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