Indonesia ATL: The Presidency of Try Sutrisno (1997-)

What Gore should do is say that voting for him would be like voting for Clinton and the economic success Clinton had; emphasize that, IMO, and Gore wins. If the scandals do come up, Gore should point out the Newt Gingrich/Henry Hyde/Bob Livingston scandals and say that nobody's perfect...
 
84: Getting Work Done Part 2
5th April 2000:
President Try Sutrisno met with Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo. Ari Sudewo reported that he has successfully consolidated control over all the other intelligence agencies in Indonesia and has begun setting up regional offices in the provinces.

Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Ketut Suranta issued a statement saying that he had formed a Supreme Court Honors’ Council to investigate the alleged Rp. 15,000 per levy which Sarwata had placed per case. This council will be headed by Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Mangkoedilaga. The statement also announced that Tommy Soeharto’s case will be heard in front of the Supreme Court starting next week.

7th April 2000:
Chairman of BP-7 Agus Widjojo and Governor came out of a meeting with the President saying that the latter had approved of combining the P4 Training Course with the National Vigilance Course. The National Vigilance Course, formerly managed by the Lemhanas, focused on ideological threats to Pancasila rather than Pancasila itself. Agus said that it’s important now to know not only the national ideology but also the threats to it.

Coming out of Friday Prayer at the DPR Building, Chairman of DPR Harmoko announced that he has formed a Special Committee to handle the Election Bill and later on the Status and Composition of the MPR, DPR, and DPRD Bill. The Special Committee will consist of 30 DPR members and will be chaired by Vice Chairman of DPR Hari Sabarno.

“I want to prioritize the passing of this bill so that the government has a maximum amount of time to prepare an election”, said Harmoko.

9th April 2000:
Try landed after lunchtime on a Sunday at Surabaya, East Java. Accompanied by a small delegation and welcomed by Governor Haris Sudarno, the President attended a small ceremony in the middle of a new toll road. There he inaugurated the following all at once:

*The Waru-Tanjung Perak Toll Road that leads to Surabaya’s Tanjung Perak Harbour
*The Paiton I and Paiton II Electricity Generators
*The 4th Building of Tunjungan Plaza in Surabaya

“I look forward to Surabaya being a center of economic activity this province and an engine of this nation’s economic activity” said Try as he read the keynote address.

While Try inspected the new toll road with the owner of the new toll road’s operator, which happened to be Bambang Trihatmodjo, Minister of Public Works Rachmat Witoelar and Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi took questions from the press.

“Do you think that there’s a contradiction between the President wanting to give equal economic opportunity for all Indonesians and inaugurating 2 electric generators owned by Tommy Soeharto and Hashim Djojohadikusumo as well as a toll road owned by Bambang Trihatmodjo?” asked a western journalist.

“No. Because we’ve managed to renegotiate the price at which the PLN buys electricity from Paiton I and II to one which will be fair to the PLN’s consumers”, replied Djiteng.

“These are existing projects which are already well under way and it would be bad form for the President to suddenly stop the projects”, said Rachmat “That said, as far as infrastructure is concerned we’ve very much opened ourselves to cooperation with the private sector and leveled the playing field. People who have in the past benefitted from special favors now have to play by the same rules as everybody else.”

10th April 2000:
At the Presidential Palace today, Try was accompanied by Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas State Minister of Regional Autonomy Oemarsono opened a work conference attended by the 27 provincial governors and 301 regents and mayors. The President gave the following directives to all those present:

*Take full advantage of the revenue share now available from natural resources while not neglecting to collect revenue from existing sources.

*Conduct deconcentration for the benefit of each respective region.

*Facilitate economic growth and investment in the regions through identifying trends in each region.

*All steps taken by a region must be in line with the national development plan.

After the opening session ended, Try met with the governors, regents, and mayors of Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Aceh, Irian Jaya, and East Timor for a more private meeting. Try’s additional instructions for the 5 Special Administrative Regions is for all the provisions in each of the 5 Special Administrative Regions law to be fulfilled well so that there would be no more questions about Indonesia's worthiness "to have these provinces as part of our great nation”.

11th April 2000:
Things became a bit tense at the first session of the DPR’s Special Committee on the Election Bills. Golkar DPR Member Marzuki Darusman praised the bill for “strengthening our political system through continuous improvement”and that “The Minister of Home Affairs no longer doubling as the head of the agency in charge of holding the election is a necessary step to avoid a possible conflict of interest.”

Golkar DPR member Ary Mardjono on the other hand criticized the bill. He said that the bill will “weaken” the links between ABRI and Golkar more broadly. More specifically, he said, this bill weakens ABRI’s Dual Function. By being neutral, ABRI could not “fulfill its Dual Function, which also includes a socio-political role.”

Ary Mardjono did not stop there, saying that this bill was just another sign of the government’s failure to continue “what had worked”. He pointed out for example that Indonesia was at that point not self-sufficient in rice.

To the amazement of the PPP, PDI, and ABRI DPR members, an argument quickly erupted between the Golkar members and Hari Sabarno had to bang the gavel to a close.

At the Domestic Terminal of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the President and Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja inspected aircrafts belonging to Lion Air and Sriwijaya Air, two new private airlines which has received permits to operate since the deregulation of the airline industry the previous July.

12th April 2000:
The President and First Lady Tuti Setiawati today welcomed the arrival of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India at the Presidential Palace. After a welcoming ceremony, Try and Vajpayee had talks accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita and India’s Minister of External Affairs Jaswant Singh. The following were discussed.

