Wedding party of Sutiyoso's daughter

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso visited chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic organization Abdurrahman Wahid on Friday, at his office on Jl. Kramat in Central Jakarta, to deliver an invitation for the wedding of Sutiyoso's daughter.

Abdurrahman (popularly known as Gus Dur), who is also a presidential candidate for his National Awakening Party, told reporters that Sutiyoso just made a private visit.

"I just want to tell you that the governor merely asked my blessing for his daughter's wedding... that's all," Gus Dur said shortly before being "secured" by his media relations assistant Ratih Hardjono.

The meeting between Sutiyoso and Gus Dur lasted about half an hour.

The governor's eldest daughter, Yessi Riana Dilliyanti, is to marry her college friend Yogi Sandi Yudha on Nov. 9 at the Sasono Langen Budoyo building in Taman Mini recreational park in East Jakarta.

Sutiyoso, who has two daughters, tried to avoid reporters by hurriedly entering Gus Dur's office, before it was locked from outside by a Nahdlatul Ulama member.

Similar visits would also be made to other public figures, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Sutiyoso said.

"It is truly a private visit, there is no political reason behind it. Maybe I will also visit Mbak Mega (Megawati) but I haven't set the schedule.

"I hope she (Megawati) is willing to come to my daughter's wedding party," said Sutiyoso, who was the Jakarta military commander during the July 27, 1996, bloody takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party headquarters in Central Jakarta. Scores of Megawati's loyalists were killed in the incident. (ind)