Susilo dares Megawati to a face-off

M. Taufiqurrahman and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Sounding confident that he could outshine the incumbent, Megawati Soekarnoputri, in a debate face-off, presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono challenged Megawati on Monday to confront him in a General Elections Commission (KPU)-sponsored dialog.

Susilo said that to facilitate the debate, the KPU should set up a stage where he and Megawati could communicate openly with the public.

"Rather than spending much time straying from the objectives of delving more into our political platforms, we hope that the KPU can set up a forum where the President and I can communicate with the public in the broadest possible sense," he said after a meeting with women activists here.

Susilo denied, however, that he would take unfair advantage in the debate against Megawati, who is considered to lack communication skills.

"We don't have to see it in black-and-white terms. In the debate we could be in one forum where we could resolve the myriad problems this country is currently facing," he said.

The KPU has ruled that in the three-day campaign for the runoff, no debates will be held between the Megawati-Hasyim Muzadi and Susilo-Jusuf Kalla camps.

The commission said that candidates would face a board of panelists in a staged discussion. Candidates would appear according to a predetermined schedule.

The two candidates and their running mates are to make their first appearances on Sept. 14 to speak at length about their programs on political, legal and human rights issues. The following day, they are to speak on economics policies and social welfare issues, while the last day of campaigning will focus on social, cultural and religious issues.

Responding to Susilo's call, KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said that the commission could stage a debate only if the Megawati-Hasyim camp agreed to participate.

"In the last three meetings the Megawati-Hasyim team balked at the idea of a direct debate. We cannot hold a debate if only one side is willing," Ramlan said.

He added that the KPU could not force candidates to take part in a debate, as that was not stipulated in Law No. 35/2003 on direct presidential elections.

Ramlan said that Megawati was willing to face the presidential candidate nominated by the National Mandate Party, Amien Rais, in the first presidential debate only after the campaign teams of all contestants had agreed to participate in the KPU-brokered dialog.

"In the first round, it would have appeared foolish if Megawati had failed to attend the debate, while the other four candidates were willing to put in an appearance. It would have put her in very uncomfortable position," he said.

He added that the Megawati-Hasyim camp now had the luxury of turning down the debate invitation, as the pair was the only contender pitted against the Susilo-Kalla ticket.

Ramlan, however, said that the possibility of Megawati and Susilo sharing the same stage in a presidential debate was still open, if the Megawati-Hasyim campaign team made a last-minute change to its campaign strategy and agreed to participate in a dialog.

Contacted separately, Megawati-Hasyim campaign team member Pramono Anung said that Megawati was simply complying with the rule that no presidential debate would be held in the runoff election.

"Ibu Megawati is merely playing by the rules issued by the KPU," he said.