Vajpayee thanked Try for Indonesia’s support during the Kargil War and for not cutting off aid and cooperation when India launched its nuclear weapon in 1998. The two got talking about China. Both agreed that though China supported India during the Kargil War and supported Indonesia over the settlement of East Timor, China is still the main strategic threat.

“This is is why we think it’s in Indonesia’s interest to have a strong India and in India’s interest to have a strong Indonesia”, said Ginandjar.

After Vajpayee had gone on to meet with members of the Indonesian business community in the afternoon, he returned to the Presidential Palace for a dinner hosted by Try.

13th April 2000:
Try, accompanied by Ginandjar Kartasmita and Minister of Trade Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti met with Vajpayee, Singh, and Minister of Commerce and Industry Murasoli Maran discussed trade issues. The Indians said that Indonesia could always count on textile imports from India however they expressed disappointment that they could no longer import crude palm oil from Indonesia. They tried to sell the idea that Indonesia could have a large market in India for palm oil.

An agreement to promote trade and investment in each other’s countries was concluded and signed by Dorodjatun and Maran. Ginandjar and Singh also signed an agreement to create an Indonesia-India Friendship Association to foster people-to-people ties.

As it was close to the Palace, Try and Vajpayee made a surprise appearance at Pasar Baru Market. Vajpayee chatted happily with the Indian-Indonesian merchants there. In the afternoon, Vajpayee called on Try for the final time before departing for Malaysia.

There were some things he could take away from the visit but Try had to agree with the sentiments he encountered during the visit to Myanmar about feeling that they had to choose between India and China. Try felt that just because Indonesia considered China a threat doesn’t mean that it should have to automatically fall in with other nations that saw China as a threat. That would be limiting Indonesia’s options.

14th April 2000:
The President had one of his Friday Prayer followed by lunch session with Harmoko. They discussed the bills presently in the DPR including the election bills.

“In addition to the Election Bill and the Composition and Status of the MPR, DPR, and DPRD Bill, are there any other bills related to the election you might want the DPR to consider, Mr. President?” asked Harmoko.

“What has the Minister of Home Affairs been telling you?”, asked Try looking annoyed.

“He told me that he's prepared a new Political Parties and Golkar Bill but that you wouldn’t consider submitting it to the DPR”, replied Harmoko.

“The bill proposed the formation of new political parties and I'm not in favor of it if that’s what you’re asking, Mr. Chairman”, said Try “The three we have now are just fine.”

16th April 2000:
A bad cough kept Try away from the Founding of Kopassus Anniversary celebrations, an event that was filled with enough intrigue as it was.

*Ari Sudewo found himself chatting with DPR Member Basofi Sudirman. Basofi pointedly asked Ari what was the goal of Operation Lifeboat and said that there was a growing consensus within Operation Lifeboat members that Golkar being led by a Chairwoman hostile to the President, that Operation Lifeboat should be converted into a political party. Ari smiled enigmatically and told Basofi to be ready because “events are playing themselves out as we speak”.

*Prabowo Subianto attracted the most attention. He was seen chatting amiably to ABRI Chief of Socio-Political Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Inspector General of Kopassus Col. Pramono Edhie Wibowo.

Prabowo also came over to ABRI Chief of General Staff Luhut Panjaitan. Prabowo sarcastically thanked Luhut for “cleaning up Kopassus” to which Luhut replied that Prabowo has played a dangerous game with the kidnappings initiated by Team Rose.

*Commander of ABRI Wiranto nodded to Prabowo from a distance but stayed away, accompanied by his allies Deputy Army Chief of Staff Djamari Chaniago and Commander of Kostrad Djaja Suparman.

*Army Chief of Staff Agum Gumelar was all smiles as the press asked him for comments. Agum said that he’s done as Army Chief of Staff whenever the President says he’s done and said that the only thing that was for certain was that this was his last Kopassus Anniversary celebration.

17th April 2000:
The President had a working lunch with Ginandjar Kartasasmita. The latter briefed him on some of the recent developments in foreign affairs:

*In Taiwan, James Soong was elected President of Taiwan in the island’s election in mid-March 2000. Soong will assume office in May 2000 and is seen to be friendly towards the mainland.

*In Japan, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi suffered a stroke on 1st April 2000. Seeing that he was not going to recover, his cabinet resigned en masse to end his government. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party voted Koichi Kato as the new leader of the LDP and the new Prime Minister of Japan. Kato is seen as a reformer and is more friendly towards China.

*In Thailand, after an election with no clear majority, Thaksin Shinawatra had emerged as the new Prime Minister of Thailand.

18th April 2000:
Minister of Manpower and Small Business Fahmi Idris came out of a meeting with the President saying that he had been instructed to conduct a review of the 1997 Manpower Law. This law was passed in the final weeks of Soeharto’s presidency and then revelations emerged that the then Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief had bribed DPR members to pass the law, using funds from the social insurance fund.

Tommy Soeharto has his Bulog Landswap case heard in front of the Supreme Court for the first time.

19th April 2000:
The President, accompanied by Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo and Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, today opened the Inacraft exhibition in Jakarta, handicraft exhibition. In his keynote speech Try pointed out that Indonesia’s handicraft exports in 1999 was worth $400 million. This was not only because Indonesian handicrafts have competitive prices but also because Indonesia is stable politically. He called on the industry and relevant government departments to increase that export to value to $1 billion.

