"Democracy is the people`s business to determine. A president cannot simply make a Presidential Decree regarding the form of democracy. This would violate the essence of democracy," the president said.
New Delhi (ANTARA News) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono respects the various views on the best form of democracy for Indonesia but has also reminded all parties of the need to reach a consensus in the path toward democracy.

"Democracy is the people`s business to determine. A president cannot simply make a Presidential Decree regarding the form of democracy. This would violate the essence of democracy," the president said at a meeting with representatives of the Indonesian Students Association in New Delhi, India, on Thursday.

The president's remarks were made in response to the introduction of a national discourse on the development of democracy today.

"Currently, there is a discussion about democracy in Indonesia, where we are going, what our democracy should do, and what is the right move," he stated.

The president also pointed out that there are parties that support the present democracy development since freedom and human rights are respected, but there are parties who argue that the present form of democracy is similar to a liberal democracy, an excessive form that eventually leads to a more structured democracy but with a new form.

"We used to practice an authoritarian democracy, and it turned out to have many problems. We have also experienced a liberal democracy, but instability problems arose, and it did not last until the reformation era," he remarked.

The president noted that in this era of reformation, if there are excesses that are contrary to the spirit of democracy, then these need to be discussed further.

"But be careful to specify how democratic values may be taken," he stressed.

"Let there be various forms of expression and thoughts, but when it comes to a consensus, there must be a mature and clear process in reaching it," the president said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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