Susilo unveils plans for first 100 days<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post\/Bogor<\/p>\n
Challenger and favorite Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is
\npredicted to emerge the winner of the election runoff over
\nincumbent, President Megawati Soekarnoputri, has begun to unveil
\nplans for his first 100 days in power.<\/p>\n
Susilo, who was once coordinating minister for political and
\nsecurity affairs in Megawati's cabinet, said on Wednesday that he
\nwould focus on domestic problems and refrain from making state
\nvisits in his first few months as president.<\/p>\n
\"In the first 100 days, I will concentrate on dealing with
\nproblems in Aceh and other troubled spots. I will also hold
\ndialogs with common people, including farmers and fishermen, and
\navoid traveling abroad -- unless it is for a very important
\nreason.<\/p>\n
\"I believe that, the more people I see, the more problems I
\nacknowledge,\" Susilo said, during a lunch with a group of
\nteachers from SMA Negeri 1 High School in Cileungsi, located some
\nfive kilometers away from Susilo's private residence in Cikeas,
\nBogor, West Java.<\/p>\n
With over 102 million ballots counted on Wednesday, Susilo led
\nwith 61 percent of the vote, while Megawati had 39 percent,
\naccording to the General Elections Commission (KPU).<\/p>\n
The official tally will be announced by Oct. 5, and the new
\npresident is to be sworn in on Oct. 20 for a five-year term.<\/p>\n
Wednesday's informal gathering was held following a request
\nfrom the teachers to meet with Susilo, who has promised to
\nimplement better programs for education.<\/p>\n
\"I wish the state could provide better salaries for you, and
\nmore opportunities for the poor to go to school. Who do you want
\nme to pick as minister of national education?,\" Susilo asked the
\nteachers.<\/p>\n
Alluding to conflicts in Aceh, Susilo said that \"the Unitary
\nState of Indonesia is a final concept, and there will be no
\ncompromises.\"<\/p>\n
\"I know that military operations are not the only answer (to
\nconflicts in Aceh). I will ask the secessionist group to reunite
\nwith Indonesia and grant the territory special autonomy.<\/p>\n
\"I believe that, within the next two or three years, Aceh will
\nhave a better future. The conflict must be resolved in a fair
\nmanner, and as peacefully as possible,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As a coordinating minister, Susilo negotiated a peace deal
\nwith the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in 2003. The deal collapsed
\nwithin months. Both the government and GAM blamed each other for
\ncommitting violations, driving Megawati to launch an offensive
\noperation in May last year, which left at least 2,200 people
\ndead.<\/p>\n
Papua, the country's easternmost resource-rich province, has
\nalso staged a low-level armed struggle since the 1960s, following
\na U.N.-sponsored referendum that declared the territory to be
\npart of Indonesia -- a referendum that was later regarded as a
\nsham.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the district of Poso in Central Sulawesi and the
\nnearby Maluku islands have dealt with sectarian conflicts between
\nChristians and Muslims since 1999.<\/p>\n
Early in the day, Susilo met with a group representing workers
\nof PT Dirgantara Indonesia, who were laid off due to a policy
\nimposed by the company's board of directors.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Susilo, problems in our company are the result of
\nwidespread corruption. Please do something to evaluate the case,
\nbecause you have promised to directly lead a team that combats
\ncorruption,\" one of the workers said.<\/p>\n
Susilo once said he would set up and directly lead teams to
\nmonitor three main issues affecting the country's recovery --
\ncorruption, terrorism and education.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilo-unveils-plans-for-first-100-days-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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