Authoritarian leader Suharto of Indonesia resigned in May 1998 under intense pressure from widespread protests. The Indonesian economy had collapsed in light of the Asian financial crisis of 1997, and the regime was facing an unprecedented crisis of legitimacy. Since then, Indonesia has been moving towards reformasi.

 

The reformasi period has had three Presidents: Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) from 20 October 20, 1999 to July 23, 2001; Megawati Sukarnoputri (daughter of Sukarno) from July 23, 2001 to October 20, 2004; and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who won the Presidential elections in 2004. All these elections have been largely free and fair, a remarkable achievement for new democratic institutions in a country of such geographic and demographic scope.

 

Major steps towards democratization have taken place since the onset of reformasi. Amendments to the 1945 Constitution and the adoption of new laws have changed the State structure and contributed to the establishment of key democratic institutions. Elements of Suharto’s authoritarian power structures nevertheless remain, most notably the evolving role of Indonesia’s security forces in Indonesia’s developing democracy.

 

 

Rights & Democracy’s Indonesia programme promotes civil society participation in the development, monitoring and implementation of legislation and institutions linked to security sector reform, in particular referring to the current Prolegnas (Indonesia’s National Legislation Programme). The Indonesia programme has been defined on the premises that civilian control of security institutions (military, police and intelligence services) is a key component of democracy and that participation of civil society in the security sector reforms will ensure greater democratization.