PRESIDENT OPENS SANTRI NUSANTARA SCOUTS 2009 CAMPING

Bandung, June 17 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened the "Santri Nusantara Scouts 2009" camping at Kiarapayung camping resort in Sumedang district, West Java, on Wednesday.

The camping activity was participated in by 5.937 students from 33 provinces across the country and representatives from other countries.

On the occasion the president was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basuni, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Communication and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh, and West Java Governor Ahmad Heriyawan.

The Santri Nusantara Scouts 2009 (Archipelagic Muslim Students Scouts 2009) which is effective from June 15-20, 2009 will perform various scout-related activities and a bazaar of creations of the archipelatic students scouts.

The activity was themed "Indonesian Muslim Students Scouts Determined to Realize National Unity and Integrity in the Framework of Unity in Diversity."
In his address, President Yudhoyono said the students scout movement at the Islamic boarding schools should be supported by all parties as part of the National Scouts Movement Revitalization.

The president also instructed the coordinating minister for people's welfare, national education minister, religious affairs minister, the governors and district heads to help encourage the scouts movement revitalization process at the Islamic boarding schools.

"The Islamic boarding school students scouts have a great potential in the development of national character and to create strong human resources development," the president said.

He pointed out that the scouts movement was not new at the Islamic boarding schools which had an important part in the struggle for independence and the fight against illiteracy and ignorance in the community.

According to the president, the theme of Santri Nusantara Scouts 2009 was relevant to Indonesian national challenge at present and in the future.

"The Indonesian Scouts Movement in the past three years has been improved significantly and able change the public view on the the movement," the president said.

He expressed hope that the younger generation including the students of Islamic boarding schools would have a great interest in the scouts movement.