Egypt and Indonesia

They both have at least one of the world’s 15 key strategic sea lanes, a pyramid-like monument recognized as a “wonder of the world”, and their region's largest population of Muslims. Now, they share the experience of a popular, broad-based reform movement that topples a long-standing regime. Although Indonesia’s 1998 reformasi germinated in a different soil, not as a reaction to another protest but in reaction to a severe economic downturn, the secular cries of collusion, corruption and nepotism are similar, coming as they are from students, workers, middle class housewives, and religious leaders. The Army plays the pivotal role and the less outside powers attempt to orchestrate change, the better the chance of a peaceful transition. With their own transition safely behind them Indonesia can rightly say that the protests will not spread to them. Indonesia’s State Secretary, Sudi Silalahi, said some might argue that the SBY-Boediono government is currently messy, but the fact shows that people are now prosperous. "They say SBY is disorganized. But it is a fact that people can buy millions of motorcycles every year. Prosperity is increasing.” Indonesia has few connections to Egypt outside of some regional and international forums and is unlikely to be able to offer much assistance or guidance other than its own example, if the Egyptians take notice. For Indonesia has stabilized nicely after its initial shaky period following the fall of Soeharto with social indicators and GDP rising and democracy deepening its roots. I personally hope Egypt can make its transition to democracy with less violence and economic pain that afflicted Indonesia 13 years when lootings, bombings and thousands of killings marred the transition that began peacefully in the streets of Jakarta.