Jakarta – Dozens of individuals from the volunteer group Bara JP held a rally outside the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, protesting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's failure to demand that the Democratic Party faction vote to keep the direct election of regional heads.

Demonstrators then called Yudhoyono "Mr. Anti-Democracy" and presented a trophy inscribed with the words, "Mr. Anti-Democracy Award", to one of the participants who wore a Yudhoyono mask.

Rally coordinator Syafti Hidayat said that he spoke for the entire nation when he said that he rejected indirect elections for regional heads, be them for governors, mayors or regents.

"We appreciate Yudhoyono's way of handling the law's amendment. That is why he deserves this award more than anyone else," Syafti said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com.

Syafti added that by letting a bill that revests the power to choose regional leaders back with Regional Legislative Councils (DPRDs), Yudhoyono would leave office after 10 years on a sour note, having let the Indonesian people down. (dyl/dic)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/09/30/protestors-dub-sby-mr-anti-democracy.html