20th April 2000:
As the nation began to wind down for the Good Friday long weekend, Wiranto sat down for an interview with the TVRI’s Yan Partawijaya.

Yan Partawijaya (YP): It was probably something of a surprise when the Minister of Home Affairs introduced the Elections Bill to the DPR and then to hear the proposal that ABRI members are to maintain neutrality during the election. What are your thoughts on that?

Wiranto (W): Well first of all the preparation of the bill was conducted by a Team of 7 chaired by the Minister of Home Affairs and ABRI was represented by the Chief of Socio-Political Affairs Staff Lt. Gen. Bambang Yudhoyono. Lt. Gen. Bambang kept me in the loop, I sought permission from the President to give my input for the Elections Bill, I got it, and that’s why that proposal has been offered.

Secondly, it’s not a new thing for ABRI to be neutral during elections. It’s just that in the past how neutral or how interventionist ABRI was has been at the discretion of the Commander of ABRI. It hasn’t been made a legal requirement.

YP: In the DPR recently, there was the comment that ABRI could not adequately fulfill the Dual Function if it was to be neutral at the next elections.

W: I don’t think so. I think that ABRI continues to maintain Dual Function. It has a social-political role to play as manifested in our officers being present in the government, the DPR, the state-owned enterprises, and other roles where our assistance are required. Most importantly it has a socio-political stance; namely that President Try Sutrisno is constitutionally the Supreme Commander of ABRI and that we will support him until the end of his present term and will tolerate any effort that stops the progress of his government.

On the other hand, while being loyal to the present president, there are some realities that ABRI had to adapt itself to. When power transitioned from President Soekarno to President Soeharto, that transition was straightforward for ABRI because it was clear that Gen. Soeharto would be the president. When power transitioned from President Soeharto to President Try, things became complicated because there was the 1998 MPR Session where we had 4 Presidential candidates.

We learned from this situation that outwardly, we had to maintain neutrality because the odds were high that someone else could’ve been the president and because we had to be loyal to whoever that president will be because that’s our constitutional obligation. The change here is that ABRI needs to be loyal to the institutions rather than personalities.

YP: In other words, you don’t agree with the characterization that ABRI would not be fulfilling Dual Function if it remained neutral at the next elections?

W: I don’t agree with it at all. We’re not throwing aside Dual Function, we’re refining it.

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Stats on handicraft comes are based on OTL numbers but adjusted to $400 million to reflect the better situation the Indonesian economy is in https://katadata.co.id/berita/2019/...okowi-minta-ekspor-produk-kerajinan-meningkat

Just wanted to give Wiranto a moment in the spotlight. ITTL Wiranto has outlasted his OTL counterpart by 5 months. He’s nowhere near as powerful and/or influential as his OTL version because in a meeting with Try, Edi Sudrajat, Wismoyo Arismunandar, Ari Sudewo etc., Wiranto is invariably the most junior person in the room so he tends to keep quiet though he has some clear ideas on the political issues.
 
Certain Individuals Circa April 2000
Certain Individuals Circa April 2000:
Liem Sioe Liong and Anthony Salim:

Salim Group not only survived the Asian Financial Crisis, they grew stronger. Their BCA bank, though having had to endure a rush in November 1997, grew strong even while other private banks have had to struggle with the crisis and then with the requirement to repay the BLBI assistance.

Politically they made a smooth transition from Soeharto to Try. For Anthony, supporting Try was natural. He was in favor of Try’s re-election as vice president before Soeharto died and supporting Try as president was a logical next step. For Liem, it was a matter of adapting and building close relations with the present president though it occasionally felt as though he was "betraying" Soeharto in the latter's death. Father and son alike courted the government’s goodwill by helping to facilitate a meeting with the BLBI recipients at the Prasetiya Mulya Business School in September 1998 so that a repayment scheme could be agreed upon.

Liem and Anthony till maintained his ties with the Soeharto children though Anthony has refused offers of business cooperation with them since 1998. At present, Anthony is preparing BCA for an initial public offering (IPO) set for mid-2000. Though the IPO is meant to raise funds from the public, astute observers have noted that an IPO would mean that Tutut and Sigit’s shares in BCA would become diluted (ie. the more shares issued by BCA for the public to buy, the less ownership Tutut and Sigit would have).

Michael Bambang and Robert Budi Hartono, Putera Sampoerna, and Rachman Halim:
These businessmen are cigarette conglomerates, owners of Djarum (The Hartono Brothers), HM Sampoerna (Putera Sampoerna), and Gudang Garam (Rachman Halim) respectively. Together, they achieved something quite rare during the first few years of Try’s presidency: successfully appealing for a government policy not to apply on them.

In this instance, the proposed government policy was an increase in the cigarette excise as part of the 1999/2000 Draft Budget. The businessmen made their appeals through Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo and the then Minister of Manpower and Small Business Oetojo Oesman saying that the economy had not recovered yet and an increase in cigarette excise would discourage people from buying cigarettes which could lead to cigarette factory workers having to be laid off. The solution that was achieved was that cigarette excise increases would be delayed but that cigarette packets would now have to have health warnings on it. The Hartono Brothers, Putera Sampoerna, and Rachman Halim all agreed to this offer.

The three groups of cigarette businessmen advised those who would listen that the government is more inclined to listen if it can be shown that the request can benefit others in the industry or in the economy more broadly. A request that only benefits one’s company will be seen as a request for special favors and rejected.

