Protest and change in Indonesia

What Indonesia needs to do is to look beyond the violence and the blood of yesterday, to find the positives in the decisions of the MPR and move forward. A reasonable framework for elections and reform has been established. The nation has shown it will not accept another dictatorship, and it is time to move forward to tackle its enormous economic and political problems.

The world also needs to look on the government of President Habibie with understanding and patience, to realize that progress, significant, tangible, progress, has been made over the past week, despite the bloodshed.

All encouragement and inducements available should be provided to develop and support this reform, while any appreciable influence should be used to discourage further violence from any party.

-- The Bangkok Post