Camelia Pasandaran, Jakarta – A senior government official said on Tuesday that any attempt to force the president out of office through street protests would be unconstitutional.

Several organizations, including Petisi 28, which has been an outspoken critic of the government, have threatened to hold massive street demonstrations on Oct. 20, the first anniversary of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's re-election. They have called on the president to step down for what they said were his leadership failures.

"In democracy, dissatisfaction, protests, criticisms are normal," said Hatta Rajasa, coordinating minister of the economy. "But forcing the president to step down is unconstitutional."

"Don't dream of a return to the old system that ignored democracy and the law," Hatta said. He appeared to be referring to the massive street rallies that helped force President Suharto out of office in 1998.

He said Yudhoyono and his government were open to discussion with those parties demanding his resignation, "so the government an explain the achievements we have reached."

Among those achievements, according to Hatta, is an increase in per capita income. He said per capita income was at $1,196 when Yudhoyono took office in 2004, and now stood at $3,000. "There has been much progress but there is still a lot of work to be done as well," he said.

Hatta also said that Yudhoyono's government had enjoyed success in lifting people out of poverty. He said the poverty rate had fallen from 16.7 percent in 2004 to the current figure of 13 percent. The unemployed rate has also fallen to 7.4 percent, he said.

"Our exports have increased sharply, and investment is now at an above-average level," he said. "We want to work harder to reduce poverty and disparity, and to increase welfare and build connectivity and infrastructure."

Meanwhile, Heru Lelono, a presidential spokesman, said Yudhoyono was not worried by the planned protests. "He's very sure that he has done well," Heru said. "No cabinet or leader is 100 percent perfect. If there are people proffering criticism he will listen, but that will not specifically make him worry" about his job security.

But Julian Pasha, another presidential spokesman, said that the planned protests could cross a line. "The government was established through legitimate election results. So we should respect the election results," he said.