Susilo rules out affiliation to political party
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denied on Friday earlier reports that he would join the newly established Democratic Party as his political vehicle to run for president in the coming election.
Susilo said he was committed to conducting his daily tasks as a Cabinet minister who will be involved in all preparations for the election, which is expected to take place in June 2004.
"I want to stress that I have not joined any formal political organization yet because I wish to focus on my daily duties.
"Personally, I don't want to spoil my current job as a coordinating minister, which is quite a heavy responsibility for me, by participating in activities in a political party ... I'd rather focus on my state duties, which are my top priority," Susilo told reporters after addressing a seminar held by the Surabaya Institute of Technology here.
He refused to comment on an offer to lead the Democratic Party in October 2002.
One of Democratic Party founders, Bambang W. Soeharto, who is also a member of the National Commission on Human Rights and former member of Golkar Party, claimed on Thursday that Susilo was involved in the preparations of the new party.
According to Bambang, the party's backbone would comprise of academicians and Muslim clerics from various Islamic boarding schools. The party will be officially launched on May 12 with Asman Budi Santoso, former University of Indonesia rector named as chairman.
Bambang said during their congress in October, the party executives considered offering the chair to Susilo.
Susilo, a retired Army general, was one of five candidates who ran for vice president in the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly in July last year.
The Assembly elected the new vice president after incumbent Megawati Soekarnoputri was appointed President replacing Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, who was dismissed due to his erratic administration.
Aside from Susilo, the vice presidential candidates were Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar, former Golkar executive Siswono Yudohusodo, Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung and Hamzah Haz of the United Development Party (PPP). Hamzah came out the winner, thanks in part to support from Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).
"Many believe, especially my colleagues, that I failed because I didn't have any political vehicle, which is necessary from the ethical point of view to obtain certain political positions," Susilo recollected.
The Democratic Party could be the fourth new political party launched this year. Another party led by former PDI Perjuangan legislator Dimyati Hartono, the Indonesia -- Our Motherland Party (PITA) is to be officially launched in a few weeks.
The PPP of Reform, a splinter group of Muslim-based PPP, was launched in January and the Indonesian Islamic Party (PII) last Friday.