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Asia and Oceania
Indonesia |
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Last reviewed: 27 October 2009 |
Country information
POLITICS
Institutions and Government
The highest authority of the State is the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR - Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat) with 688 members who are elected to five-year terms. The MPR includes 560 members of the House of Representatives (DPR - Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat), the country's legislature, and 128 members of the Council of Regional Representatives (DPD). Executive power rests with the President, governing with the assistance of the Vice President and an appointed cabinet responsible to him/her. The President can serve a maximum of two presidential terms.
On 20 September 2004 Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was elected President in the first ever direct Presidential election in Indonesia.. On 8 July 2009, President Yudhoyono became Indonesia’s first ever democratically re-elected president with 60% of the vote. He was inaugurated for his second term on 20 October. The new Cabinet was announced on 22 October.
The Supreme Court is the judicial organ of the state along with the courts of law; these are independent of the Executive in exercising their judicial powers. A Constitutional Court was established in 2003. Local government is through a three-tier system of provincial, district and village assemblies.
HUMAN RIGHTS
The overall human rights situation has improved significantly over the last 20 years. However there are ongoing allegations of human rights abuses in Papua and elsewhere in Indonesia. We raise credible reports with the Indonesian authorities.
We believe that a long-term solution to regional conflicts can only be achieved through political negotiation and consultation with the people, and that security forces should operate within the law with strict regard to human rights and if they do not, legal action should be brought against them. The UK has provided human rights training through a number of projects, including the provision of equipment to the Indonesian Human Rights Commission, support for NGOs, human rights training for Supreme Court Judges and work with regional police forces.
