President Concludes Bali Trip

Nusa Dua, Bali, Nov 8 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono concluded his three-day working trip to Bali and returned to Jakarta on Friday. The head of state was in Bali to open the 6th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), themed "Consolidation of Democracy in the Pluralistic Society." During his working visit, President Yudhoyono was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono; Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono; Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto; and Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi. The BDF this time highlighted the balance between democracy and security and freedom, the need for involving women and young people in efforts to strengthen democracy, the need for a moderate spirit and tolerance in managing the democracy in a pluralistic society, and the issues concerning social media or cyberspace. During a general debate at the BDF, Netherlands Foreign Affairs Minister Frans Timmermans said the instrument of democracy frequently did not keep up with the pace of change in society. "The opinions and voice of the people are heard in other areas much more quickly than in the political arena or within the institutions that are associated with democracy," Timmermans remarked. The rapid development of technology, therefore, has its own effect on democracy, he stated. "In a television program, viewers can immediately vote for certain candidates online using electronic instruments," he explained. People would like to have the same kind of influence over current issues, but the democratic system sometimes does not allow this. "So we have to think through the options created by the era of the Internet and social media and, consequently, the way in which our democratic structure could function in the future," he noted. President Yudhoyono, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao of Timor Leste were the three heads of state/government who conveyed their ideas about democracy in their respective countries. Besides these three leaders, also present at the BDF were representatives of countries in the Asia-Pacific region and a number of international observers outside the region.