Bali: A shop window for Indonesian democracy

Bali: A shop window for Indonesian democracy

Many observers have expressed relief over the fact that the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) led by Megawati Soekarnoputri
has been allowed to hold its congress in Bali. Many people
worried at what might have happened had the government stubbornly
stuck to its so-called legality principle and denied the party a
permit to convene a congress on the island. Given the overflowing
support enjoyed by Megawati at the grassroots level, many of us
feared widespread protests had her plans been thwarted by the
bureaucracy.

We are relieved to see that at least for this party congress
the government has shown a sense of wisdom, realism and fairness.
It would of course be better still if this sense of fairness grew
into one of justice with regards to the government's treatment of
Megawati's PDI.

Bali has always been a peaceful place, even during the height
of the reform movement. It is certainly heartening that the
Balinese people, the local administration and international
tourists alike have greeted the PDI congress with enthusiasm.
Instead of considering the congress a nuisance or a threat,
tourists have viewed it as an additional attraction.

If everything goes well -- as we all hope it will -- the PDI
congress in Bali will serve as a shop window in which to display
Indonesia's budding democracy and the social and political
maturity of its people. This positive message would then spread
out around the world and do the country some much needed good.

-- Kompas, Jakarta