The SBY magic<\/p>\n
The rise to power of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may be
\nattributed to magical power or charisma. This magical power was
\nexpected to continue to work wonders during the first 100 days of
\nhis administration and beyond, but many have become disillusioned
\nby a certain decline in his popularity, although the President
\nhimself has brushed it aside.<\/p>\n
In a number of demonstrations, students have accused him of
\nlying to the people by not honoring his pledge to quickly
\neradicate corruption and poverty, and improve employment
\nopportunities in the aftermath of the case of the illegal workers
\nin Malaysia. Susilo visited Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to seek an
\namicable settlement of burning bilateral issues, relying on his
\nmagical diplomacy, but the results have so far been
\ndisappointing.<\/p>\n
Only the handling of the tsunami disaster has been
\nmore successful, thanks in part to the assistance received from
\ninternational organizations and friendly governments, although
\nthe pace of assistance remains slow and coordination poor,
\naccording to some observers. The attention paid by world leaders
\nlike former U.S. presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, to come
\nto Aceh and meet President Susilo and offer more help for the
\ntsunami reconstruction program, has enhanced Susilo's
\ninternational popularity.<\/p>\n
In the coming days Susilo must prove that he can regain his
\nmagic over the students to get them to accept the government's
\nplan to increase the price of fuel.<\/p>\n
Susilo's magic in appealing for the release of two Indonesian
\njournalists kidnapped in Iraq failed to work after three days of
\nthe appeal and there was no response from the kidnappers.<\/p>\n
In the confrontation with the Acehnese separatist movement, it
\nseems that the present administration has been intoxicated by the
\nmagic spell of the rebels by agreeing to a fruitless meeting in
\nHelsinki to discuss the future of a province under the
\nsovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Susilo's magic has surrendered to the rebels' intransigent
\nattitude. But President Susilo has many arrows in reserve.
\nAlready his presidential spokesman has announced he will shortly
\nembark on a tour of a number of foreign countries to introduce
\nthe new Indonesia under his leadership, and to try his magic
\nsomewhere else.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-sby-magic-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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