Excesses of democracy must be corrected: SBY

Antara News, Monday, September 6, 2010 02:12 WIB

Bogor, W Java (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that negative excesses in carrying out the democratic system must be corrected to preserve the country`s ideal reforms.

In his address during a fast-breaking dinner with leaders of political parties in coalition with the government at his Puri Cikeas residence, Bogor, West Java, on Monday evening, the president said that all sides must take part in correcting them if there were deviations from democracy.

"There are excesses in carrying out democracy, including in the implementation of regional head elections. We should not remain silent if there are excesses. We should improve it together," Yudhoyono said.

The head of state said that the Indonesian people had passed the first phase of their reforms that began since 1998. The democratic system had been established yet it did not mean that there were no longer shortcomings.

"In practice there are deviations in the implementation of decentralization. Let`s improve it. That should not mean that the authoritarian system should be revived because democracy, human rights and decentralization are our reforms agenda," he said.

He said that efforts to build consensus and national system were not the monopoly of political elite only but also of the public as well through discussions and discourses so that all parties would take part in the formation of the national system for the future of Indonesia.

"I am glad if political parties also think about it. We are all players and stakeholders. The government, the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) may not monopolize anything. We should open access wide for the public," he said.

On the occasion, the president also expressed the need for consensus for Indonesia as a basis for its advancement such as the consensus owned by the United States and China.