PRESIDENT: MONEY POLITICS RUINS DEMOCRACY

Jakarta, April 12 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his speech at the 6th World Movement for Democracy forum said money politics was one of the obstacles in developing democracy.

"One of the ways to prevent the destruction of democracy is minimizing money politics. Money politics can reduce the quality of democracy since leaders would then only serve those who pay him or her, not the people," said the president here on Monday.

He said money politics would produce a fake democracy which, in the end, would betray the public's trust.

"If money politics takes over the government, people's aspirations will be ignored. Waging war on money politics is a short-, medium- and long-term challenge for Indonesia," said the president.

Yudhoyono said Indonesia's past experience in developing democracy had taught that it was more important to develop strong democracy in institutions than believing in individual figures.

"In Indonesia's history there were many great democracy figures. However, a political system that is too dependent on a certain figure will be hard to sustain," he said.

He said Indonesia had twice in the past been dependent on an individual figure but the country's political system then collapsed as soon as the figure concerned fell out of public favor.

"That is why the present government is putting emphasis on the development of democracy in political institutions. A periodic election ensures political accountability in Indonesia while leadership transitions happen peacefully," he said.

The head of state also added the presidential office was no longer dominant in national politics while the police and military were no longer participating in political affairs.

"Our parliament is also very independent and the judicial sector is functioning by itself," he added.

President Yudhoyono on Monday opened the Sixth Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy at the Shangri-La Hotel.

At the three-day meeting, the president was also scheduled to deliver a keynote speech about efforts to build democracy before 625 participants comprising activists and academics from 110 countries.

The meeting will discuss cooperation among countries to develop democracy in the world.

The Washington DC-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) initiated the non-governmental effort by holding a global Assembly in New Delhi, India, in February 1999 to strengthen democracy where it is weak, reform and invigorate democracy even where it is longstanding, and to bolster pro-democracy groups in countries that have not yet entered a process of democratic transition.