Susilo ups his public appearances<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As the presidential runoff draws closer, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\nis increasing his public appearances in a bid to shore up his
\npopularity ahead of voting day.<\/p>\n
Susilo, who will face incumbent President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri in the Sept. 20 election, joined Green Garden
\nresidents, who are mostly Chinese Indonesians, in a fun walk
\naround the housing complex in Kedoya, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Former president Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid, known for his
\nconsistent fight for the rights of minority groups, also attended
\nthe event.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur, a chief patron of the National Awakening Party (PKB),
\nrefused to say if he had given his political support to Susilo.<\/p>\n
\"We are not going to talk about coalitions this morning as I
\nam just following what Gus Dur (has advised me) ... that I should
\nput national unity ahead of difference,\" Susilo said after
\naddressing hundreds of people from a poduim.<\/p>\n
Susilo has repeatedly said coalitions among political elites
\nare not a priority in a direct presidential system.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Susilo flew to Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara
\nto meet hundreds of Muslim students of the Nahdlatul Waton
\nIslamic boarding school. His running mate, vice presidential
\ncandidate Jusuf Kalla, met with hundreds of members of the
\nNusantara Communication Forum in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Sunday's public appearance came after Susilo made an impromptu
\nvisit last week to villagers living without electricity in Cikeas
\nUdik, Bogor, about five kilometers from his private mansion.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Susilo asked the people, who he called
\n\"the poorest of the poor\" about what they wanted from the next
\npresident. Solving the nation's unemployment was top of the list.<\/p>\n
During Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 17, Susilo, who
\nwas not invited to the official ceremony, held a separate flag-
\nraising ceremony near his residence and celebrated the event with
\nhundreds of people from his surrounding area.<\/p>\n
Susilo, on Monday (today), is scheduled to meet Ismail Hasan
\nMetareum, a former chairman of the United Development Party
\n(PPP), at Ismail's residence in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
To avoid possible clashes among supporters of the two
\ncandidates, the General Elections Commission (KPU) has decided
\nto stick to the three-day campaigning period as stipulated in
\npresidential election law.<\/p>\n
During the campaign period, which will run from Sept. 14 to
\n16, the candidates are required by the KPU to \"better explain
\ntheir manifestos.\"<\/p>\n
Supporters will also be allowed to erect banners, posters and
\nother campaign paraphernalia in public places.<\/p>\n
Megawati, whose popularity has lagged behind Susilo in opinion
\npolls, received a political boost over the weekend when she was
\nendorsed by two large parties, House of Representatives
\nheavyweight the Golkar Party and the Muslim-based PPP -- plus a
\nminor party, the Christian-oriented Prosperous Peace Party (PDS).<\/p>",
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