950816

Indonesia marks 50 years of independence

JAKARTA: President Suharto, marking the 50th anniversary of Indonesian independence, said on Wednesday his country could be proud of its achievements but such progress did not bring unbridled freedom.

"That we, the Indonesian nation, are able to carry out development is precisely the added value of our achievement up to now," he told parliament.

"We have self-confidence. Not boastfully, but gratefully."

But Suharto, 74, said Indonesia's rapid development must not widen the gap between rich and poor, or ignore the broader goal of social justice for its 190 million people.

"In our economy, individual initiative and activity are open widely, but it is not an uncontrolled freedom... Therefore all of us -- both as individuals and members of society -- must exercise self-control," he said in a state-of-the-nation speech.

The world's fourth most populous country celebrates 50 years of independence from the Dutch on Thursday.

Suharto, whose speech side-stepped key political issues, said Indonesia's per capita income -- $919 last year -- was set to overtake its $1,020 target for the present five year plan due to end in 1999.

He said this and the five-year target of 6.2 percent economic growth was low and may make Indonesians complacent.

"We do not intend to slacken our effort. On the contrary, such an improved situation should prompt us to make an even more rapid progress in the future," he said.-Reuter