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strong>Dec. 14, p2

Despite its pledge to support the government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on direct regional elections, the opposition Red-and-White Coalition has indicated that it will not give the ruling coalition an easy ride during the deliberation of the Perppu at the House of Representatives next year.

Your comments:

The indirect regional election or the election of regional leaders by Regional Legislative Councils (DPRDs) represents centralism that the people rejected during Soeharto'€™s era.

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono insists that he would reinstate direct elections or election by the people by issuing the government regulation in lieu of law as he remembers how hard the people struggled for it in the late 1990s.

Direct elections are more democratic and are the people'€™s aspiration, so nobody should be allowed to delete or change that. No matter how strong the Red-and-White Coalition is, its members might quarrel with each other if it does not work in line with the people'€™s aspiration.

Resi Adiyasa