Suharto
Suharto (8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian military officer and politician who served as the second and longest-serving president of Indonesia.
Quotes
[edit]- National independence and the peoples' sovereignty are basic principles to which we fully adhere. We maintain and at the same time apply these principles in our attitude towards other nations in the world.
- The fight for freedom has culminated in the proclamation of our independence, but our struggle had still to be continued years after. Up to the present moment, the Indonesian people have still to endure the consequences of their sacrifice in the effort to achieve their territorial integrity. One of them is the people's plight in the economic field. We are therefore determined to defend whatever we have achieved painfully.
- To the Indonesian people, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity are very important principles; they do not only constitute our rights and honour, but they also serve as one of the important instruments for nation building in its broadest sense.
- In this world, that still contains greed to influence other nations' internal affairs which in some instances were conducted by force of arms we also realize the necessity of a physical defence capable of protecting the Indonesian nation and our country's integrity.
- However, the Indonesian people believe that the means for defence, which are decisive and at the same time advantageous, are the conviction in its own national identity and the standard of prosperity of its people.
- I get the impression that an exchange of visits between leaders of nations is extremely useful for strengthening the bonds of friendship, because mutual visits bring mutual understanding. It is mutual understanding and mutual esteem that are absolute requisites for the realisation of everlasting peace in the world.
- The relationship between Man and his environment, especially since the Industrial Revolution, has been an exploitative and predatory one. Until the early seventies, little or nothing was done. In the absence of global accountability, greatly accelerated economic activities as well as population pressures combined to erode the carrying capacity of the global ecosystem, to destroy natural resources and habitats, and bring about widespread pollution of air and water as well as the degradation of the soil.
- Alarming statistics, reflecting wasteful patterns of production and consumption, inter alia resulting in global warming and the progressive depletion of the ozone layer, have jolted the world into renewed and heightened concern. Unless these self-destructive practices are halted or drastically reduced, our planet is doomed to ecological catastrophe. Life as we know it is at stake. Conditions in the developing South also have an adverse impact on the environment. But here, degradation of the environment primarily results from population pressures and their corollary, pervasive poverty.
- To us, the interaction among development, environment and population is a cornerstone of national policy. We have learned to be concerned not only with population growth rates but also with the quality of the population, the levels of education that the people attain, and the skills and capabilities that they acquire. We have to consider the rights of individuals as they constitute population and a society, such as the right of men and women alike to determine the size of their families, the right to further the interests of the communities to which they belong, and other rights guaranteed under our laws. Such rights, together with the right to development and to obtain the best possible quality of life, as well as the right to a proper social and physical environment, are part of the spectrum of human rights that we uphold.
- Development has many facets, including social and cultural, but development is primarily an economic endeavour comprising the pursuit of material wealth, of income and earning capacity. Aware as we are of the link between development and environment, we are convinced that when a country is able to increase its material wealth and financial resources, to the same degree it is able to strengthen its pursuit of sustainable development. By serving the cause of economic development we thus serve the cause of the environment
- Sustainable development implies the integration of two elements: environment and development. Both must be simultaneously and equally attended to and their respective objectives reconciled and harmonised. One cannot be sacrificed for the sake of the other. And its implementation requires above all the equitable sharing of responsibilities as well as of opportunities.
- In this shrinking world we do not want to isolate ourselves. Proposals, suggestions and criticisms expressed in an atmosphere of friendship will be respected. Comments and criticisms expressed only to exaggerate our shortcomings in our national development which tend to interfere in our domestic affairs, is another matter.
- For the assistance and support of the people while I led the nation and state of Indonesia, I express my thanks and I seek forgiveness if there was any mistakes and shortcomings. May the Indonesian nation remain victorious with Pancasila and the 1945 constitution.
Quotes about Suharto
[edit]- Winds of change have blown in order to lift the injustice to which the world is subjected by America and its supporters and the Jews who are collaborating with them. Look at what is happening these days in Indonesia, where Suharto, a despot who ruled for 30 years, was overthrown. The time will come, sooner rather than later, when criminal despots who betrayed God and his Prophet, and betrayed their trust and their nation, will face the same fate.
- Osama bin Laden, Time magazine interview (23 December 1998) In response to the interviewer stating: 'Is your Islamic message having an impact?'
- The worst kleptocrat was Mohamed Suharto, Indonesian president from 1967 until 1998 but virtual military ruler from 1957. His brutal regime saw 2 million massacred following an attempted Communist coup in 1965, 250,000 killed in his 1975 invasion of East Timor and hundreds of thousands tortured and murdered during his dictatorship. Spectacular economic growth brought limited benefit to his people, far more to Suharto and his cronies, who fabulously enriched themselves, his wife’s lucrative commission earning her the nickname ‘Madam Ten Percent’. His klepocracy was laid bare after his forced resignation in 1998 following Asian financial meltdown: US$15-35 billion according to Transparency International. Disputed claims of ill health, however, allowed him to escape justice; he died in 2008.
- Simon Sebag Montefiore, Monsters: History's Most Evil Men and Women (2009), p. 334
- I feel sad to see a very old friend with whom I had worked closely over the last 30 years, not really getting the honours that he deserves. The younger generations, both in Indonesia and in the world, do not remember where Indonesia started. Yes, there was corruption. Yes, he gave favours to his family and his friends. But there was real growth and real progress.
- Lee Kuan Yew, "Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew says Suharto not getting recognition", Trend.az (2008)
- I respect Suharto because he changed Indonesia from being a troubled country under Sukarno rule, and he did so while maintaining unity among the many different ethnicities from the 13,000 islands. Indonesia is not an easy country to rule, but he kept it intact. After he took over, Indonesia did not split up – there was some trouble in Aceh, but in general he changed Indonesia's image to be a more developed one. Yes, there were things he did which were wrong, but the same can be said of any leader.
- Mahathir Mohamad, "Dr M: Suharto did wrongs, but no leader is perfect", Malaysiakini (2016)
