PBR backs Mega, Susilo wooes PPP

PBR backs Mega, Susilo wooes PPP

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Megawati Soekarnoputri's reelection bid received another boost on
Monday after the Muslim-based Reform Star Party (PBR) decided to
support her in the Sept. 20 election runoff.

PBR chairman Zaenuddin MZ said in a press conference on Monday
that the party had undertaken a series of discussions before
deciding to throw its weight behind Megawati.

He also dismissed suggestions that her Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI-P) had offered Cabinet positions in
exchange for its support.

"We have reasons to give the support, but so far we have yet
to discuss possible positions in the Cabinet should Megawati
win," Zaenuddin said.

He underlined that a key reason for the party's backing
Megawati was to ensure civilian supremacy and prevent the return
of militarism in Indonesia.

On Aug. 19, three parties -- the Golkar Party, the PPP and the
Christian-based Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) -- declared their
support for Megawati.

With the PBR, the parties agreed to form a four-way coalition
in the House of Representatives and regional legislatures until
2009.

Megawati held a lunch meeting on Monday with eliminated
presidential candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto of the Golkar Party at
a hotel in South Jakarta.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Wiranto said he had
an obligation to the 26 million people who had voted for him on
July 5 in choosing a candidate to back in the run-off.

"I will make a decision next week," he said, adding that he
had also met with Susilo.

Meanwhile, Megawati's rival Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wooed on
Monday senior members of the Muslim-based United Development
Party (PPP), which had previously pledged its support to Megawati
and running mate Hasyim Muzadi.

Susilo met with PPP senior executive Buya Hasan Ismail
Mutareum, who expressed support for Susilo's bid.

The meeting irked some PPP executives, who said Buya, a former
PPP chairman, should not break the pledge to support Megawati.

Susilo also held a teleconference with around 3,500 new
students of state-financed Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)
in West Java, and answered questions from two ITB freshmen.

ITB rector Kusmayanto denied that the teleconference was a
campaign forum for Susilo, and said he had tried to ask Megawati
to join the teleconference, but the Presidential Palace did not
respond.

To cement its commitment to Megawati, Golkar leader Akbar
Tandjung went on series of trips across Java, instructing the
party's regional branches to support the Megawati-Hasyim pair.

Speaking to regional party heads in Surakarta, Central Java,
Akbar said the coalition would bring benefits for Golkar in the
2009 election, and that the party would play a major role in the
next five years.

"Megawati, together with us, will establish the next
government," Akbar said.

He further said Susilo had shown antipathy to Golkar and
trusted all members would obey the party's instruction to support
Megawati.

Separately, Hasyim Muzadi held a meeting with the business
community in Batam, Riau.