The SBY magic

The rise to power of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may be attributed to magical power or charisma. This magical power was expected to continue to work wonders during the first 100 days of his administration and beyond, but many have become disillusioned by a certain decline in his popularity, although the President himself has brushed it aside.

In a number of demonstrations, students have accused him of lying to the people by not honoring his pledge to quickly eradicate corruption and poverty, and improve employment opportunities in the aftermath of the case of the illegal workers in Malaysia. Susilo visited Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to seek an amicable settlement of burning bilateral issues, relying on his magical diplomacy, but the results have so far been disappointing.

Only the handling of the tsunami disaster has been more successful, thanks in part to the assistance received from international organizations and friendly governments, although the pace of assistance remains slow and coordination poor, according to some observers. The attention paid by world leaders like former U.S. presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, to come to Aceh and meet President Susilo and offer more help for the tsunami reconstruction program, has enhanced Susilo's international popularity.

In the coming days Susilo must prove that he can regain his magic over the students to get them to accept the government's plan to increase the price of fuel.

Susilo's magic in appealing for the release of two Indonesian journalists kidnapped in Iraq failed to work after three days of the appeal and there was no response from the kidnappers.

In the confrontation with the Acehnese separatist movement, it seems that the present administration has been intoxicated by the magic spell of the rebels by agreeing to a fruitless meeting in Helsinki to discuss the future of a province under the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.

Susilo's magic has surrendered to the rebels' intransigent attitude. But President Susilo has many arrows in reserve. Already his presidential spokesman has announced he will shortly embark on a tour of a number of foreign countries to introduce the new Indonesia under his leadership, and to try his magic somewhere else.

GANDHI SUKARDI Jakarta