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Indonesia has been widely praised for its democracy, which is now considered the most vibrant in the region. After 32 years of authoritarian rule, a flowering democracy has changed our national psyche, altered our perceptions and refreshed our hopes. Two successful and peaceful direct legislative and presidential elections have bolstered the country’s standing in the community of nations.

Democracy has brought economic gains as well. Political stability has allowed the economy to grow at the fastest rate since the early 1990s. In the midst of the severe global economic downturn, Indonesia has been one of only a handful of nations to post positive growth. Foreign investors now see Indonesia as a middle-income economy where living standards are rising steadily and life in general is improving, even if pockets of poverty remain.

But democracy comes with certain responsibilities, both on the part of elected officials and the electorate. Elected officials must fulfill their obligations to serve the people and carry out their duties honestly, diligently, conscientiously and transparently. The electorate, having chosen the people to lead the country, must show respect for state institutions and the individuals who head them. Laws must be adhered to in a democracy and the courts must be the arbiters of justice.

Despite the plaudits, Indonesia’s democracy remains in its infancy. Organizations and individuals often claim their right to protest over a wide range of issues by holding regular demonstrations at busy intersections. Sometimes these protests involve only a handful of people who nonetheless disrupt traffic, affect productivity and distort the role of democracy as a functioning political system. Recently, demonstrators have gone too far by bringing a buffalo onto the busy city streets. Whether or not the buffalo was an attempt to insult President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is immaterial.

The president, elected with an overwhelming mandate, is a symbol of the state and as such deserves respect. Although there are no longer laws that punish those who insult the head of state, ethics dictate that criticism of the president and the vice president should remain within the bounds of civility. Those intending to insult anyone, including the head of state, should also remember that there are consequences for every action.

We must have rules on demonstrations and how we conduct ourselves in a democracy. There must be courtesy and respect for state institutions, as well as political rivals. The rule of law must apply and be enforced. If not we risk a democracy where anything goes in the name of individual rights, and that is a slippery slope to disaster. Many thousands of Indonesians died and many others sacrificed greatly to earn the democracy we enjoy today. It would be catastrophic if we took democracy for granted and allowed ourselves to become an unruly nation.