Susilo quits after open rift with Megawati<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Surabaya<\/p>\n
The row between President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Coordinating
\nMinister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono culminated on Thursday with Susilo's resignation from
\nthe Cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"After long and deep consideration, I wrote a letter to the
\nPresident a moment ago in which I asked permission to resign from
\nthe Cabinet,\" Susilo said during a press conference at his
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Susilo's resignation, which came on the first day of
\ncampaigning for the April 5 legislative election, was the first
\nresignation from Megawati's \"Rainbow Cabinet\".<\/p>\n
A well-placed official told The Jakarta Post on Thursday
\nevening that Megawati had accepted Susilo's resignation and was
\npreparing a presidential decree on the matter.<\/p>\n
\"But she has yet to decide who will fill the vacant position,\"
\nsaid the high-ranking official, adding that the decree may be
\ncompleted as early as Friday.<\/p>\n
Megawati herself showed little surprise to Susilo's
\nresignation. Wearing a big smile, Megawati waved Susilo's
\nresignation letter to journalists as she entered her official car
\nto leave the State Palace.<\/p>\n
\"The President was informed as soon as I heard about the
\nresignation, but she did not say anything upon hearing the news,\"
\nState Secretary Bambang Kesowo said.<\/p>\n
The rift between Megawati and Susilo came to a head on Monday
\nwhen Susilo alleged the President had sidelined him in the
\nCabinet.<\/p>\n
He wrote a letter to the President asking her to clarify his
\nduties in the Cabinet and seeking a meeting.<\/p>\n
Susilo said on Thursday he had attempted in vain several times
\nto set up a meeting \"to discuss the problems outlined in my
\nletter\".<\/p>\n
\"My relationship with the President was disrupted. It was
\nbecoming difficult to keep doing my job properly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he had wanted the President to explain \"whether the
\nauthority and responsibility (of my office) still lies with me or
\nwhether (she) will take over and supervise those officials
\ndirectly\".<\/p>\n
Susilo also said that he would remain in his post until
\nMegawati had appointed a replacement but would not take any
\nstrategic decisions.<\/p>\n
Susilo, 52, has set his eyes on the upcoming presidential
\nelection, with the latest surveys showing his support has risen
\nsignificantly in the past few months.<\/p>\n
Megawati, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-P), is seeking a full five-year mandate in the
\ncountry's first ever direct presidential election on July 5.<\/p>\n
While she is still the favorite to win the presidential
\nelection, her support has waned due to the perceived poor
\nperformance of her administration.<\/p>\n
Two other ministers -- Coordinating Minister for People's
\nWelfare Jusuf Kalla and Minister of Justice and Human Rights
\nYusril Ihza Mahendra -- also have presidential ambitions, but
\nSusilo is seen as Megawati's strongest challenger.<\/p>\n
The Democratic Party, a small party that Susilo helped found
\nin September 2001, has said it will back him for the presidency.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he was ready to run for president, Susilo
\nreplied: \"Yes, I am ready to run for the presidential post. As of
\ntoday, the Democratic Party supports me, but I am ready to join
\nforces with other political parties if they wish.\"<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Susilo held a closed-door meeting with
\nformer president Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid, who has been
\nnominated as a presidential candidate by the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB).<\/p>\n
Also attending the meeting were Lt. Gen. (ret) Luhut
\nPandjaitan and former Golkar secretary-general Rahmat Witoelar.<\/p>\n
People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais welcomed
\nSusilo's decision to step down, saying that resigning was better
\nthan remaining in the Cabinet without a role.<\/p>\n
Amien, who has made known his plan to run in the presidential
\nelection, said in Surabaya, East Java, that he would wait for the
\nright time to approach Susilo.<\/p>\n
\"I will probably talk with him (Susilo) in about two weeks,\"
\nsaid Amien, who is also the leader of the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN).<\/p>\n
Megawati and Susilo: a falling out timeline<\/p>\n
* Feb. 18 - President Megawati Soekarnoputri holds a cabinet
\nmeeting to draft government regulations on the campaign for state
\nofficials and asks her ministers whether they will run for
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
* Feb. 22 - Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
\nAffairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono goes on a week-long visit to
\nChina.<\/p>\n
* Feb. 25 - Megawati signs Government Regulation No. 9\/2004 on
\ncampaigning for state officials, and instructs officials in
\nSusilo's ministerial office to monitor election preparations,
\nwithout his knowledge.<\/p>\n
* Feb. 28 - On arrival from China, Susilo calls his subordinates
\nin Aceh and discovers Megawati's instructions.<\/p>\n
* March 1 - Susilo tells the media he is being excluded from
\ncabinet meetings on political and security affairs.<\/p>\n
* March 2 - Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas says Susilo's
\nreaction is childish.<\/p>\n
* March 9 - Susilo sends a letter to Megawati, asking for clarity
\nof his job description and a meeting with her.<\/p>\n
* March 10 - Megawati refuses to respond to Susilo's letter.<\/p>\n
* March 11 - Susilo tenders his resignation.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilo-quits-after-open-rift-with-megawati-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }