While reading a recent Jakarta Post article I was amazed to learn that some commentators are not so positive about his first year in power. This morning at Cafe Seminyak the waitresses were laughing at a photo of demonstrators in Jakarta who were mocking SBY and his vice president, Josef Kalla. All I've got to say is Indonesia has got the best president it's ever had and should help this guy to the max. All the knuckleheads out there calling for his head should read Indonesian history and look at world trade.
The article pointed out events that had occurred since SBY took power including the tsunami and Bali Bomb II. It pointed out that the tsunami recovery was a bit of a mess and that the Bali Bomb planners were still at large. Add this to rising fuel prices and the picture isn’t pretty to some people. In my view SBY is doing all he can to help Aceh. He has signed a peace deal with the rebels to end a conflict that has been going on for 30 years, jailed the corrupt governor of thee province and allowed foreign agencies in to help. The planners of the Bali bomb are probably in another country, so you can’t blame him for that. Fuel price had to rise otherwise Indonesia would be committing economic suicide in the long run.
Why should we stick with SBY? He is relatively young as presidents go; he is well educated and understands the issues and the factors. He is strongly anti-corruption and is doing something about it (an absolutely brave and massive task in Indonesia!), he is a former general and commands respect, he is a moderate Muslim, who dos not want Sharia law, is a social conservative who relates to most of the country.
I think he is the ideal candidate for this country. If they kick him out they better start praying because the last presidents have been dictatorial, corrupt, and ineffective.
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{ 6 comments }
Tend to agree, Nick…big night?
SBY is great and he is making great headway on corruption, but like any Country justice and the legal system takes time. most Indonesians when they read the huge amounts of cash that has been ripped off are confused I believe because the amouts are so high they read like Telephone #s and the regular people find it difficult to equate with them. for the ordinary indonesian corruption affects him on a daily basis with the Polisi, civil servants and any official who has any kind of power. This has to be the next focus for SBY just to show the man in the street that his plan is working.
The distribution of the Fuel Subsidy is a Nation Disgrace with corruption and old people who werde the founders of this country dying on line for their own money. This is bad management and he needs to get involved.
As a Foreign investor I have not seen any of the promises he made especially in Visa and Application process in general, but given all the freat work he is doing i am prepared to wait.
Nick wrote:
I lived in SB for 6 years. My uncle icahrd owns Fancy Music at the bottom end of Santa Barbara St.
Had many nights at Joe’s Cafe and loved going up to Cold Springs Tavern on Sundays.
Posted by: Nick on October 21, 2005 02:56 PM
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Oh, I never knew that you used to live down here!
Do you love it in SB?
When did you move?
I’ll check Richard’s music store soon. I’ve been here for 4 years and still loving it!
My husband and I really enjoy hanging out at Joe’s. They have a good size of dance floor. How about Velvet Jones?
(I miss Bali a lot, though)
Tony Soprano — thanks for the tips. We- the gals – are always wondering how guys always know which one is the h**ker in a crowd.
It’s been raining and cold (56F) in Santa Barbara.. but, no mosquitoes. Sorry, Nick. ;-D
I lived on the Mesa, downtown, on the East side and in Santa Ynez. THere are some great local places, including Esau’s on lower state for breakfast and Your Place for Thai food.
I like Mesa neighborhood. We live about 10 min up north from downtown.
Your Place is my first vote! My hubby took me there almost every night for the first weeks I moved to SB. Man.. it was hard not having rice on every meal! Until I accustomed into cereal for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch and rendang for dinner..haa..haa…
There are a quite few local restaurants that are out of business. There are 6 Starbucks on lower State St stretch. I never been at Esau, I should try that one. thanks for the tips.
I tent to agree in regard to SBY.From the outside looking in he appeals to me much more than Mega-watsherface ever did.She had absolutley no regard for bali and the balinese people.I could not believe after the first bombing,when bali was on the bones of it’s arse Megi brings in new airport taxes ect just to make things even less appealing for some tourists.
SBY interacts well with other leaders from countries that matter to Bali.Some folk need to wake up and smell the coffee.
Cheers Laurs
p.s coming back in March for a wee holi–can’t wait-as usual!
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