarno back in 1945 was still relevant to today’s nationhood context.
He quoted the President’s statement saying the cases happening around the Independence period had proved that if national affairs were not built on Pancasila values, the Indonesian nation would disintegrate. “It proves that it’s only Pancasila that can truly unite and secure our nation,” he quoted President Soekarno as saying.
Sutaryo explained this statement was very appropriate to be reinstated amidst the current condition that is full of acts that want to break up the unity of the nation.
“Today, seeing the political situation in Indonesia, the truth is we have been divided. So, we have to repeat what Pancasila really is, and why Pancasila has become the unifier,” he said.
He said he was optimistic seeing the narratives on Pancasila that have been voiced in recent times, even among the young people. Accoding to Prof. Soetaryo, this was never seen before. Such condition raised hopes that Pancasila is still alive.
“Pancasila has re-appeared. Nowadays we often hear people mentioning Pancasila, which was not seen in the past few years,” he said.
In the Pancasila course, he said, it will be explained about Pancasila as state ideology and interpretation of each of five principles of Pancasila. This will be followed by description by Prof. Dr. Mochammad Maksum Machfoedz on the history of the first principle on divinity. Next, Prof. Dr. Wuryadi will explain the meaning of second principle on humanity, Prof. Dr. Tadjuddin Noer Effendi, MA on unity, Dr. Fahmy Radi, MBA on democracy, and Prof. Taryo himself on justice.