The Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) is a meeting held in Bali, and attended by representatives from nations in the Asia Pacific region. The forum was initiated by Indonesia in 2008 with the stated aim of fostering democracy, human rights, equality, and mutual respect.
there have been 11 forums, held each year since 2008. 58 nations have attended the forums, with some from outside the Pacific region, such as Yemen and Afghanistan. The forum has been the subject of controversy and has been boycotted by several groups because of the perceived lack of democratic ideals in Bali, the removal of direct elections for local bodies, and the banning of protests during the forum itself.
BDF participants are encouraged to discuss democracy constructively, regardless of their own political taboos or restrictive standardization. The BDF encourages participants to share their experiences in accordance with the conditions of each country.
History
Ten years after Indonesia began to reform its government, the BDF was founded. The BDF is an annual intergovernmental forum in which democratic development, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, is discussed.
The BDF was created out of a stated belief that the promotion of democracy is an integral part of Indonesia's foreign policy. The forum was initiated to help create a strong democratic architecture in the region by sharing experiences, best practices, and adhering to the principles of equality, mutual understanding, and respect.
To date, the BDF has sought to advance democracy throughout the Asia Pacific region by promoting economic and political development, peace and security, and human rights, which are the three pillars of the United Nations.
Development
BDF I
BDF I was held on December 10–11, 2008. This forum was chaired by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Prime Minister of Australia at the time, Kevin Rudd. The theme of the BDF I was “Building and Consolidating Democracy as Agenda for Asia” and was attended by 4 Heads of State/Government, with participation from 32 participants and 8 observers.
The goal of the first forum was to create solidarity among participating nations as they put forward a sustainable regional strategic agenda to strengthen democratic values and institutions.
BDF II
BDF II was held on December 10–11, 2009. This forum was chaired by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and the Prime Minister of Japan at that time, Yukio Hatoyama. It was attended by four Heads of State/Government, with the participation from thirty-two participants and eight observers. The theme of the BDF II was “In Search of Synergy: Democracy, Rule of Law, and Development.”
The theme raised in BDF II was deemed relevant to the condition of the global community, which was in the midst of debt and financial crisis. With relatively stable growth, Asia was expected to be the engine of the global economic recovery. Political progress was considered important to create a balanced and conducive condition in Asia, as economic growth ultimately demands the enforcement of the rule of law and transparency.
BDF III
BDF III was held on 8–9 December 2010. This forum was chaired by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the President of South Korea at the time, Lee Myung-bak. It was attended by four Heads of State/Government, with the participation from forty-four participants and twenty-seven observers. The theme of the BDF III was “Democracy and the Promotion of Peace and Stability”.
The third forum was held in the midst of a regional and political crisis on the Korean peninsula. The forum agreed that democracy should be able to generate democratic dividends that can be felt directly by the community, including the creation of peace and stability. In the context of resolving a country's internal conflict, the importance of a dialogue mechanism that can ensure a peaceful transition of democracy was emphasized.
BDF IV
BDF IV was held on 8–9 December 2011. This forum was chaired by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh (Sheikh Hasina), attended by nine Heads of State/Government, with the participation from forty participants and forty-five observers. The theme of the BDF IV was “Enhancing Democratic Participation in a Changing World: Responding to Democratic Voices”.