Habibie holds discussion on nationalism

Jakarta, NU Online
One-time President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie was a key note speaker during a Paramadina University student discussion here Friday.

Paramadina university rector, Anies Baswedan was moderator in the event held at the university`s Nurcholish Madjid Auditorium.<>

The event themed "What is wrong with our country" was attended by students, activists, academicians and general public.

Anies Baswedan said in his opening remarks that Indonesia has almost all the requirements of a great country.

He said that the potentials are still there, and it seems that Indonesia becoming a great country has always been delayed.

Anies said that the former third president is the right person to deliver a lecture, considering that Habibie was involved in the critical transition from crisis to reform era.

"Do we get a result in this ten years of reforms. In these ten years, don`t complain too much, because nothing much had changed," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

Anies suggested to compare the Indonesian democratic transition with those taking place in Latin American countries. "The Indonesian transition is better than in those countries," he said.

Meanwhile BJ Habibie who was accompanied by his wife, Ainun Habibie, started the discussion by saying it is understandable the the question `what is wrong with this country` arises.

"It means that you are still devoting your attention to this nation," Habibie said in the event also attended by the former House Speaker Akbar Tanjung. (dar)