Part 1 of 2: Indonesia can overcome trials, meet challenges

Part 1 of 2: Indonesia can overcome trials, meet challenges

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Jakarta

I know that getting 40 chief editors, managing editors and top
journalists from Asia and Europe is a difficult job. Which is why
when Yusuf Wanandi asked me to join you this morning, I
immediately agreed. The way I see it, this meeting saves me from
going to 40 countries in Asia and Europe to see you all.

You have come to Indonesia at an interesting time.

It is a time when Indonesia is grappling with a weakening
rupiah against the U.S. dollar, when we are recovering from the
tsunami, when rising oil prices are giving our budget a sting,
and when we have finally secured the long-awaited peace deal in
Aceh.

The larger picture, of course, is that you have come at an
exciting time for a nation in the midst of vibrant democratic
transformation. I do not know how many of you have been to
Indonesia before. But if the last time you came was before 1997,
then you are in for a big surprise.

Indonesia is a very different country today compared to a few
years back. So much has changed in such a relatively short time.

Among the many ways Indonesia has changed, I think the most
fundamental one is that Indonesia is now transformed to become
the world's third largest democracy, after India and the U.S.

A key milestone in our democratic transformation were the
elections last year. They were long and exhaustive elections,
which took nine months to complete. We had three electoral
rounds: one for legislative elections, two for presidential
elections. What amazed me to this day was that in each of the
three elections, over 100 million people turned out to vote. It
is a clear sign that democracy is here to stay, that democracy
has reached a point of no return.

The 1999 elections have also produced tremendous expectations
on the part of the electorate towards the Presidency. This high
expectation was a welcome contrast to the public cynicism towards
Government and reforms that had developed prior to the elections.

Such high expectations also took place against the backdrop of
what I think would rank as the most difficult first year faced by
any Indonesian President, and by this of course I am referring to
the catastrophic tsunami tragedy.

I believe that the 1999 elections gave the President of
Indonesia an overwhelming political and moral mandate for change,
directly obtained from the people. Change can come from all
directions, but insofar as I am concerned, change must also
emanate very clearly from the top, and radiate outward from the
center throughout the whole system.

That is why my first order of business in government was to
ensure a credible Cabinet, and by that I mean having clean and
competent Ministers. Before signing them on, I asked each one of
them to sign a "political contract" with me where they are bound
to maintain the highest standard of ethics, integrity and
professionalism. I also asked them to submit all information
pertaining to their personal wealth to an audit committee and
make that information public. And I made it crystal clear that no
member of their family or friends should benefit from their
position in public office.

It is my objective to maintain that high standard until the
end of my term in office.

That standard is particularly important if we are to succeed
in fighting corruption.

If you ask me what would be the most important issue to the
voters, I would say this: It is corruption. And that remains true
to this day, and will remain true four years from now. And
Indonesia's history has taught us this important lesson: Once you
lose the people's trust, you lose credibility -- and authority to
govern -- in a way that would be extremely hard to recover from.

Since becoming President, I have given the police and the
attorney general permission to investigate 59 high officials
throughout the country, including governors, parliamentarians,
regents and mayors. I have launched a firm campaign against
illegal loggers, so that for the first time hundreds of them are
now in jail. I have also formed a Special Team to Fight
Corruption (TIPIKOR), consisting of 45 dedicated professionals,
to uncover "big fish" corruption cases.

And I have signed a presidential decree ordering that all
ministers and government agencies undertake systematic efforts to
clean up corruption in their respective premises, and to
periodically report their efforts to me personally.

What I intend to demonstrate is that no-one is untouchable;
no-one can escape the arms of justice forever.

I am realistic in accepting that we will probably not be able
to completely eradicate corruption from Indonesia. But I am also
realistic in expecting that corruption in this country will be
the exception rather than the rule.

Another legacy that I wish to create is a peaceful and united
Indonesia.

In this context, I think the Aceh peace deal signed on Aug.
15., in Helsinki between my government and the leaders of the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is a milestone achievement.

To be honest, even though during the elections I had called
peace in Aceh a top priority, I did not imagine that we would be
able to do it 10 months after my inauguration, but with God's
blessing, we did. As a result of the deal, GAM has abandoned its
demands to separate Aceh from Indonesia, and has agreed to hand
over their weapons, which will be immediately destroyed, in
exchange for their full political, economic, social and cultural
participation in an autonomous Aceh within the framework of a
united Indonesia. That in itself is an incredible breakthrough,
and U.S. Congressmen Robert Wexler, who came to see me in my
office recently, called it as big as the Israel-Palestine peace
or the Northern Ireland peace deal. I did not disagree with him,
of course.

The Aceh peace deal is historically and politically
significant because it breaks the lingering myth that, after East
Timor, Indonesia is on the brink of Balkanization, breaking into
smaller and smaller parts. The reintegration of former GAM
members into Indonesian society will make Indonesia more united
and strong. What we need to do urgently now is to ensure that the
various elements of the peace deal are immediately translated
into living reality on the ground. And as you all know,
implementing a peace agreement is often more difficult than
writing it.

Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of
Indonesia, presented this speech at the Opening Session of the
Sixth Asian European Editors' Forum at The Dharmawangsa, Jakarta
on Aug. 29, 2005. The above is an excerpt from the speech.