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Security not celebration on the streets of Jakarta

Source
Australian Financial Review - October 20, 2019

Emma Connors – There was pomp and ceremony aplenty but compared to the last presidential inauguration, Sunday's crowning of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his new Vice President Ma'ruf Amin was a much more muted affair.

There was no shortage of foreign dignitaries. Heads of state and governments from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, Myanmar and the Philippines were all on hand. China and Vietnam were represented by their vice presidents, while Thailand sent its deputy prime minister.

But the cultural celebrations and carnivals that marked the occasion five years ago were missing. Then, the President and Vice President went by carriage to the National Monument in the centre of Jakarta after the ceremony surrounded by a colourful riot of supporters. On Sunday, Jokowi was due to return to the State Palace and continue working. No special event was expected, except perhaps a public prayer with Ma'ruf, chairman of the Ulema Council of Indonesia.

Jokowi's re-election was widely hailed as a victory for democracy but in the months between the vote and the inauguration, the new Parliament enacted or sought to pass bills that prompted major protests from the many concerned about increased government oversight and more conservative rule in this majority Muslim nation.

The President's response to these developments, and in particular legislation that could substantially weaken the power of Indonesia's anti-corruption commission, the KPK, has disappointed many.

Simon Butt, professor of Indonesian law at the University of Sydney said many thought Jokowi "appears to be pandering to the elites", the political parties that have supported nomination rather than constituents.

"Even before he started his second term, people had started to wonder why they voted for him," Professor Butt said.

On Sunday, security was top of mind. There were 31,000 military and police on the streets, many roads closed and protests were banned.

But that did not diminish the significance of the inauguration for the country's 260 million people and their hopes for the next five years.

Ismiyati Muchroni, 55, a senior high school teacher, would like Jokowi to focus on education.

"There are still many schools that are now in poor condition, especially in remote areas. I hope that President Jokowi also provides appropriate facilities for the teachers who teach in remote areas, so they can teach well and get a prosperous life. "

Source: https://www.afr.com/world/asia/security-not-celebration-on-the-streets-of-jakarta-20191020-p532ek

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