SBY on voting rights at Bali Democracy Forum: it’s not my bad but I feel bad

After the “champion of the common man” Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was elected as Indonesia’s next president, parliament went for a disappointing 180 and stripped its citizens of their rights to directly elect local leaders on September 26. 

Earlier this morning at the 7th Bali Democracy Forum, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) expressed his remorse over the removal of direct local elections for governors, mayors and district heads and made it crystal clear that he wasn’t on board with the decision. It was back during post-Suharto reforms when this right to direct elections was reinstated, according to Rappler.

“I want to make it clear that I reject the law,” told SBY to the forums delegates from 85 countries, as quoted by Rappler. “Once you give direct voting rights, you can’t take it back,” he said in his opening statement. 

We should add that this forum was SBY’s baby, his vision to show Indonesia’s democratic side to the region, but due to stated security threats any protests or demonstrations would not be tolerated at the event. 

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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