PRESIDENT : POLICE NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT DYNAMICS IN DEMOCRACY

Jakarta, Feb 8 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the national police did not need to worry about the dynamics currently happening in the country's democracy.

Speaking at the opening of a National Police leadership meeting at the police headquarters here Monday, the head of state called on his audience to continue carrying out their mission of protecting the community.

"In facing all problems, the police must remain protecting the community. Incidents sometimes enter into the domain of security and public order. To deal with them we must not be worried and become disoriented," he said.

What is important with regard to development of democracy in Indonesia is maintaining the harmony or balance for the sake of developing democracy constructively, he said.

"What is important is adherence to the rules and norms. This is what we are encouraging and seeking to boost. This way there will be harmony, good, constructive and positive balance," he said.

The President said in the next five years' time Indonesia's democracy will be mature and therefore democracy has been made one of the pillars of national development plan for the next five years.

President Yudhoyono said the democracy in Indonesia is still seeking a balance during a transitional period following a reform movement 12 years ago.

The freedom dreamed of still has to be balanced with a sense of respect to rules and laws, he said.