Ex-rivals SBY, Wiranto have 'small talk' at presidential office
Ex-rivals SBY, Wiranto have 'small talk' at presidential office
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Long-time comrades President Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
and former presidential rival Gen. (ret) Wiranto held a brief
reunion on Friday.
The two former generals met for 20 minutes at the presidential
office to reminisce and chat, said Wiranto, a former commander of
the Indonesian Military (TNI), in response to questions as to
whether the TNI leadership issue was raised.
The issue of who is the legitimate TNI chief -- incumbent TNI
chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, who tendered his resignation
during the final days of Megawati Soekarnoputri's term, or Army
chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu -- is yet to be resolved,
with the House of Representatives divided over the matter.
"We were just sharing stories, as we used to be colleagues. I
merely expressed my hope that he could be a good leader who lived
up to the people's aspirations," Wiranto said after the meeting.
Wiranto stressed that, although the two were rivals in the
presidential race, he now had a moral obligation to support
Susilo.
The two have a shared history in the armed forces and in
politics.
A video footage of the 1998 May riots in Jakarta shows Gen.
Wiranto as then-TNI commander appealing to a crowd to calm down.
Standing behind him is Susilo, then a lieutenant general and the
TNI chief of social and political affairs, and among Wiranto's
close aides at the time.
The two also held Cabinet positions in 1999 under former
president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, until Wiranto was
dismissed by Gus Dur for his alleged involvement in human rights
abuses during that year's referendum in East Timor.
Susilo was then named Wiranto's successor as coordinating
minister for political and security affairs, relinquishing his
post as minister of energy.
Their paths crossed once again when the two raced against each
other and three other candidates in the first direct presidential
election this year: Wiranto under the Golkar Party banner after a
surprise victory in the first party convention; and Susilo as the
sole candidate of the new Democratic Party, which he founded.
Their paths diverged as Wiranto, along with Amien Rais and
former vice president Hamzah Haz, was eliminated in the first
round in July, while Susilo went on to the runoff and defeated
Megawati Soekarnoputri on Sept. 20.
The two generals were observed embracing each other in
greeting as Wiranto stepped into Susilo's office, where they
talked at a table in front of the President's desk.
Both were smiling broadly as Susilo escorted Wiranto out of
the office.
Wiranto refused to say whether he was invited by the
President, and sped off in a waiting golf cart to the parking lot
outside the presidential compound.
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Long-time comrades President Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
and former presidential rival Gen. (ret) Wiranto held a brief
reunion on Friday.
The two former generals met for 20 minutes at the presidential
office to reminisce and chat, said Wiranto, a former commander of
the Indonesian Military (TNI), in response to questions as to
whether the TNI leadership issue was raised.
The issue of who is the legitimate TNI chief -- incumbent TNI
chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, who tendered his resignation
during the final days of Megawati Soekarnoputri's term, or Army
chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu -- is yet to be resolved,
with the House of Representatives divided over the matter.
"We were just sharing stories, as we used to be colleagues. I
merely expressed my hope that he could be a good leader who lived
up to the people's aspirations," Wiranto said after the meeting.
Wiranto stressed that, although the two were rivals in the
presidential race, he now had a moral obligation to support
Susilo.
The two have a shared history in the armed forces and in
politics.
A video footage of the 1998 May riots in Jakarta shows Gen.
Wiranto as then-TNI commander appealing to a crowd to calm down.
Standing behind him is Susilo, then a lieutenant general and the
TNI chief of social and political affairs, and among Wiranto's
close aides at the time.
The two also held Cabinet positions in 1999 under former
president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, until Wiranto was
dismissed by Gus Dur for his alleged involvement in human rights
abuses during that year's referendum in East Timor.
Susilo was then named Wiranto's successor as coordinating
minister for political and security affairs, relinquishing his
post as minister of energy.
Their paths crossed once again when the two raced against each
other and three other candidates in the first direct presidential
election this year: Wiranto under the Golkar Party banner after a
surprise victory in the first party convention; and Susilo as the
sole candidate of the new Democratic Party, which he founded.
Their paths diverged as Wiranto, along with Amien Rais and
former vice president Hamzah Haz, was eliminated in the first
round in July, while Susilo went on to the runoff and defeated
Megawati Soekarnoputri on Sept. 20.
The two generals were observed embracing each other in
greeting as Wiranto stepped into Susilo's office, where they
talked at a table in front of the President's desk.
Both were smiling broadly as Susilo escorted Wiranto out of
the office.
Wiranto refused to say whether he was invited by the
President, and sped off in a waiting golf cart to the parking lot
outside the presidential compound.