Indonesia soon To Be Mature Democracy: President

Jakarta, Apr 9 (Antara) - Indonesia was a step away from becoming a mature democracy, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said when he cast his vote in the legislative elections in Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday. "Thank God, the Indonesian nation`s journey toward democracy was on the right track," he remarked referring to the implementation of the elections. He said it was not easy to conduct a general election democratically and peacefully, citing the experience of many countries in the world. He said the general elections in 2004 and 2009 were peaceful and hoped this time it would also be violence free. "A step away (we will be a mature democracy) because the process toward democracy would be mature after two, three or four general elections," he added. He said if the 2014 general elections were conducted peacefully and democratically as in 2004 and 2009, Indonesia would be a step away from becoming a mature democracy, which meant that the transition toward democracy was successful. President Yudhoyono arrived to cast his vote at Polling Station 06 in the village of Nanggrak in Gunung Putri, Bogor, accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, son Edhie Baskoro and his daughter-in-law Aliya. President Yudhoyono chose members of the House of Representatives (DPR), the West Java provincial legislative assembly (DPRD I), the Bogor district legislative assembly (DPRD II) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD) in the election.