Megawati-Susilo stoke rivalry at Jakarta rallies

Megawati-Susilo stoke rivalry at Jakarta rallies

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the founder of the newly
established Democratic Party, increased his attempt to challenge
his former boss, President Megawati Soekarnoputri, when
campaigning for his party in Jakarta on Sunday amid clear
indications that Megawati's popularity has declined sharply
compared to five years ago.

Susilo, however, only criticized the government's
shortcomings, despite the fact that he had been a part of it
since 1999 until recently. Meanwhile, Megawati was busy defending
her achievements. And like five years ago, she attempted to
portray herself as the victim of a political conspiracy by her
foes.

A crowd of only about 10,000 attended the general's rally,
much smaller than the 100,000 Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) supporters who are estimated to have attended
Megawati's rally.

No clashes were reported, however, when their supporters met
on the streets. They even waved their hands at each other.

The former coordinating minister for political and security
affairs showed his supporters during the rally in Kemayoran,
Central Jakarta, that he could sing all the words of a dangdut
version of local rock group Jamrud's ditty, Pelangi di Matamu
(Rainbow in Your Eyes).

Meanwhile, the President did a little dance when the band
backing up local group Dewa struck up during her rally at the
Bung Karno Stadium.

Susilo, however, failed to convincingly prove that he was
better than Megawati. In this, he is not much different to other
Megawati's other political rivals, who are quick to criticize her
but fail to offer alternative policies.

"After five years of a transition period, our country has yet
to see any improvements. A lot of people wishes have been
betrayed by the current government ... We are going to run a
clean political show to resolve all the problems," said Susilo,
who resigned from Megawati's Cabinet on March 11.

Susilo has been fully involved in formulating the government's
policies since his appointment by then president Abdurrahman
Wahid in 1999 as minister of mines and energy. Not long before
Abdurrahman's downfall in July 2001, he was appointed as
coordinating minister for political and security affairs. He was
fired shortly before Abdurrahman's dismissal.

Megawati appointed him to the same position. He decided
recently to retire from the Cabinet to challenge her in the July
5 presidential election.

"We gather here to seek a change leading to a better
Indonesia," said Susilo during the rally.

Meanwhile, in a feisty speech Megawati said that despite all
the negative predictions about her party, she was certain that
the PDI-P is still loved by its supporters and would win the
April 5 legislative election.

"They said that I am just a housewife. Well, this housewife is
still able to draw a crowd like this. I hope all mothers will
vote for me," she said to the cheering crowd.

The Jakarta Post reported five years ago that in its final
rally in Jakarta the PDI-P was able to attract nearly one million
supporters in Jakarta. However, Sunday's attendance was much
smaller.

Another party contesting the election, the Indonesian Justice
and Unity Party (PKPI), also held outdoor rallies in the capital,
but only 1,000 supporters showed up, who quickly drifted away
from the location due to stifling heat. Earlier in the day, the
party also held a rally in Cengkareng, West Jakarta. Muslim
scholar Nurcholish Madjid was present at the rally.

In Yogyakarta, supporters of the Democratic Party and the PKPI
both paraded around the city in convoys of vehicles. The colorful
convoys attracted a great deal of attention from the city's
residents.

Meanwhile, Vice President Hamzah Haz, the chairman of the
United Development Party (PPP), addressed thousands of supporters
in Bengkulu, Sumatra. He indicated that he was quite satisfied
with his current position as vice president.