Jakarta, July 21 -- President Prabowo Subianto asserted that Indonesia will only achieve true independence when all citizens at every societal level are free from hunger and poverty within a self-reliant economy.

"True independence is rooted in economic self-reliance. It is true that this country has all the requisite state institutions, both at the central and regional levels, but some of our people are still reeling from hunger and poverty. We are not independent yet," he remarked.

The president made the statement at the launch of around 80 thousand cooperatives under the Red and White Village Cooperatives program in Klaten District, Central Java, on Monday.

He affirmed that an independent state is one that can provide sufficient acc...