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Boediono denies he is pro-western economist

NU Online  ·  Kamis, 21 Mei 2009 | 05:24 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
Outgoing Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Boediono, who has been named vice presidential candidate to accompany Democratic Party presidential aspirant Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has rejected allegations that he was a pro-liberalism economist.

"I want to argue and protest allegations that I am a pro-western economist. I am an Indonesian economist. I pursue studies in any region in Indonesia. So there is no need to label me as a pro-Western economist. Indonesia is my motherland," Boediono said here on Wednesday.<>

He said he would be very sad if he heard someone made such a statement because throughout his long career he had been serving the nation.

The outgoing BI governor said in the platform of the SBY-Boediono presidential pair, poverty eradication was an important agenda.

"So, I will say that national economic resilience will remain a strong economic form which will continue to be given attention to. In the current globalized world we have to develop pillars which support national economic resilience," he said asquoted by Antara.

He said that the balance between overseas and domestic markets must be maintained so that one should not inordinately depend on foreign markets while ignoring the domestic market. Experience had shown that the domestic market was strong.

"On external debts and the government`s role, we will play a role in reviving the national economy. The government is required to play a greater role than in normal conditions," he added.

Boediono who will run as vice presidential candidate together with Yudhoyono in the upcoming July 8, 2009 presidential elections, gave his political oration at the National Awakening Museum in connection with National Awakening Day on Wednesday (May 20).

He chose the National Awakening Museum building as a place to give his political oration because the museum and the occasion had historical links with national awakening events.

The museum was formerly known as the Stovia building, or Javanese medical school where the Boedi Utomo organization was established. (dar)