W

hether it was sour grapes or not does not really matter as this latest presidential election was always going to be a one-horse race.

Megawati's reactions are justified in as much that the election was far from perfect, but of more importance to Indonesia was the restricted choice given to its people. There appears to be nothing new or exciting coming out of the political scene, indicating a high level of stagnation.

For a long time the Indonesian people have tolerated administrations that have always failed them, and after 10 years of so-called reformasi they were subjected to the same old faces in July's presidential election.

Though many Indonesians may be poor, they are not stupid, and this vote at least suggested they have not lost all faith in politics. Most people in the world have little time for political parties and politicians - and with good reason - so why should Indonesia be any different?

There was probably no need for the writer to raise the 1996 incident (The Jakarta Post, July 28) as that has already been well documented, but that said he was probably as frustrated as most of us are with the opportunities that are constantly lost in this country.

The people have had their say and now it is time for the House to support SBY for the sake of the country, and not to oppose him through petty and immature political maneuvers. It is time for the politicians to join the public in demonstrating a positive attitude toward the future.

No one would deny that Indonesia has moved forward in the past decade but in saying that, the next move must surely be to establish a mature political identity that works together to create the prosperity this country is capable of.

It has been chasing timber tycoons since the days of the cavemen and talks about corruption as if it's a club that everyone joins, and then selects people for important positions who have as much of an idea about the job as Abdul my becak driver (maybe less).

Surely it is time to move on and bury this dreadful past that haunts every street in the country like a never ending disease.

You have a wonderful and exciting country with vibrant and talented people and yet the lust for political power drags it all relentlessly backwards.