Mega calls Susilo's letter 'inappropriate'

Mega calls Susilo's letter 'inappropriate'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri gave a vague response on
Wednesday to a letter from Coordinating Minister for Political
and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono questioning his
position in the Cabinet, calling the letter inappropriate.

Saying that any problems between the President and Cabinet
members should be discussed directly and privately, Megawati said
Susilo was free to come and see her any time.

"Issues between the President and Cabinet members can be
addressed directly; there is no need to send a letter," State
Secretary Bambang Kesowo quoted Megawati as saying on Wednesday.

"It is inappropriate for a Cabinet minister to send such a
letter," Megawati said.

She, however, stressed that she had no plans to dismiss any of
her Cabinet ministers.

Susilo hinted on Tuesday that Megawati had taken over his role
as the top security minister, and said that he had sent a letter
to the President seeking clarification of his role.

The relationship between Susilo and Megawati has been tense
for some time. Political observers see Susilo as one of the
strongest threats to Megawati in the country's first ever direct
presidential election on July 5, and there have been hints that
he has been sidelined in the Cabinet.

Bambang said President Megawati received Susilo's letter on
Tuesday evening, and had read it several times to try and
understand the reasoning behind the query.

"There will be a Cabinet meeting on Thursday (today) and
Susilo is among the ministers invited. I believe he will be here
for the meeting," Bambang said.

Susilo, a retired four-star Army general, has been nominated
by the Democratic Party as its candidate for the presidential
election on July 5, which will be preceded by the legislative
election on April 5.

A total of 24 political parties will participate in the
legislative election, and only those parties or coalitions
garnering 3 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives
or 5 percent of the total vote will be able to nominate
candidates for the presidential election.

Susilo spent a busy day at his office on Wednesday but refused
to talk to the press about his rift with Megawati, saying the
ball was now in the President's court.

He received several guests at his office, including U.S.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and Coordinating Minister
for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti.

In the past few days, Susilo has canceled several meetings,
including one to discuss a bill on the country's borders with
ministers under his coordination.

A staff member at Susilo's office said the meeting was
canceled because the ministers under his coordination failed to
show up at Susilo's office.

"Last week's scheduled meeting was aimed at discussing a bill
on the country's border," the staff member said, adding that the
Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, the Ministry of Defense and
the security authorities were all invited to the meeting.

The meeting was rescheduled for this Tuesday, but again was
canceled when the ministers failed to appear.

"None of the ministers were able to attend the meeting. The
ministers only sent their assistants," the staff member said.