Wahid marks tricky first year

Mr Wahid: Under fire at home and abroad

Indonesia's first democratically-elected president marked his first year in power amid growing concern over the country's economic health and regional unrest.

We will not collapse - but we will be a sick nation for a long long time

Former presidential adviser and political analyst, Dewi Fortuna Anwar

A year ago there were high expectations that Abdurrahman Wahid would strengthen democracy and end civil unrest and rampant corruption.

But the economy is still in crisis with the rupiah plunging and the stock market hitting record lows.

The country also continues to be wracked by separatist and religious violence in troublespots such as Aceh, Irian Jaya and the Moluccan islands.

Rebels in Aceh want independence

Almost one million people remain displaced by fighting that has killed thousands in recent years.

A series of unexplained explosions have also shaken the capital, Jakarta, including a bomb at the city's stock exchange which killed 15 people.

Corruption

One of Mr Wahid's key pledges on taking up office was to fight Indonesia's endemic graft.

Street protests are common in Jakarta

But his efforts were dealt a severe blow when the multi-million dollar corruption trial of former President Suharto was aborted after doctors declared he was too ill to answer the charges.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets denouncing government attempts to eradicate corruption.

Mr Wahid himself is also under investigation for two financial scandals.

Mr Wahid still wants Mr Suharto put on trial for corruption

In the last year, the president has regularly clashed with parliament, infuriating opponents with his unpredictability, wild off-the-cuff remarks and refusal to explain certain decisions.

The president has also come under fire from the international community after failing to rein in the pro-Jakarta militias who went on the rampage following East Timor's vote for independence.

Pressure on him to disarm the militias intensified after three United Nations workers were killed in Indonesian West Timor.

Crazy

When he came to power, Mr Wahid joked about how Indonesia's first president was crazy about women, the second about money, and the third about most things.

Mr Wahid said he, the fourth president, just drove everyone crazy.

A year on and some say his quip rings a little too true.

But with no strong alternative leaders Mr Wahid still has qualified backing.

"Anybody trying to govern through this time of transition would have had it difficult," says Dede Oetomo, a political professor at Airlangga University.

"Given all of that, I would say he has done quite well."