Ciputra:
The Asian Financial Crisis had hit the construction sector the hardest and property developers, not least Ciputra struggled through it. Working hard through 1998 and 1999 to manage his crisis-ridden property development conglomerate and establish a BLBI repayment plan, Ciputra marked the beginning of 2000 by resuming construction of a mixed use project at Jakarta’s Dr. Satrio Road.

Jakob Oetama:
Though best known as the owner of widely-read newspaper Kompas, Jakob Oetama took his Kompas Gramedia Group deep into the hotel industry. With the tourism industry booming, Jakob poured money into building more of his Santika hotels across Indonesia’s largest cities as well as entering the budget hotel industry with its Amaris hotels. As a prominent domestic investor, the Department of Tourism and the BKPM were more than happy to help Kompas Gramedia navigate the bureaucratic jungle and set up its hotels around the country.

Goenawan Mohamad:
The founder of Tempo Magazine has told colleagues that he maintains a “healthy skepticism” towards Try Sutrisno’s government even as he acknowledged that Try had been successful in taking the nation out of the crisis. Though the government had not closed down the Tempo Magazine online website, Goenawan would tell colleagues that “Soeharto wasn’t closing down newspapers and magazines too the first few years he was in charge and we all know how he turned out”. That Chairman of DPR Harmoko and State Minister of Arts and Culture Subrata, who were the Minister of Information and Director General of the Press during Tempo’s cancellation of publication in 1994, are part of the Try regime are even more reasons why Goenawan has not become a supporter of the new government.

Suryadharma Ali:
December 1999 saw Hero Supermarket won SWA Business magazine’s Excellence Award. The award was accepted by Hero’s new Chief Operating Officer Suryadharma Ali. Suryadharma said that while hard work was important, luck has played its role too. As a supermarket, Hero sold goods that people need in their daily lives and that’s how it managed to ride out the economic crisis.

Rano Karno:
The impact of the Asian Financial Crisis on Rano Karno’s Si Doel Anak Sekolahan TV series was the few weeks that he worried where he was going to get financing from. He considered a shortened fourth season but the economy stabilized enough for the wildly popular series to carry on strongly. By early 2000, however, he was suffering from creative burnout and was ready to end his much-loved television series.

Setya Novanto:
Setya had a close friend in the inner circle of power in the form of Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman who happened to be his classmate from high school. He was keen to capitalize on this connection so that he could gain access to the President. Knowing how the President functioned regarding businessmen, Hayono was able to keep his friend at bay. But Setya was a man with plenty of ideas. He took part in Operation Lifeboat, identifying himself as a Golkar member who supported Try rather than Tutut, and regularly donated the most money to the Jakarta Branch of Operation Lifeboat. Setya has his eyes on a DPR seat in 2002 and believes that eventually he will get into the President’s radar.

Tomy Winata:
Another person with close connection to power is Tomy Winata, the Owner of Artha Graha Group. Tomy was close to State Secretary Edi Sudrajat. It was to Tomy’s, and President Try’s, luck that he was not among those who received BLBI assistance. This meant that the President can claim that he had no “cronies” who is putting a burden on state finances. On the contrary, prior to Try’s assumption of office, Tomy was asked by Bank Indonesia, then led by Soedradjad Djiwandono, to take over Bank Arta Pratama in 1997. Within a year of Tom’s takeover, Bank Arta Pratama was declared to be healthy by Bank Indonesia.

Tomy is a person who is never short of visitors wanting to ask for his help to get their projects proposal delivered to Edi and by definition the President. Tomy would tell his visitors not to bother asking for special favors because the only favor he got from Edi was a guarantee that the President would be there to inaugurate Tomy’s SCBD Project in Jakarta.

Gita Wirjawan:
The Director of Corporate Finance at PT Bahana Securities, the state-owned securities company, 34-year old Gita Wirjawan was set to depart for 1 year Masters Degree program at Harvard in May 1999. As luck would have it, he presented a report on the Jakarta Stock Exchange’s prospects in 1999 in front of Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad and Junior Minister of Finance Marzuki Usman. Both officials were wowed by Gita’s English-speaking ability and approached him after the presentation saying that his tuition will be paid for by the government provided that he return immediately to Indonesia after his program at Harvard was over. Gita agreed and will return to Indonesia in May 2000 though what position he will take has not been specified yet.

Baharuddin Lopa:
Formerly the Director General of Prisons (1988-1995), Lopa was summoned out of retirement by newly appointed Minister of Legal Affairs Albert Hasibuan in 1998. Lopa was appointed by Hasibuan as Secretary of the Department of Legal Affairs, making him the top bureaucrat in the department. He agrees with Hasibuan’s vision that the courts, starting from the Supreme Court, have to be reformed but believes even more that the important goal of the government in the field of legal affairs is fighting corruption.
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A collection of individuals, some having had appearances in the main updates and some haven’t.

Setya Novanto and Tomy Winata here is as close as Try’s government gets to having “cronies” though even then Try has Hayono Isman and Edi Sudrajat acting as buffers.

Ciputra is representative of those business ventures that got delayed because of the Asian Financial Crisis and its aftermath. OTL, he only began working on Ciputra World again in 2005-2007. ITTL, he could start beginning to work again much more quickly due to better handling of the crisis by the government. For the Jakartans reading this thread, this means we'll be getting some malls earlier than in OTL.

