Foreign Ministry Respects NGOs Rejection Of BDF

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - The foreign ministry said it respected the decision of a number of Indonesian non governmental organizations rejecting "Bali Democracy Forum" (BDF) VII" opened here by President Susilo Bambang Yuhoyono on Friday.

The 7th BDF would be the last to be attended by the outgoing president, who initiated the launch of the first annual event in 2008.

Foreign ministry`s spokesman Michael Tene said he respected although he regretted the decision of the NGOs not to honor the invitation to take part in the forum.

"As a democratic country we respect their position. It is their right not to come. We respect difference of opinions," Tene said.

Around 11 NGOs including Indonesian Corruption Watch rejected invitation to attend the forum following what they said a "setback" in Indonesian democracy.

On Thursday, a Coalition of Bali Civil Society rejected the BDF saying it was not relevant after the announcement of the Law No. 22, a revision of the law on regional election.

"It (the revision) is a piracy of the people`s rights," Komang Arya Ganaris, the coordinator of the Coalition said.

Komang said the BDF, which was intended as a role model for democracy in Asia is not more than a high cost image projection by the government.

The Indonesian parliament has revised the regional election law under which provincial governors and lower regional and district administration leaders would be elected by the regional legislative assemblies instead of directly by the people.

Yudhoyono was widely criticized for allowing the revision.

The president repeatedly said he rejected the revision and that he would fight for the return to direct election system.

Tene said the law on regional election and BDF are two different issues.

"It is two different things . In this forum countries share experience in handling dynamics and in encouraging democratization and its challenges," he said.

Amid the pros and cons, the forum is more relevant this year for democracy development as reflected by the growing number of countries taking part, he said.

The 7th BDF was attended by 75 countries with four heads of government and five international organizations.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Yudhoyono said the main goals of BDF is to expand regional and international cooperation and dialogs on democracy

He said Asia is rich in experience in democracy.

He said democracy has expanded in Indonesia after the 1998 national reformation despite many challenges.

He said in the past 10 years democracy has expanded in Indonesia amid a host of problem to be sorted out.

He said Indonesian democracy grows by its own driven by the people themselves.

"Our democracy has remained stable and no setback . There has been no military coup. There was no human right abuse in the past 10 years," he said.

He said the Law No 22 on regional elections followed with the issuance of a government regulation in lieu of the law (Perppu) was not a setback .

The BDF was more relevant with the dynamics to be discussed and an experience to be shared, he added.

He said dialog and discussions on the regional election controversy would be fruitful for all countries taking part in the forum. (WDY)