PRESIDENT: DISHONEST TO SAY INDONESIA GOING BACKWARD

Tuban, Feb 18 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Wednesday it was not honest for some people to say that Indonesia was going backward.
In a speech made in a visit to the district of Tuban in East Java the head of state said that indeed there was no justice, welfare and prosperity as yet in Indonesia.
However, he said, that progress must certainly have been made following continuous development efforts that have been made since the era of former first president Soekarno until his administration.
"So, some who said that our country was declining, I think, were not honest because some have certainly been built and achieved," he said.
President Yudhoyono said "what a pity if they, governors, district heads, mayors are considered having done nothing. We must be honest."
On the occasion Yudhoyono explained the achievements that had been made by his administration for the past five years in the fields of security, economy and public welfare.
"This is the fifth year of the administration and the cabinet that I lead. Next year, God knows who will lead the country. Any government and whoever leads it will not know. Only God knows about it. Today I wish to convey what we have achieved with all our efforts for the development of the country," he said.
President Yudhoyono said the country's economy had improved compared to the condition ten years ago when the country was in the midst of an economic crisis.
He said no riotings and security disruptions had occurred again after the ones in Poso, Maluku and Aceh several years ago. "Riotings used to happen everywhere. Now they almost infrequently happen," he said.
He said the government had worked as just as possible with regard to eradicating corruption and crimes including narcotic crimes and terrorism.
President Yudhoyono was here to present the National Self-reliant Community Empowerment Program (PNPM) assistance worth Rp1.448 billion for 38 districts/cities in East Java. He also dedicated six infrastructure projects in the region and extended various kinds of aid packages for the region.
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