I highlighted Suryadharma Ali, OTL SBY’s Minister of Religious Affairs who got caught up in a corruption case, to represent those who probably wouldn’t have entered politics without Reformasi. His profile on Wikipedia states that he was a Deputy Director at Hero Supermarket at the time he ran for DPR in 1999. Without the political turbulence, I wonder if his chance of becoming a politician lessened. Aside Suryadharma, Hatta Rajasa was another one who was already comfortably off (He owns a drilling operator company) before entering politics and becoming a DPR member 1999. Some like Setnov was probably destined for a political career regardless of what happened but perhaps not so much or others.

Wanted to highlight Lopa as well to show that he's around. It's only just the case that he's moving around off-screen.
 
The World Circa April 2000
The World Circa April 2000

Malaysia:
Though his majority had become smaller in the 1999 Elections, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi could say that he had had a lucky year in 1999. The Malaysian economy was beginning to grow again with a growth rate of 4%, part of that due to Malaysia benefitting from good crude palm oil prices and the fact that Malaysia could have a larger market share as a result of a palm oil export ban put in place by Indonesia.

Badawi is ambiguous towards supporting the Filipino Government’s campaign against the secessionists at Mindanao. Not only did he and Estrada not really get along after the latter openly expressed support for Anwar Ibrahim, it didn’t look right for a Muslim-majority country to be supporting a campaign by a Catholic-dominated country against Muslims.

Philippines:
By February Islamist groups such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Abu Sayyaf were conducting terrorist attacks in the Philippines’ Mindanao Province. In February, President Joseph Estrada began to conduct military operations against rebels and radicals. By the end of March, Estrada had given the military operations the status of “all-out war”. Try Sutrisno immediately gave firm support for this course of action.

Other than Goh Chok Tong, Estrada was rapidly becoming the ASEAN leader with whom Try had the closest personal relationship with. It was a measure of this growing closeness that in April 2000, Estrada named his close associate Luis Singson, who presently held office as Governor of Ilocos Sur, as the new Filipino Ambassador to Indonesia.

Thailand:
When Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai had his appeal for leniency in implementing IMF terms thrown back at him by IMF Managing Director Michel Camdessus, he threw caution to the wind. In February 2000, with the Thai economy having not yet fully recovered, he followed Indonesia’s road and asked that Thailand “Graduate” from the IMF’s programs. This request was granted on account of Thailand’s compliance with the IMF program and the fact that internal economic analysis showed that Thailand was due for recovery.

Then within days of having the request to exit the IMF program approved, Chuan called a snap election. It was a decision he hoped would be advantageous for him. Much like Badawi in 1999, Chuan sought to put a stop to the growing popularity of Opposition Leader Thaksin Shinawatra and the Thai Rak Thai Party before reaching its peak months down the track.

During the campaign, Chuan spoke about the relationship he had with ASEAN’s nations and leaders, most notably Indonesia and Try Sutrisno. Thaksin decided to disprove that, making an incognito visit to Cambodia in March 2000 when Try was visiting and having a meeting on the President of Indonesia himself at his hotel. Thaksin came out of the meeting all smiles.

Diplomatic circles in Thailand would whisper that Thaksin had now gotten “Jakarta’s blessing”, a signal that Try would be all right with a change of government in Thailand. Chuan could no longer attack Thaksin as someone who did not have a relationship with ASEAN leaders.

On 9th April 2000, Thailand held its election. With 500 seats on the line, the results were as follows:

Thai Rak Thai (Thaksin Shinawatra’s party): 193
Democrat Party (Chuan Leekpai): 177
Thai Nation Party: 42
New Development Party (Chuan’s coalition partner): 36
New Aspiration Party (Thaksin’s coalition partner): 34
Others: 16

Though he himself had no majority, Thaksin cobbled together a coalition comprising of Thai Rak Thai, the New Aspiration Party, and the Thai Nation Party. With a total of 270 seats, Thaksin commands the majority and thus becomes Thailand’s Prime Minister.

Taiwan:
In the race for the Taiwan Presidency, Kuomintang’s James Soong was joined by former Mayor of Taipei Chen Sui Bian from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). On Election Day, James Soong, who favored closer ties with the mainland, emerged victorious with 58% of the votes over Chen’s 41% of the votes. Soong, who favors closer ties with the mainland, will assume office in May 2000.

Japan:
Disappointed as he was that Indonesia were not able to throw its and ASEAN’s support behind Japan’s IMF Managing Director candidate, it was still the belief of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi that a strong Indonesia was in Japan’s interest. On 1st April 2000, Obuchi was struck down by a stroke. When Obuchi slipped into a coma, the cabinet resigned as the means to bring Obuchi’s government to an end.

A scramble for the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership ensued. In the ensuing vote, reformist Koichi Kato overcame Yoshiro Mori and emerged as the new leader of the LDP and therefore Japan’s Prime Minister. On his rise, Kato assured LDP’s coalition partners that the LDP’s coalition would continue despite being a critic of Obuchi for building a coalition with other parties in the Diet. He has until October 2000 to hold an election.

“From a foreign policy perspective, this puts one of the LDP’s most pro-China politicians as prime minister”, reported Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

Australia:
Peter Costello’s private holiday turned visit to Try Sutrisno in Christmas 1999 was an assertion by the Treasurer in the field of foreign policy and a sign that he fully expected to be prime minister in 2000. Costello would justify it by saying that Indonesia needed Australia’s support as it did in the crucial days of late 1997-1998. Prime Minister John Howard, who had already promised to hand over power once the GST was in place, did not like this.

