WORLD LEADERS ATTEND INDONESIAN ELECTED PRESIDENT INAUGURATION

The supporters of Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla. Photo: ANTARA

New York, 25 Dhulhijjja 1435/20 October 2014 (MINA) – Indonesian president inauguration today has colored the city with a parade accros the capital streets as well as attracting the presence of world leaders in the Parliament House.

Among the world leaders who were attending are Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, according to Global Indonesian Voices (GIV).

The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, Michael Ogjio, and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragon are also among the attendance.

Media reported the Secretary of State of the United States, John Kerry, also attended Monday’s inauguration ceremony, alongside special envoys from South Korea and Japan.

According to a report by an Australian newspaper Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), in 2004 world leaders started attending Indonesia’s presidential inauguration ceremony. The tradition was started by then Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

SMH wrote that in 2004, John Howard decided to “simply invited himself” to the presidential inauguration ceremony of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, creating “protocol nightmare” for other countries that also wanted to have good relations with Indonesia. The sudden move by John Howard, prompted Japan and South Korea to send special representatives to the inauguration ceremony in 2004.

With the inauguration of Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla as President and Vice President, respectively, Indonesia will open a new political chapter on 20 October 2014. And it is no surprise that given the country’s potential power, its major international partners would also want to be on this same page.(T/R04/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)