Ben Doherty, Jakarta – Indonesia's President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, yesterday pledged "prosperity, democracy and justice" for the world's largest Muslim nation as he was sworn in for a second five-year term.
He said his country had "1 million friends and zero enemies" in the world, and would play an important role in regional and world affairs under his stewardship.
"Indonesia will continue with its free and active politics and will always struggle for justice and world peace," Dr Yudhoyono said.
He said Indonesia remained committed to reforming the global economy through the G20, and to multilateral relations through the United Nations, particularly in tackling climate change and the millennium development goals.
He took time in his speech to thank the Australian Prime Minister for his attendance. Kevin Rudd was flanked by other regional leaders from Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and East Timor. Australia's Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, was also present.
"The attendance of international friends at the inauguration today is a symbol of goodwill and immeasurable honour for Indonesia," Dr Yudhoyono said.
Mr Rudd was expected to meet the President briefly last night to discuss the recent influx of asylum seekers in Australian and Indonesian waters.
In his first inauguration speech in 2004 Dr Yudhoyono promised "all our effort to prevent and fight against terrorism". "We will not give room for terrorists to develop and perform acts in Indonesia," he said then.
He is regarded as having done most, of all recent presidents, to tackle the extremist threat, in particular helping Indonesia develop closer links with Australian intelligence services and security forces.
But yesterday, with July's bombings at the Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels still fresh in Indonesian and Australian minds, he did not mention terrorism directly in his 20-minute speech. He said only: "Indonesia will co-operate with anyone who has the same good intentions as us, especially to build a peaceful world order".
However, the threat of terrorism was present at yesterday's inauguration, at the parliament building in central Jakarta, which took place under extraordinary security. Police and soldiers manned intersections all over the city, and main roads were shut off to the notorious traffic. All guests were strictly vetted days before the event.
SBY, as he is known inside Indonesia and out, is the most pro-Australian, and pro-Western, president in Indonesian history. The retired four-star army general studied at the US Forces Academy in Fort Benning, Georgia, and earned a masters in business management from Webster University in Missouri. One of his sons, Edhie Baskoro, studied in Perth for several years.
Dr Yudhoyono first came to prominence in Australian minds in the aftermath of the 2002 Bali bombings. As co-ordinating minister of political and security affairs in Megawati Soekarnoputri's cabinet, he was one of the first government officials on the scene, and his very public comforting of grieving families won him widespread respect.
He led, too, the hunt for and arrest of the bombers, cementing his reputation as a politician committed to fighting Islamic extremism.
While promising structural and institutional change, he was cautious in his first term, with both economic and political reform.
And despite criticism for his apprehensive handling of the global economic crisis, he remains hugely popular across the archipelago, regularly topping 60 per cent approval ratings in opinion polls.
He is seen as a man of the people – he has been known to sing karaoke-style on the campaign trail – but has also carefully forged strong personal relationships with world leaders, including Mr Rudd and John Howard.
Their friendship made it possible for Mr Rudd to pick up the phone two weekends ago and ask that Indonesia intercept a ship of asylum seekers bound for Australia.