In March 2000 the Cabinet met to discuss developments from Indonesia where Try Sutrisno had announced in front of his officer corps that he would increase spending on defense. The strongest voice of suspicion against Indonesia’s intentions came from Minister for Employment and Small Business Peter Reith. Howard took notice of this and began to wonder if the worthy heir to the Australian prime ministership was Reith.

“In summary, it is in Australia’s interest that Indonesia gets out of the Asian Financial Crisis but it’s not in Australia’s interest if Indonesia were to start arming itself”, said Howard summing up the argument.

Austria:
When Austria held its Legislative Elections on 3rd October 1999, there was no clear winner. A prolonged negotiation ensued lasting 4 months. Incumbent Chancellor Viktor Klima of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) called on other members of the European Union to put diplomatic pressure on the other political parties in the hopes of keeping the right wing populist Freedom Party (FPO) and its leader Jorg Haider from power.

As it were, the FPO formed a coalition with the Austrian People’s Party (OVP). But the resistance against Haider becoming chancellor both from within and outside of Austria was too much. It fell to the OVP’s Wolfgang Schussel, even though his party came third, to assume office as Chancellor of Austria. The presence of Haider, who had made anti-immigration and anti-Muslim comments, in the coalition however was enough for the other 14 EU Nations to freeze bilateral relations with Austria.

The freezing of bilateral relations galvanized anti-EU sentiments in Austria. This suited Russia’s Primakov just fine, using his visit to Vienna in April 2000 to build closer ties with Austria and draw it into Russia’s orbit.

When the itinerary for President Try’s May 2000 Western Europe trip was being formulated, there was a debate about whether or not Austria should be included because of Haider’s anti-Islamic sentiments. The decision was finally made to include Austria. Firstly because being under sanctions, it’s more likely to get a trade and/or investment deal from Austria. And secondly, because there was money worth $9 billion which arrived in Austria from Switzerland two years prior which might rightfully belong to Indonesia.

Russia:
Russia held its Legislative Elections on 19th December 1999 for the Duma’s 450 seats. As the dust settled, it was Fatherland-All Russia which gained the most seats with 182. It did not hurt Fatherland-All Russia that it was the home of Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, seen as the architect of Russia’s economic recovery.

The results of the election did one thing, it cemented Primakov’s status and power in Russian politics. President Boris Yeltsin, ailing and with his term due to expire in August 2000, was increasingly sidelined. After Fatherland-All Russia’s success in the Legislative Elections, Yeltsin contemplated resigning as president on New Year’s Eve and handing over power to Primakov but decided against it. There was still insecurity on Yeltsin’s part because Primakov was not a successor of his choosing.

In February 2000 it emerged that the reason Yeltsin was still reluctant about letting go of power was because he was afraid of prosecution. Through Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Yeltsin conveyed to Primakov a request that he did not want to be prosecuted after he left office. Primakov was willing to give this guarantee.

The nation geared up for a Presidential Election scheduled for June 2000 though it was difficult to see anyone but Primakov emerging as the winner. With Yeltsin settling into what was in effect lame duck status, Primakov increasingly put his stamp on the governance of Russia in particular in foreign policy. Primakov spoke of closer relations with China and India. In an effort to counter NATO and the EU’s influence, visited Austria in April 2000. More broadly, Primakov spoke of a multipolar world order that would not be dominated by a single superpower.

Primakov’s posturing was to have an effect on another political race going on…

United States:
With less than a year to go until the end of his presidency, President Bill Clinton’s legacy on the domestic front was secure. He had presided over economic prosperity and budget surpluses and “welfare as we know it” even with the taint of the Lewinsky Scandal. In foreign policy, the legacy seemed a bit shaky. The end of his presidency would end, it seem, with the rise of Primakov and with Russia posturing once again to challenge US dominance.

While Clinton grappled with the final months of his presidency, the race for the White House was definitely on with the first months of 2000 being the Primary season as both the Democratic and Republican Party alike sought to choose who will be their nominees for the Election in November 2000. On the Democratic side of things, Vice President Al Gore, unashamedly campaigning on the record of the past 8 years faced a challenge by Senator Bill Bradley.

The Republican side of things was more complicated. Though Governor of Texas George W. Bush had initially been the frontrunner and the establishment favorite, by the time the Primary Season came around the dynamics had changed. Bush’s campaign platform had been largely domestic with little interest in foreign policy. The emergence of Primakov as the frontrunner in the Russian Presidential Race added a foreign policy dimension to the Republican Primaries.

This suited Senator John McCain, the other Republican frontrunner and someone who had an interest in foreign and defense issues, just fine. The month between Fatherland-All Russia’s victory in the Russian Legislative Elections and the beginning of the Republican Primaries marked the point where McCain edged ahead in the opinion polls.

By the beginning of March, the Democratic Party already had a nominee in waiting in Al Gore who saw off the challenge of Bill Bradley. By early April, the Republican nomination still hung in the balance. Bush, expecting a fight, mobilized evangelical conservatives and his campaign team had even spread smears about McCain. McCain was temporarily flustered by rumors that he fathered a black child but as long as Primakov and foreign policy remained an area of focus, he still had a chance.

---
Butterflies flapping their wings all over the world. Malaysia (politically and economically) and Australia (politically) are on a different trajectory than their OTL counterpart. For the most part, these are just things happening in OTL merging into ITTL. For example, Keizo Obuchi has stroke, falls into a coma, and is removed as prime minister OTL but it's Yoshiro Mori rather than Koichi Kato that becomes the new prime minister.

