People told to stay optimistic

People told to stay optimistic

JAKARTA: A non-governmental organization, the Partnership for
Governance Reform, and the Elections Supervisory Committee
(Panwaslu), expressed optimism that the 2004 elections would help
speed up reform.

They thus called on people to exercise their right to vote and
remain optimistic about the future of the country after the
elections.

"Reform does not have to wait for leaders to command, but
people themselves can unite to implement reform," the
Partnership's executive director, H.S.Dillon, told a press
conference last week.

Aside from the Partnership and Panwaslu, the press conference
was also attended by Ambon mayor Jopie Papilaya, and two women
activists from Aceh and South Sulawesi respectively. -- JP