Megawati, Susilo visit Blitar

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