Indonesia is now promoting democracy not only at home but also overseas by initiating an annual global democracy forum at its tourist resort province of Bali.
Entitled the "Bali Democracy Forum" (BDF), the event, which was aiming to develop democratic values, has been held five times since 2008. The fifth BDF was held on Thursday and Friday, where delegates from 83 countries shared experiences and ideas on how to develop democracy.
"Every year, BDF must lead to a concrete outcome, which does not remain just on paper. Every year, we reaffirm our understanding of democracy through the exchange of ideas and democratic values of various countries," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said during the inauguration of the event at the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC) on Thursday.
Indonesia was the co-host of the event, along with South Korea and Australia. During the two-day event, which was attended by nine heads of state/government and 87 ministers/deputy ministers, Indonesia was rated as a country that has been successful in implementing democracy.
According to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, as a predominantly Muslim populated state, Indonesia was a developing country which had embraced a democratic system, and was a role model for Islamic democracy.
"Indonesia is an example of a developing country, which embraced democracy and also a role model for Islamic democracy," Lee said, during his speech at the fifth BDF, in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday.
The democratic system is better than dictatorship and extremism and guarantees wealth, security, religious freedom and women's rights. This has been proved through Indonesian democracy.
"Big appreciation must be given to Yudhoyono for his leadership for bringing about democracy in Indonesia and creating harmony among its people," he added.
United States Congressman Jim McDermott agreed by saying that Indonesia had become a good democracy and a role model ever since it had embarked on the journey of democracy in 1998.
"Although the country was led by the military before 1998, Indonesia has become a good democracy and a role model after that era," said McDermott during a press conference in Nusa Dua, Bali on Friday.
Real democracy is not simply limited to electing the president. It is about empowering the people. "Real democracy involves the process before and after electing the president," McDermott added.
McDermott further stated that Indonesia had embarked on the journey of real democracy by giving autonomy to every region. It meant that ordinary people had a lot of power. "Regional autonomy is a good example of how power is given to people. This is an unstoppable revolutionary process," he stated.
Thereby, to continue developing the democratic process, the Bali forum should continue to serve as a platform for spreading a global democratic idea of development.
President Yudhoyono noted that the BDF was becoming increasingly prominent on the global platform for promoting democracy, because the number of countries taking part in the forum had been rising every year. Therefore, he added, the forum's contribution to the promotion of global democracy must increase with each passing year.
At the forum, which was attended by nine heads of state and two deputy prime ministers, President Yudhoyono stated that all parties could express their views and share their experiences on democracy in their respective countries.
"The implementation of good democratic values will be beneficial in developing the economy, politics, and other sectors. Therefore, this forum is becoming increasingly relevant," he explained.
As a country, which is expected to serve as a role model for Islamic democracy, Indonesia is hoping that the problems faced in implementing democracy by any country will be solved jointly by other countries.
Therefore, the President pointed out that all parties should promote democracy across the globe while respecting the sovereignty of other countries.
Citing the case of Syria, President Yudhoyono expressed hope that the world would join hands to find a solution to the problems facing the country.
Regarding the Palestinian issue, Director General of Public Diplomacy Information of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, A.M. Fachir, stated that Indonesia would encourage all governments to be more democratic in their approach towards Palestine.
"We continue to encourage the international community to be fairer and more democratic in dealing with the Palestinian issue," Fachir said on Friday.
According to him, the current global governance system had not been able to provide justice for the Palestinians, who had been longing for international recognition of Palestine as an independent state.
Earlier, as many as 130 countries had supported Palestine`s bid to become a member of the United Nations (UN). "However, just because there was one country that disagreed with the decision, all support had floundered, since the 130 countries were in the grip of that `one country`," Fachir said.
In the meantime, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was of the opinion that common problems could be overcome if harmonious relations were fostered in the world.
He said he believed that through the Bali Democracy Forum, harmonious relations between nations in the world could be created.
"In the past five years, the BDF has been on a positive path and I hope it will create harmony in the relations among nations across the world," he said.
He added that global harmony was needed to achieve a better future participation of all nations in the global order.
"With the BDF the government wishes to create prosperity and governance and that is a holy mission," he said.
Ahmadinejad however, pointed out that the goal would not be realized unless there was dedication towards creating justice and freedom supported by all people in the world.
Some 1,243 delegates from 83 countries and international organizations attended the Fifth Bali Democracy Forum which was based on the theme, "Advancing Democratic Principles at the Global Setting: How Democratic Global Governance Contributes to International Peace and Security, Economic Development and Effective Enjoyment of Human Rights."
Among the attendees were the Brunei Darussalam`s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmao, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O`Neill.
(A014/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
