Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, said that Indonesia is a country that has the richest and problematic diversity of ethnic groupd, religion and beliefs, culture and traditions, and language in the world. However, the diversity does not make Indonesian people fragmented, but still belonging to one homeland, one nation and one language: Indonesia, in the frame of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, which is not negotiable because it has become the final reality of history.
The diversity can be a capital base that is valuable in re-confirming the leadership of Indonesia in the ASEAN forum in order to strengthen solidarity toward the ASEAN community by year 2015. "Chairing ASEAN in 2011, Indonesia has to realize the results and benefits of ASEAN that can be really enjoyed by Indonesian people equally," the Governor said in his speech at the 66th Anniversary of Proclamation of Independence, read by UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng., Ph.D., on Wednesday (17/8), in Balairung yard, UGM Main Office.
The Governor said that aspect of equity is a matter of urgency to be realized immediately because the current imbalanced level of welfare is more felt by people. In addition, law enforcement has not fulfilled the principle of justice, as well as prosecution of corruption that is reactive and partially in the midst of systematic corruption. "Meanwhile, foreign intervention overshadows a variety of products of legislation which are not in line with the Constitution and Pancasila," he said.
At the regional scope of Yogyakarta Special Province, most people felt discomfort because the Yogyakarta Specialty BIll has not received an elegant solution based on the Constitution of 1945, based on the socio-cultural-historical dimensions that become the distinctive characteristics of Yogyakarta and all its residents. "In facing the nation’s dilemma, we should read the meaning and spirit of Proclamation. To reflect the spirit of the Proclamation, we should trace the history when the national founding fathers were searching for the form of Indonesia. It looks like a historical parallelism with the current situation, full of complexities of the nation’s problems that threaten our national ideals," he added.
The Governor said that the ‘mutual dream’ of Indonesian nation has to be recreated so that all forms of the nation’s problems do not threaten its stability and existence. In a cultural perspective to achieve a better Indonesia, the Indonesian people should build characters which take side with its own nation, rooted in the progressive-oriented culture to be able to speak in the global arena and be respected by other nations in the world.
"So, let us return to the spirit of the Proclamation as a dignified nation, with a free soul, sincerity to sacrifice, determination to be united with the consciousness of living in diversity. May the soul of the Proclamation of 1945 be realized so that we get the benefit evenly, and the achievement of the mission to prosper and educate people in the implementation of democracy with justice being served for all levels of society can be accelerated," he concluded.
The ceremony this time was attended by the University and Faculty Leadership, teaching and academic staff, and students of UGM.