Megawati, Susilo visit Blitar

BLITAR, East Java: Rival presidential candidates Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono both visited the small East Java town of Blitar ahead of polling day, albeit for different reasons.

President Megawati visited the grave of her father, founding president Sukarno, on Saturday, while her former minister, Susilo, stayed overnight on a visit to his mother, Siti Khobibab Sukotjo, who lives on Jl. Bali in the town, which is located 150 kilometers southwest of the provincial capital Surabaya.

A helicopter carrying Megawati and her entourage landed on the square of the 511th Infantry Battalion, from where she went straight to the grave in a Mercedez sedan.

Accompanying the President were her husband, Taufik Kiemas, half-sister Kartika Soekarnoputri and her mother Ratna Sari Dewi, Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandi, East Java Governor Imam Utomo, East Java Military Commander Maj. Gen. AD Sikki and East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani.

Former coordinating minister for political and security affairs Susilo, who is a founder of the Democratic Party, arrived on Friday. He denied the visit had anything to do with the election. -- JP