In the case of Russia, the flapping of the wings are now cross-pollinating with each other. Primakov continuing to be a prominent player in Russian politics gives an added foreign policy dimension in the race for the White House. Gore is okay with foreign policy. Bush, not so much. Which is why he hasn't shaken of McCain.
 
85: The Possibility Of More Political Parties
23rd April 2000:
President Try Sutrisno hastily convened a meeting close to midnight attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Tanto Kuswanto, Commander of ABRI Wiranto, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo, Navy Chief of Staff Indroko Sastrowiryono, and Chief of ABRI Intelligence Ian Santoso Perdanakusuma.

The topic of a meeting was a kidnapping at Sipadan Island which took 21 people into hostage. Ian Santoso reported that in all likelihood the kidnappers are Abu Sayyaf. Indroko reported that Indonesian Navy ships did not pick up the kidnappers because their resources were not focused on Sipadan.

Try placed a call to Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Badawi to say that Indonesia stands Malaysia during this crisis but also urging Badawi to commit to fighting radicalism in Southeast Asia. Badawi thanked Try for the support.

24th April 2000:
The President held a meeting with Vice President JB Sumarlin, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Trade Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, and Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu. The meeting discussed the President’s upcoming trip to Western Europe to look for investment and export markets in light of the US’ attempts to soft land its economy through interest rate rises.

Try asked if there were any other investment and export markets that the government could direct attention to other than Western Europe. Dorodjatun said perhaps South America but Brazil and Argentina were still struggling with their own financial crises.

The DPR passed amendments to the Central Bank Law. The new amendments changed the organizational structure to have a Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank as the second person in charge at Bank Indonesia.

25th April 2000:
In a joint press conference, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Head of Bulog I Gede Awet Sara, and Head of BPKP Sjahruddin Rasul announced that Bulog had successfully consolidated itself from having 117 bank accounts of 9 bank accounts. This is a significant improvement for Bulog considering its reputation for corruption. Sjahruddin said that with this consolidation, it is easier for the movement of funds in Bulog to be traced.

26th April 2000:
At the DPR, the focus of the Special Committee on Election Bills shifted to the Composition and Status of the MPR, DPR, and DPRD Bill. Minister of Home Afairs Harsudiono Hartas was present to explain the bill which had the following features:

DPR and DPRD:
*The DPR to consist of 500 members: 425 elected members and 75 appointed ABRI members (same as present)
*The DPRD to consist of between 40 and 100 members depending on the population size of the province or the regency (same as present).
*The chairman and vice chairmen of the DPR (D) to be elected via voting. If there is only one candidate they are declared elected by acclamation.

MPR:
*The MPR to consist of 1000 delegates. 500 of which will be DPR members.
*The Regional Delegates to consist of 5 delegates per province depending on population. Total 135 Delegates.
*The ABRI Delegates to consist of the 75 ABRI DPR members plus 50% (38). Total 113 delegates.
*The political parties and Golkar will receive extra delegates based on the amount of votes received during the elections.
*The leftover seats will be allocated to the Group Delegates representing various elements of society.

The above provisions will be the same as present. The following however will be new provisions.

*The Regional Delegates to be elected by the Provincial DPRD elected at the next election with 80% of the votes required.
*The Groups Delegation to be elected by the DPR prior to the end of its term with 80% of the votes required.

27th April 2000:
At a press conference held at lunchtime, Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto made the announcement that there will be a Golkar National Work Meeting held between 8th and 11th June 2000. When asked whether she had consulted with the President, Tutut said that she received her mandate as chairwoman from the Golkar National Congress not from the President. Thus she has acted on her own initiative.

The members of the media at the State Secretariat faced a fuming Edi Sudrajat as he walked out of his office at the end of the day.

“It’s such a great regret that for every day of her 18 month tenure, the Chairwoman of Golkar has spent more of her time trying to block the President’s programs and undermine the President’s priorities”, Edi said “When she tries to actually do her job, we see Golkar members punching up with with each other. Doesn’t all this show that she’s incompetent?”


28th April 2000:
Yusril Ihza Mahendra today came to the defense of Tutut saying that much of her work to build support for Golkar across the nation has been quiet and not been in the spotlight like the President’s. Yusril says that the President should remember that Tutut has the mandate of the National Congress and that the President should respect that mandate.

The President met with Chairman of DPR Harmoko who was escorting his counterpart from Vietnam, Chairman of National Assembly Nong Duc Manh who was on a visit to Indonesia. Try and Nong talked about various issues. Nong expressed his concern that Vietnam was drifting too close to China but added that in less than a year the Vietnamese Communist Party Congress will be held and General Secretary Le Kha Phieu will have account for bringing Vietnam too close to China.

“Sometimes the worst political enemies are inside our own parties rather than outside of it, Mr. President”, said Nong making Try laugh out loud.

1st May 2000:
The President and a small delegation today touched down at Semarang, Central Java in the morning. They were welcomed by Governor M. Ma’ruf and Commander of the Central Java Regional Military Command Endriartono Sutarto.

The delegation headed south, stopping by at Ungaran to pay their respects at National Hero at Gatot Subroto’s tomb.

