By any standard, Indonesia's democracy is healthy. Since the reformasi, we take it for granted to criticize the government and to express our political views publicly. Such privilege is not available in more economically developed Singapore, Thailand, and China. Our press is assertive, skeptical, and privately funded, unlike the government-friendly press in Singapore.
There are complaints that there is no opposition to this government, and thus it is feared democracy is being undermined. The majority of voters have re-elected the President and, if other parties are flocking to form a coalition with the Democratic Party, that's their problem, not the voters'. The presidential system does not require an opposition party by default, and the major party that takes itself as the opposition, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), may challenge the government's policy in parliament and in the press as they wish.
The fault lies back in 1999, when citizens equated democracy with a myriad of political parties. The best democracies in Europe, North America, and Australia and New Zealand, have plenty of political parties, but automatically there are only two major parties running the show, with another making itself a third force. Now, we have too many choices while there are no essential differences, clear policy blueprints, and voter affiliation among the big parties in Indonesia.
Those who are afraid that SBY is making a political dynasty should cast away their fears. Indonesians are lousy in building political empires. Sukarno didn't groom any of his children be his successor, and Soeharto's children are hopeless. Even if later Yudhoyono's wife or children entered politics, we can feel better knowing that the same things happen in Japan, India, Argentina, and the United States. And we had Megawati Soekarnoputri as a decent president.
Finally, I want to confirm the accusation that SBY is running Indonesia on free market capitalism ("neoliberalism") is correct. The other choice is the so-called people's economy. With regard to the people's economy, remember that every country that puts the word "people" in its name doesn't have a free press, a fair judiciary, and are fond of blocking websites, banning newspapers, and arresting journalists and bloggers; while building plenty of shopping malls and attracting foreign investors.
I keep on drawing good examples from the West and bad examples from Asia, because it is very hard to operate a democracy in Asia, and, in this respect, Indonesia has punched above its weight. Indonesia is a poor, underdeveloped country and is a corrupt one, saturated by bigots and people with bad intentions. But such is life in a developing country in Asia.
Our quality of life and average income are far below other Asian nations, but many of us can enjoy privileges better than half of the world. We, as a fledging democracy, are still a rarity in Asia.
Life in Indonesia sucks. But for the last 10 years we have been living in a democracy, and we will live in democracy at least until 2014. It's not solely thanks to SBY, but thanks to the citizens of Indonesia who chose democracy as their way of life in the last election.
The writer graduated with honors from La Trobe University, Australia.
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