100 days not enough to succeed, President says

(News Terupdate) - As protests occurred across the nation Thursday to mark his 100th day in office, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said his critics were either expecting too much or were “in the dark” regarding the 100-day program.

“Everyone has been talking about the 100-day program, but do we know what the 100-day program is?” Yudhoyono said Thursday while opening the newly built coal-fired power plant in Banten, about 90 kilometers from the capital, where thousands of people rallied in front of his office.

Some protesters demanded his ouster as they believed Yudhoyono had failed to ensure people prosper within the first three months of his second term.

Yudhoyono said the demand was preposterous.

“It’s as if the 100-day program is extraordinary, while [on the contrary] it is only ordinary. The 100-day program is a small step.”

The public gave mixed assessments of Yudhoyono’s performance.

The International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) said the government’s populist program was merely “cosmetic” and during the first 100 days it had created more foreign debts and supported free trade, moves it said would cause more disadvantages than benefits.

Former People’s Consultative Council chairman Amien Rais gave an average appraisal of Yudhoyono, saying his performance was “not so bad”.

Yudhoyono, however, could not provide enough justice for the people, Amien added, referring to the Bank Century debacle where Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) of state funds were allegedly misused.

Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin criticized Yudhyono for being evasive in dealing with major problems such as the Century case.

“Yudhoyono’s second term is no better than his first. He often shies away from problems instead of taking responsibility,” Din said.

Constitutional Court chief Mahfud M.D. said Yudhoyono had performed well in his effort to reform the legal system in the country, commending him for setting up a taskforce to quell judicial corruption.

House of Representatives’ legal commission chairman Benny K. Harman concurred with Mahfud, but added the government should do more to raise judiciary standards.

Indonesia Corruption Watch, however, considered Yudhoyono had failed to build a strong foundation to combat corruption.

The newly formed taskforce had not touched the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), where corruption is believed to be rampant, following the broadcast by the Constitutional Court of a tape containing wiretapped conversations regarding the practice of corruption at the two institutions.

“We know the taskforce has not questioned the people who were mentioned in the tape, and it has not formed a strategy to improve standards of the police and the AGO,” the organization said.

It also blasted Yudhoyono for softening his position in the fight against corruption by issuing ambiguous statements that it said might undermine the antigraft drive.

“He deserves a poor mark,” it said.

Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar claimed success concerning his 100-day program, citing his new visa-on-board policy for Japanese tourists as among his accomplishments.

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