In an Australia where the politics of Indonesia are about as obscure as those of Bangladesh Duncan Graham is doing a sterling job being the lone voice.

Jokowi Widodo almost sounds like an Obama, an outsider without benefit of a head kickers and toe cutters to do his bidding.

I can only hope the forces attempting to turn the clock back in Indonesia fail, and fail to such an extent that they lose their lingering power.
Having spent the four weeks prior to the latest Presidential election in Java, I was able to witness the keenness of the contest. Across the board, Indonesians were engaged. They wanted to exercise their newly won right to vote, and they did so when election day rolled around. To lose that right now, after having shown a mature exercise of it, would be cruel indeed.
With any luck, the very recent decision to go back to appointments rather than elections in local governments will be knocked back by the courts. I understand that is a at least a possibility, and for Indonesia's sake, I hope it is a possibility taken.
And unlike Obama, Widodo seems to be a man of integrity. Another thing I hope for is that he and his nation's nascent tradition of direct elections does not attract the attention of Obama's and the US's colour revolution neo-con trouble-makers such as has recently been so much in the news in Ukraine and Hong Kong.

halduell

I disagree. Some may call Obama a pathetic, wimp, running dog of America's security state but he's more than that.

Hi speech in Jakarta eclipsed Jimmy Carter's "I have a Peanut" Speech http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/11/10/remarks-president-university-indonesia-jakarta-indonesia :

"For Immediate Release November 10, 2010
Remarks by the President

University of Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia

9:30 A.M. WIT

THE PRESIDENT: Terima kasih. Terima kasih, thank you so much, thank you, everybody. Selamat pagi. (Applause.) It is wonderful to be here at the University of Indonesia. To the faculty and the staff and the students, and to Dr. Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri, thank you so much for your hospitality. (Applause.)

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera. Thank you for this wonderful welcome. Thank you to the people of Jakarta and thank you to the people of Indonesia.

Pulang kampung nih. (Applause.) I am so glad that I made it back to Indonesia and that Michelle was able to join me. We had a couple of false starts this year, but I was determined to visit a country that’s meant so much to me. And unfortunately, this visit is too short, but I look forward to coming back a year from now when Indonesia hosts the East Asia Summit. (Applause.)

...Moreover, this house of worship for many thousands was designed by a Christian architect. (Indifferent Applause.)

Such is Indonesia’s spirit. Such is the message of Indonesia’s inclusive philosophy, Pancasila. (Applause.)

That spark of the divine lives within each of us. We cannot give in to doubt or cynicism or despair. The stories of Indonesia and America should make us optimistic, because it tells us that history is on the side of human progress; that unity is more powerful than division; and that the people of this world can live together in peace. May our two nations, working together, with faith and determination, share these truths with all mankind.

Sebagai penutup, saya mengucapkan kepada seluruh rakyat Indonesia: terima kasih atas. Terima kasih. Assalamualaikum. Thank you.

(Huge Applause. Crowd goes Ape.)

END

But seriously Jokowi is likely to suffer from being a moderate, centrist, like Obama.

Those who are rightwing (and therefore believing in military-security solutions) will/do consider them a bit wet and liberal.

Those leftwing (who believe the state should be nice and pacifist) will/do consider them too aligned with the security complex.

Those who are both centrist and knowledgable are rarely inclined to speak out.

Pete

Just so we are clear, I do not think Obama is pathetic or a wimp, a running dog of America's security state. I think he is a very active warmonger who specialises in conning the gullible into thinking he is a man of peace while his entire Presidency has been spent sowing death and destruction to any and all who stand in the way of America the Exceptional.
And that's you, Pete, in spades.

You are missing 1 big player in the field the CIA.
They will do whatever it takes legal or not to have in power the person they want, which will be more than likely the ex general.

Just because someone is in power at the moment does not mean change can't be orchestrated quickly in the future.