Susilo quits after open rift with Megawati
Susilo quits after open rift with Megawati
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya
The row between President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Coordinating
Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono culminated on Thursday with Susilo's resignation from
the Cabinet.
"After long and deep consideration, I wrote a letter to the
President a moment ago in which I asked permission to resign from
the Cabinet," Susilo said during a press conference at his
office.
Susilo's resignation, which came on the first day of
campaigning for the April 5 legislative election, was the first
resignation from Megawati's "Rainbow Cabinet".
A well-placed official told The Jakarta Post on Thursday
evening that Megawati had accepted Susilo's resignation and was
preparing a presidential decree on the matter.
"But she has yet to decide who will fill the vacant position,"
said the high-ranking official, adding that the decree may be
completed as early as Friday.
Megawati herself showed little surprise to Susilo's
resignation. Wearing a big smile, Megawati waved Susilo's
resignation letter to journalists as she entered her official car
to leave the State Palace.
"The President was informed as soon as I heard about the
resignation, but she did not say anything upon hearing the news,"
State Secretary Bambang Kesowo said.
The rift between Megawati and Susilo came to a head on Monday
when Susilo alleged the President had sidelined him in the
Cabinet.
He wrote a letter to the President asking her to clarify his
duties in the Cabinet and seeking a meeting.
Susilo said on Thursday he had attempted in vain several times
to set up a meeting "to discuss the problems outlined in my
letter".
"My relationship with the President was disrupted. It was
becoming difficult to keep doing my job properly," he said.
He said he had wanted the President to explain "whether the
authority and responsibility (of my office) still lies with me or
whether (she) will take over and supervise those officials
directly".
Susilo also said that he would remain in his post until
Megawati had appointed a replacement but would not take any
strategic decisions.
Susilo, 52, has set his eyes on the upcoming presidential
election, with the latest surveys showing his support has risen
significantly in the past few months.
Megawati, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P), is seeking a full five-year mandate in the
country's first ever direct presidential election on July 5.
While she is still the favorite to win the presidential
election, her support has waned due to the perceived poor
performance of her administration.
Two other ministers -- Coordinating Minister for People's
Welfare Jusuf Kalla and Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Yusril Ihza Mahendra -- also have presidential ambitions, but
Susilo is seen as Megawati's strongest challenger.
The Democratic Party, a small party that Susilo helped found
in September 2001, has said it will back him for the presidency.
Asked whether he was ready to run for president, Susilo
replied: "Yes, I am ready to run for the presidential post. As of
today, the Democratic Party supports me, but I am ready to join
forces with other political parties if they wish."
Later in the day, Susilo held a closed-door meeting with
former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, who has been
nominated as a presidential candidate by the National Awakening
Party (PKB).
Also attending the meeting were Lt. Gen. (ret) Luhut
Pandjaitan and former Golkar secretary-general Rahmat Witoelar.
People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais welcomed
Susilo's decision to step down, saying that resigning was better
than remaining in the Cabinet without a role.
Amien, who has made known his plan to run in the presidential
election, said in Surabaya, East Java, that he would wait for the
right time to approach Susilo.
"I will probably talk with him (Susilo) in about two weeks,"
said Amien, who is also the leader of the National Mandate Party
(PAN).
Megawati and Susilo: a falling out timeline
* Feb. 18 - President Megawati Soekarnoputri holds a cabinet
meeting to draft government regulations on the campaign for state
officials and asks her ministers whether they will run for
presidency.
* Feb. 22 - Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono goes on a week-long visit to
China.
* Feb. 25 - Megawati signs Government Regulation No. 9/2004 on
campaigning for state officials, and instructs officials in
Susilo's ministerial office to monitor election preparations,
without his knowledge.
* Feb. 28 - On arrival from China, Susilo calls his subordinates
in Aceh and discovers Megawati's instructions.
* March 1 - Susilo tells the media he is being excluded from
cabinet meetings on political and security affairs.
* March 2 - Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas says Susilo's
reaction is childish.
* March 9 - Susilo sends a letter to Megawati, asking for clarity
of his job description and a meeting with her.
* March 10 - Megawati refuses to respond to Susilo's letter.
* March 11 - Susilo tenders his resignation.