Indonesia Calls For Continuous Democratisation

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya JAKARTA, Feb 29 (Bernama) -- Indonesia has called for a continuous effort to promote democracy, stressing that it provides a conducive environment for national development. Speaking at the United Nations' Human Rights Council convention in Geneva on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said continuous democratisation was especially relevant in light of what had been taking place in the Middle East and North Africa. Citing Indonesia's experience in embracing democracy, Marty said in a statement issued by the foreign ministry that although it was by no means a smooth transition, democracy had finally created stability and contributed towards the country's economic growth. "The political changes taking place in Middle East and North Africa serve as a reminder to the international community about several fundamental issues -- that a government should be truly responsible for its people," he said. Human rights should also be respected including in times of political crisis, he said, adding that the Human Rights Council should be able to become part of the solution and help ensure democratisation process could continue. -- BERNAMA