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.