High hopes for Abdurrahman to restore stability in RI

High hopes for Abdurrahman to restore stability in RI

HONG KONG (Agencies): The democratic election of new
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid generated praise around
the world on Wednesday, mixed with hope that the frail leader can
usher in a new era of stability in the country.

Wahid, a 59-year-old Muslim intellectual, emerged from weeks
of political uncertainty to grab a stunning victory in
Wednesday's presidential election vote and became the country's
fourth president.

Expressions of support flooded in from governments around the
world, mostly tinged with hope that the new leader can put
Indonesia firmly on the road to democracy.

There were also appeals for the people of Indonesia to accept
the result and not to resort to street violence which ousted
former president Soeharto in May 1998 and marred almost every
step of outgoing president B.J. Habibie.

United States Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Roth said
it was crucial for the Indonesian people to accept the democratic
process.

"There has been a peaceful (election) process within Indonesia
and it has taken place in a context of a debate within the
Indonesian constitutional context," he told reporters in
Singapore.

"There were large demonstrations, but only insignificant
violence, certainly not a crisis and it turned out the way many
people said could not happen."

Roth said future U.S. relations with Jakarta, including the
possible resumption of military contacts suspended in the wake of
violence in East Timor, would depend on the new government's
actions.

"We (the U.S. and the international community) have made it
very clear that we want to help Indonesia, and we want to see a
prosperous unified Indonesia. But a lot depends on what the new
government does," he said as quoted by AFP.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said Tokyo's historical
ties with Jakarta would continue but urged Wahid to push ahead
with painful democratic and economic reforms.

"I expect further progress in Indonesia's reform effort under
the leadership of the new president, Mr. Wahid, and our country
will continue to extend support for this reform effort," Kono
said.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard described Abdurrahman as
a political reformer and welcomed the chance to "open a new
chapter" in the often rocky relations between the neighboring
countries.

"I can assure Mr. Wahid of the goodwill of the Australian
government ... and our support as he faces the huge challenge of
leading Indonesia through political transition and achieving
economic recovery," he said.

Echoing hope for Indonesia's speedy recovery from its
crippling economic crisis, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Supachai
Panitchpakdi said "urgent restructuring" was the immediate task
at hand for Jakarta.

Separately, Thai foreign ministry spokesman Don Pramudwinai
expressed hope that the election of Abdurrahman would restore
political stability to Indonesia, which would benefit not only
the nation but also its ties to Thailand and the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai will send two formal letters to
Indonesia, firstly to congratulate the new president and secondly
to express appreciation for outgoing president B.J. Habibie's
role," foreign ministry spokesman Don Pramudwinai said.

Don said Habibie would be commended for organizing free and
democratic elections in Indonesia and for allowing the people of
East Timor to vote for independence from Jakarta.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Wahid would
need popular support to lead an effective government, while his
Foreign Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, lauded the "truly free
democratic election".

"I think everybody should respect the result," Syed Hamid said
as quoted by Reuters.

"We look forward to a very healthy and strong relationship with
Indonesia. We hope the situation in Indonesia will be back to normal
and they can concentrate on efforts to bring the country back
into positive recovery."

In Manila, the Philippines on Wednesday warmly congratulated
Abdurrahman on his election.

Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said Manila also
congratulated the people of Indonesia for "ensuring that the
process of transition towards democracy is achieved in as rapid
and as peaceful a manner as possible".

"The Philippine government awaits, with deep interest, the
establishment of a new government by the newly elected leader of
Indonesia," Siazon added, noting that the vision of a democratic
Indonesia is being realized steadily with the election of a new
president.

"The Philippines, as a close neighbor and an ASEAN brother,
stands ready to work together with Indonesia towards the
achievement of the democratic aspirations of its people," he
added.

In Seoul, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade in a statement said, "The election of Wahid as president
marks the first peaceful transfer of power between the ruling and
opposition parties since Indonesia's independence in 1945."

"Our government also hopes that the launch of a new government
in Indonesia will strengthen the traditional friendship between
the two countries," the statement said as reported by DPA.