Are we ready for democracy?

Are we ready for democracy?

The President's decision (to declare the June 7 vote results valid) is not likely to raise objections, except from the political parties who refused to sign the document in question. President Habibie's decision was positively greeted by leaders of political parties who met with him on Tuesday.

However, it should have been the General Elections Commission (KPU) to endorse the ballot's results. It was only because until yesterday (Tuesday), the commission was unable to make the decision which the President felt compelled to take over.

This experience makes us ask to what extent Indonesians are actually ready for democracy -- and, even more important, to what extent they are ready to put the public's interests above those of their own group or people.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta