YUDHOYONO SET TO SHARE DEMOCRATIC LESSONS IN BALI DEMOCRACY FORUM by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 9, 2014 (Antara) - The Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) VII taking place in Nusa Dua, October 10-11, 2014, will be the final one to be chaired by its initiator, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will end his tenure on October 20, 2014.

         Yudhoyono, former army general, is Indonesia's first-ever president directly elected in democratic elections in September 2004. In 2009, he won re-election in the first round also by some 60 percent of the total vote.

          In 2008, he initiated the first Bali Democracy Forum as an annual, inclusive and open intergovernmental forum on the development of democracy in the Asia Pacific region.

         The forum is aimed to promote and foster regional and international cooperation in the field of peace and democracy through dialogue-based on sharing experiences and best practices that adhere to the principle of equality, mutual respect and understanding, with the participating countries sharing its ownership.       
    This year's theme of is "Evolving Regional Democratic Architecture: the Dynamics of Political Development, Socio-Economic Progress and Public Participation in the Democratic Process". 
    During discussions of sub-theme, "the Challenges of Political Development, Public Participation and Socio-Economic Progress in the 21st Century," Indonesia is to invite participants to talk about key issues often raised and encountered in their countries to improve the democratic process.

        The forum will be co-chaired by President Yudhoyono and President of the Philippines Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

        Presidential staff foreign affairs Teuku Faizasyah explained that the presence of the Filipino head of state is significant, as the Philippines is one of the earliest countries in the region to implement a democratic system. "So, we can learn many things from the experiences of the Philippines," he noted.     
        Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam and Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao are also participating in the two-day meeting.  
    Foreign ministers from Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Maldives, and Mongolia will attend the meeting.  vice ministers from Bangladesh, Iran, Japan, Namibia, Hungary, Singapore, and China will also be present in the forum.

           Some 85 countries are sending their representatives to join the forum, according to Deputy Chairman of BDF VII Ambassador Wahid Supriadi.

          The increase in the number of attendees at the forum is a testament to its importance as a platform to share diverse views on democracy and its development in each country.

         The Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), which was also established in 2008, has supported the BDF's goal of instilling concepts and skills for peace and democracy through intellectual exchanges, training for practitioners, joint missions, network building, publications, and capacity building at Bali's Udayana University where it is headquartered.

       The fact that the institute has been invited to a number of countries, such as Egypt and Tunisia, indicates that the BDF has played an important role in developing and sharing views on democracy, according to Wahid.

          "BDF this time is the seventh of its kind since 2008, and we hope it will continue in the new government because such a forum is good for Indonesia's diplomacy," the ambassador said.

          The Bali Democracy Forum is one of the legacies of President Yudhoyono's administration, to  promote international norms of democracy.  Participating countries engage in dialogue based on sharing experiences and best practices in regards to promotion of democratic ideals.

         Indonesia believes that democracy is a key element in the promotion of peace and stability in the region.

          Prior to the implementation of the BDF VII, however, a coalition of civil societies expressed rejection to the forum saying that it was no longer relevant for the development of democracy following the recent ratification of the regional head elections (Pilkada) law by the House of Representatives (DPR).

         "People will no longer be totally involved in the implementation of democracy. The people's role will be hijacked similar to what happened in the elections of regional heads," Komang Arya Ganaris, the coordinator of the coalition in Bali, stated in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Oct. 9, 2014.

         The NGOs protested the enactment of Law Number 22 of 2014 that applies an indirect system of elections of provincial governors, district heads, and city mayors by Regional Legislative Council, instead of direct elections by the people, which have been implemented over the past decade.

         Following the passage of the controversial Pilkada bill, Yudhoyono issued a government regulation in lieu of the law, locally known as Perppu, which is meant to overturn the new law and  be effective if it is approved by the DPR.

         "We know why the NGOs that have been invited will not be present, but their decision is disappointing," presidential spokesman Aldrin Pasha said in response to the NGOs' rejection.

          Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa is of the view that the issue on Pilkada law can become a good democratic lesson worth sharing during the forum's discussions.

          "I think this can become an issue that we can share and inform in the Bali Democracy Forum. Democracy is a process, and not a mere event. This process is dynamic, and I think at present we are in a stage where the Pilkada implementation in fact gives a lesson for an exchange of views," Marty Natalegawa said.

         The Indonesian government which has initiated the Bali Democracy Forum to discuss human rights and democracy issues in the region, has never claimed that the country's democracy is already perfect, the minister added.     ***1***
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(T.F001/A/F. Assegaf/Suharto) 09-10-2014 23:41:26