REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged Indonesians to maintain social solidarity as the original value of the Indonesian nation. They should not only talk about social solidarity but also take concrete steps to realize its value, he said while attending the commemoration of the National Social Solidarity Day in the Central Kalimantan provincial capital of Palangkarya on Tuesday. 

"I should like to stress that we need to feel social solidarity in a concrete way rather than just talk about it. Concrete means that we really act to help each other. Therefore, we can begin it with ourselves and our families. We must continue to instill and forge social solidarity, Pancasila (five tenets) values, and unity in diversity values in ourselves," he said.

Solidarity is a noble value that the Indonesian nation has held since ancient times, therefore, its spirit must be maintained, he stated. "Commemorating the National Social Solidarity Day is actually commemorating the original values of the Indonesian nation. The values have been instilled in our nation long before the country proclaimed its independence. The founders of the country then formulated the values, the five tenets of Pancasila, which serve as the basis for our nationhood and statehood," he remarked. 

The history of the Indonesian nation's struggle proves that solidarity is an asset in facing all challenges and ordeals facing the nation, he noted. This solidarity was shown when people from all over the country worked hand in hand to help victims of natural disasters in the country, he stated.

"But I remind (the Indonesian nation) that they should not merely show social solidarity at the time of natural disasters. We should feel the social solidarity in our daily life. We must help each other in our efforts to reduce social gap, maintain unity and tolerance, and keep tranquility in nationhood and statehood," he added.

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