New opportunities<\/p>\n
With a new reformist President in place, Indonesia is suddenly
\nback on the diplomatic \"A\" list. And Australian Prime Minister
\nJohn Howard, is very keen to come to the party. What a difference
\na decade makes.<\/p>\n
The election of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono this month promises
\nthe revival of Indonesia's leadership role in the region and
\npossibly beyond. Canberra's renewed enthusiasm for cooperation
\nshould come with far less baggage attached than the previous
\ncourtship of Jakarta under the former prime minister Paul
\nKeating.<\/p>\n
The overwhelmingly positive international response to Susilo's
\nelection is partly due to his pro-Western, market-oriented
\nplatform and his pledge to swap policy paralysis for sweeping
\nreforms. It is also a result of the unexpectedly smooth
\ndemocratic process which brought him to office. Hundreds of
\nmillions of ballots were successfully cast this year in national
\nand presidential elections - one of the world's most complex
\nelectoral exercises.<\/p>\n
But it is more than that. Indonesia boasts a moderate Muslim
\nmajority and a historic commitment to religious pluralism. This
\nmakes Jakarta a very desirable ally for the West, not just in a
\nstrategic war on terrorism - including the fight against
\nIndonesian-based extremist cells - but in the broader ideological
\nbattle to demonstrate that Islam and democracy can co-exist.<\/p>\n
For Australia, closer ties with Indonesia could help open
\ndoors across Asia, and the new Cabinet includes at least one
\nsenior economist with a close affinity for Australia. But
\nCanberra needs to be wary of unrealistically high expectations.
\nIndonesian Muslims are moderates, but many perceive Western
\nattitudes towards Islam as uniformly negative. This means the
\npresident will need to steer a somewhat independent course. And
\nthat will make him a somewhat unpredictable new friend.<\/p>\n
-- The Sydney Morning Herald<\/p>\n
U.S. election Uncertainty<\/p>\n
One of the most disturbing, even destabilizing, aspects of the
\npresidential election is the prospect that partisans on either
\nside will deem the outcome invalid if their candidate doesn't
\nwin. Republicans are warning of massive fraud by new registrants
\nnot entitled to vote, while Democrats complain of an organized
\nprogram to intimidate and disenfranchise eligible voters.<\/p>\n
The tension between preventing fraud and ensuring access is
\ninherent in every election. But the expected closeness of this
\none, combined with the lingering bruises of the 2000 race, the
\nrecord number of newly enrolled voters and the added
\nuncertainties posed by a new federal law, have ratcheted that
\ninevitable conflict to a new level.<\/p>\n
Those factors have produced an avalanche of pre-election
\nlitigation, threaten a difficult and perhaps ugly Election Day in
\nthe closest states, and raise the possibility that the victor may
\nonce again not be known for weeks.<\/p>\n
With polls showing a closer race this time, and with the use
\nof provisional ballots apt to be more widespread, the country
\ncould be in for another long and unpleasant post-election period.
\nBoth candidates should weigh the potential costs to the country
\nas they deploy their lawyers.<\/p>\n
--- The Washington Post<\/p>\n
Religion and elections<\/p>\n
There are certainly conservative Christians in both the U.S.
\nDemocratic and Republican party, but the Christian right has
\n\"kidnapped\" the Republicans.<\/p>\n
This means that its influence on politics has increased or, in
\nother words, a mutual dependence has strengthened the .political
\nimportance of religion. And it is among the religious
\nconservatives that Bush hopes to be able to mobilize new voters
\nby making the most of religion in the election.<\/p>\n
The problem for the Democrats and John Kerry is that this also
\nputs traditionally Democratic voters with a strong religious view
\nunder a troublesome cross pressure.<\/p>\n
--- Goteborgs-Posten, Goteborg, Sweden,<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-opportunities-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }