http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-01/28/c_13154738.htm
Thousands rally in Indonesia to express discontent with gov't work
English.news.cn 2010-01-28 16:40:20
People hold banners during a rally in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, Jan.
28, 2010. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei
JAKARTA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of students, activists and labors took
to the streets in Jakarta and some other cities in Indonesia on Thursday,
criticizing the first 100-day work of the government.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his supporters said that the
success of the governmant's work could not be totally valued in the short
period only.
Over 5,200 policemen, soldiers and security quards have been dispatched to
secure a peaceful rally, according to the police chief of central jakarta
district who only gave his name as Firli.
Responding on the protests, President Yudhoyono said that he would like to be
criticized, but it was not fair to value whether the government was successful
or not based on its work for 100 days only. "I'd like to to be criticized,
without criticism we could not move forward. The 100-day program is not an
extraordinary thing," said Yudhoyono in Banten province. The new cabinet has
determined directions, priorities and agenda of the five-year term in the first
100 days of the cabinet work. "There must be criteria, measures to determine
the success of the government,"said Yudhoyono.
Dozens of pro-Yudhoyono people also staged a rally outside the State Palace.
Indonesian parliament inquiry team, comprising those from political parties
across the board, has investigated the appropriatness of the 6.7 trillion
rupiah (some 730 million U.S. dollars) bailout and the legality of the flow of
the funds.
President Yudhoyono stressed that he support the inquiry and dismissed a
speculation that the rescue funds were used for his presidential campaign.
Yudhoyono has warned the parliament that it cannot easily impeach him, there
were conditions that had to be met for it.
President Yudhoyono has created stability and cracked down on rampant
corruption, overhauled police, Attorney General Office and other legal
institution.
Yudhoyono who was re-elected for his second term on July 8 last year pledged to
continue and strenghten reforms as his efforts to attract investment.
Indonesia's economy had grown at an average of 5.7 percent in his first term.
Indonesia's economy is forecast to grow 4.3 percent in 2009 and 5.5 percent in
2010, after growing 6.1 percent in 2008.
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