“There is a tendency like this. The President, for example, is continuously building his image to the public,” Ray, who is also a political observer, told kompas.com news portal.
Other indications can be seen from the President's effort to improve closer relations with the United States by opening the Indonesian market as widely as possible for the American products.
The President also did not give any response when PT Freeport Indonesia was reported to have not only developed a gold mine in Papua, Ray said, adding that such a stance is meant to get supports from from the US.
According to Ray, a discourse to amend the 1945 Constitution constitutes as a way used by the President to strengthen his power.
“This has to be turned down. Not because of the poor work performance of the President, but also the discourse to extend the position is frightening. It will open an opportunity to be an authoritarian regime,” he added.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/08/18/yudhoyono-intends-extend-leadership-third-period-observer.html