Presidential adviser: Pancasila makes Indonesia stronger and united

The Indonesian embassy in Doha organised on Saturday a discussion for the Indonesian community in Qatar, highlighting the importance of civic education.
Held at the embassy, the event was attended by community members from various backgrounds such as Indonesian Student Association in Qatar, the Nahdlatul Ulama Special Branch in Qatar, and Indonesia Catholics Community in Qatar, among others.
Indonesian ambassador Ridwan Hassan, as well as other Indonesian diplomats in Qatar were also present at the discussion.
Member of Indonesia’s Presidential Advisory Council, Sidarto Danusubroto, who was the key speaker at the discussion, stressed the importance of civic education in current days especially for Indonesian young generation in Qatar.
“It does not matter where you live now, the most important thing is your contribution to the country and to the people,” said the 87-year-old Sidarto, who was also aide of Indonesia’s first president Soekarno back in (1967-1968) and head of People’s Consultative Assembly (2013-2014).
According to Sidarto, Indonesia has been established as a home for all regardless of their ethnicity, language or religion. Founding father and first President of Indonesia once ever said: “Indonesia is one for all and all for one” quoted Sidarto.
He added that as a home to more than 17,000 islands, 300 ethnic groups, and 700 languages spoken across the archipelago, Indonesia needs a unified ideology inherent in each of its citizens.
In this context, he said that Pancasila (Panca is five and Sila means principles) is still relevant and valid as the State’s ideology which has unified 280 million Indonesians from various backgrounds.
He noted that Pancasila was officially adopted as the state philosophy of Indonesia on June 1, 1945, and it serves as the basis for Indonesia's Constitution, laws, and national policies. Pancasila also represents the fundamental values and principles that guide the nation and its people.
Hassan noted that around 23,000 Indonesians are now living in Qatar and around 8% to 9% of them are young generation below 20’s.
“This is the reason why the embassy held various civic programmes for young Indonesian diaspora in Qatar,” he said.