REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The value of Indonesia`s democracy has declined over the past few years blamed on the attitude of both the people and the government officials, an expert says. 

"The value of the country`s democracy index declined from 67.30 points in 2009 to 63.17 points in 2010," an expert staff of the Indonesian Democracy Index (IDI), Maswadi Rauf, said.

Violent demonstrations by the people and threats to crack down on protesters both caused a decline in the democratic value, Maswardi said here on Wednesday when launching a book on Indonesia Democratic Index 2010.

"Better implementation of democracy would increase the value of democracy," he said, adding, more violence would tarnish democracy. Fluctuations were normal in the implementation of democracy, but the fluctuation should not be too sharp, he said.

Meanwhile Deputy Minister for National Development Planning Lukito Dinarsyah Tuwo said Indonesia`s real democracy is deeply rooted in the country culture of tolerance and mutual assistance. 

Lukito said violent protests and illegal raids were not consistent with the country`s culture of great tolerance and mutual assistance. He said IDI 2009 served as benchmark for indicators of democratic practices in the future. 

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