Indonesia's example in democracy

Indonesia's example in democracy

Far from inflicting further economic damage, the unexpectedly
peaceful polls sent the Jakarta stock market soaring to levels
not seen since the start of the financial crisis almost two years
ago.

The rupiah also rose, and the International Monetary Fund
played its part by releasing a further tranche of its bailout
package.

Such confidence could yet prove premature. Although it appears
to be on the road to recovery, the economy remains fragile. The
threat of political instability also lies ahead in the run-up to
the presidential election in November.

Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle appears to have performed impressively, according to the
vote count so far.

But, if she wants to become president, Megawati will have to
start setting out her policies, something she has conspicuously
failed to do so far.

With so much of her support coming only from the fact that she
is the daughter of late president Sukarno, there is the serious
prospect of her being found wanting as a leader as the prospect
of real power looms closer.

In any case, despite coming in ahead of its rivals, the party
will still fall short of commanding a majority in the 700-member
electoral assembly. That means it will have to strike agreements
with other opposition groups, such as Muslim leader Abdurrahman
Wahid's National Awakening Party, which looks set to take the
runner-up position.

Despite the apparent humiliation in these elections of
Soeharto's Golkar Party, it would be wrong to write off the
movement and its organization. It still has enough votes to be a
powerful force in whatever deals are struck.

The military also still has a key role to play over Aceh and
East Timor. The disruption of polling in these two provinces
showed the continuing ethnic tensions which may continue to
plague Indonesia in coming months.

Despite all these obstacles, the huge nation has taken a
historic step along the path toward democracy. It must be hoped
that whatever difficulties may lie ahead can be peacefully
resolved given sufficient goodwill on all sides.

Authoritarian countries which insist that allowing democracy
would provoke instability should learn from this experience.

Indonesia could become a textbook example of how allowing
people to choose their government can strengthen a country and
put it on the road to a brighter and more prosperous future.

-- The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong