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Indonesia's Presidential Speech Fails to Impress Anita Rachman, Armando Siahaan & Ulma Haryanto | August 18, 2010 Jakarta. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's annual State of the Nation address marking Independence Day drew fire from political opponents and commentators who said the speech dodged hot-button issues and failed to propose solutions to pressing problems. On issues ranging from education to religious tolerance and exploding liquefied petroleum gas canisters, critics found the president's remarks lacking. During Monday's speech before members of the House of Representatives and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), Yudhoyono praised the country's economic gains and its restoration of democracy. He said economic growth targets for 2014 would be raised from 7 percent to 7.7 percent, with 10.7 million new jobs to be created. He also said the country would continue to fight corruption, extremism and terrorism. "I would like to underline the need for all of us to maintain and enhance our brotherhood, harmony and tolerance," Yudhoyono said, without mentioning recent attacks on some Christian churches and Ahmadiyah, an Islamic sect, by hard-line groups - omissions that angered some opponents. House Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung, from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said the speech, delivered on the eve of the 65th anniversary of independence, was out of touch with reality. "The president must call for action," he said, citing the gas canister explosions, religious intolerance and other issues. "What is happening in the field and what the president said are different." The Golkar Party's general secretary, Idrus Marham,said Yudhoyono had appeared to be asking for patience. "He was asking us to understand and appreciate his situation," he said. "I think it's a way of saying that he acknowledges the problems we face today." Siti Zuhro, a political observer from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said democracies needed to be accountable. "Our leaders don't need to complain, but they do have to be open and tell people the nation's problems so together we can work for solutions," she said. "I didn't see much of that [in the speech]. We are not there yet." Suparman, chairman of the Indonesian Independent Teachers Federation, said promises to raise public school teachers' salaries by 10 percent in the next budget largely missed the point. "Lots of students from poor families still can't go to school. We have enjoyed freedom for 65 years, so why is it that some children still can't go to school?" he said. It was the issue of religious tolerance, however, that drew the ire of most critics. Ismail Hasani, a researcher with the Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy, said the president had failed to use his position to counter growing religious intolerance. "The president didn't need to mention a particular incident or group," he said. "But the president should have made a statement that bluntly recognized the country has experienced problems with freedom of religion." Emerson Yuntho, deputy chairman of Indonesia Corruption Watch, said the president had failed to address the issues. "The speech left an impression that this was a presidential campaign," he said. "The people need evidence, not promises." Related articles Human Rights Group Calls for Public Presidential Apology 11:38pm Aug 15, 2010 Young Flag Bearers Set Very High Standard 1:00am Aug 18, 2010 Indonesia Marks Quiet Independence Day 12:34am Aug 18, 2010 In the Market for Opinions: Vendors Weigh In on Independence 10:58pm Aug 17, 2010 Indonesia's President Wants Beefed-Up Security After Threats 6:42pm Aug 10, 2010 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]