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.