The presence of high-ranking officials, including four heads of state, from 71 countries in the Bali Democracy Forum, which opens today, will mark a commendable achievement since the annual event was initiated three years ago.
The high turnout, an increase from 40 countries and observers in 2008 and 48 countries and observers last year, also demonstrates wider recognition from the international community to the forum, which this time around is cohosted by Indonesia and South Korea.
Bali, a prominent tourist resort, perhaps serves as a pull factor for more government officials and observers from across the world to spare two days to compare notes on practices of democracy in their respective countries and discuss efforts to promote democracy and its contribution to world peace.
Given the fact that the forum will give room for participants to share experiences, we cannot expect arguments and debates to fill out the event. But it cannot be said either that the meeting will be reduced to a formality.
Countries represented in the forum have an opportunity to learn not only from success stories but also challenges facing other countries in upholding democracy and how they dealt with difficulties.
Unlike in the previous two forums, the two-day meeting in Bali will focus on a correlation between democracy and peace, which looks relevant in the wake of escalating tension in Korean Peninsula and other parts of the world.
Indonesia, according to Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, will share its experience in resolving conflicts in Ambon, Poso and Aceh, which has earned it global recognition.
For Indonesia, however, the third edition of the respectable forum will offer a golden chance to promote its contribution to the establishment of democracy as the most reliable political system in the world. On the other hand, Indonesia could reflect on the venture of democracy in the country over the last 13 years and look for what we have missed in our attempts to advance democracy.
Dubbed the third largest democracy in the world, Indonesia has won credit from the international community for acting on its commitment to democracy, particularly when the nation decided to select its leaders and representatives at the legislature through direct elections.
Many perceive Indonesia is on the right track to becoming a fully fledged democracy, despite the price it has to pay. Reforms needed to uphold democracy have, for example, excluded a once mighty military institution from practical politics and reinstated a multi-party system.
It is the multi-party that many have blamed for protracted, energy-sapping decision making processes within the House of Representatives and between the legislative and executive branches of power. The complicated political process has also resulted in the anomalous practices of a parliamentary system of government, at the expense of the presidential system of government.
The highest price of the democratic exercise is the rampant horse trading among politicians, which is prone to corruption and collusion and may hold hostage many development programs. It will be a show of maturity if we admit our problems in practicing democracy, which eluded the country for more than 30 years.
However, hopes have never dimmed for Indonesia – and other countries alike – to improve the quality of democracy as evident in the free and open discourses that will enrich democracy. Lessons can come not only from best practices, but also failures and mistakes.
