Susilo's exit made official

Susilo's exit made official

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri signed on Friday the decree
making official the departure of Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from the
Cabinet, ending their weeks-long rift.

State Secretary Bambang Kesowo, upon announcing the issuance
of Decree No. 36/M/2004, said the President had appointed
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno as the interim senior
security minister.

Bambang said the President "understands and appreciates"
Susilo's resignation and thanked him for his contributions to her
government.

"Along with the decree on his dismissal, the President
wrote a personal letter thanking Pak Yudhoyono for his hard work
during his term," Bambang said.

Another part of Megawati's letter that Bambang failed to
mention hints at her former minister's political ambitions.

"I understand that Bapak Susilo's political career still has a
long way to go," the letter reads.

Susilo, who was also dismissed from the Cabinet in 2001 by his
previous boss, former president Abdurrahman Wahid, is begin
tipped as the main opposition to Megawati in the country's first
ever direct presidential election on July 5.

Bambang said the President had appointed Hari interim security
minister because of his competence and knowledge of political and
security affairs.

"He is the most serious official among the ministers dealing
with political and security affairs. Based on this assessment,
the President believes he is capable of taking up the post,"
Bambang said.

Deputy State Secretary Erman Radjagukguk said Susilo was
pleased to hear Megawati's response to his resignation.

"That is great," Susilo was quoted by Erman as saying.