Their major stop for the day was Boyolali. Try started off at the paddy fields where the farmers were harvesting away at their crops. When the smalltime farmers saw Try, they politely but firmly called on him to stop rice imports because that will force them to sell rice at a lower price. Try replied that that would not be responsible because others would starve and explained that considering rice production hadn’t improved to full capacity after the crisis and that there’s an export ban in place on rice, they can still afford to sell rice above the floor price because there’s no cheaper imported rice coming in rom overseas.

“That’s weird, because Governor Prabowo’s people were telling us that if our incomes were being depressed, it was because the central government was importing rice, we didn’t know there was even an export ban in place”, the farmer said.

Try shook his head at the misinformation. He talked to some of the people at the field there and heard stories about those who had been construction workers in Jakarta and who had returned to Boyolali because of better job prospects there. They asked what are the employment prospects in Jakarta these days, Try told them to consider trying their luck in Semarang or Yogyakarta or if they want a big city, Surabaya. Some half-jokingly complained that Try should focus on building rural areas instead of fixing sidewalks in Jakarta.

Try got to see some of the shops selling fresh milk. He had to admit Prabowo did his homework on roads because milk-sellers could sell their product all around Central Java. At the same time, he felt that rather than just milk, places like Boyolali could sell cheese, yoghurt, and other dairy products.

From Boyolali, the President and his delegation departed for Solo. As he Presidential car travelled, Try looked at some of the Golkar Billboards.

“Today we’ve seen a lot of Golkar billboards”, said Try “There’s something wrong with them but I can’t put my finger on it.”

Ma’ruf and Endriartono looked at each other nervously. Edi Sudrajat, however, was more forthright.

“You’re no longer on it, Mr. President”, he said.

“It’s been like this for 2 weeks now”, said Ma’ruf “The Golkar Central Java Provincial Branch has apparently decided to take your face off the Golkar billboards in Yogyakarta.”

The Presidential delegation arrived at Solo where they rested and spent the night.

2nd May 2000:
After making a surprise appearance at a local junior high school’s National Educational Day Celebrations (“Stay in school, kids”), Try inspected a military barrack belonging to Kopassus’ Group 2. Though he was pleased to see that the barracks has been refurbished as part of the Stimulus Package in 1998, the President was displeased when he saw expensive televisions in the barracks. He was even more displeased when he found out that that television was donated by the “previous Governor of Central Java”. Try ordered the televisions confiscated.

As he boarded the Presidential Airplane he asked Edi what he thought of Central Java under Prabowo. Edi said that Prabowo prioritized infrastructure and had infrastructure projects going on around national projects to maximize its impact and that makes him smart. At the same time, it seemed to be the case that Prabowo was undermining the central government’s authority and that made him a bad governor.

It was mid-afternoon when Try and his delegation landed at Pekanbaru, Riau; the other province that had until recently had been in hostile hands. He was welcomed by Governor of Riau Dunidja and Commander of the Northern Sumatra Regional Military Command Endang Suwarya.

After looking at the economic activity at Pekanbaru, Try and his delegation ate dinner with local Riaunese elders at the gubernatorial residence. The elders asked that Riau should have authority over Batam and Bintan Islands instead of it being controlled by the central government. They also said that Riau had a lot of potential in terms of crude palm oil but they couldn’t export because of there being an export ban on palm oil all the while Malaysia is benefitting from Indonesia not exporting palm oil.

Try responded by saying that Batam and Bintan are special projects of the central government. He promises to review the policy on palm oil exports. He also asked for more time for Riau to feel the effects of the extra revenue they are getting from natural resources.

3rd May 2000:
Supreme Court Judge Benjamin Mangkoedilaga announced that the Supreme Court’s investigation into Chief Justice of Supreme Court Sarwata’s Rp. 15,000 levy has been completed. Says that Sarwata has 30 days to conduct a self-defense.

In the presence of Try and Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong, Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi and Minister for Industry and Trade George Yeo sign an agreement which will see Indonesia provide LNG to Singapore via a pipeline that runs from Natuna Island.

After the signing ceremony Try and Goh met to discuss the latest developments. Goh agrees with Try’s assessment that Kato’s rise to Prime Minister of Japan and Soong’s election as President of Taiwan tends to benefit China. The meeting ended with Try congratulating new Minister for Foreign Affairs Lee Hsien Loong on his new appointment.

From there, Try and his delegation flew from Pekanbaru to Jakarta.

4th May 2000:
The President met with Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar. Wismoyo reported the following:
*All 83 of the Army’s battalions are now equipped with Pindad Rifles
*The purchase and delivery of 100 Scorpion Tanks of the Army are now completed
*9 Hawk Jets have been delivered and are now part of the Air Force
*A ferry ship is being converted into a Navy personnel carrier in South Korea
*4 Patrol Ships by PT PAL has now been commissioned.

Try asked Wismoyo how “his niece” was. Wismoyo said the President should seriously consider removing Tutut as the Chairwoman of Golkar after all that she’s done to undermine the President’s authority. Try smiled at this suggestion but did not respond.

The President ended the day by sending the Head of the National Disaster Management Coordinating Office Rilo Pambudi to Banggai Island in Central Sulawesi upon news that there had been an earthquake there. Rilo was to oversee relief efforts.

5th May 2000:
The President’s post-Friday lunch partner today was Edi Sudrajat though the latter brought Harsudiono Hartas along without telling Try. Try glared at Harsudiono when the latter arrived.

“I’d figure the two of you could stop cold-shouldering each other”, said Edi.

“What did you tell Harmoko?” asked Try looking down at his plate but directing it at Harsudiono “And why?”

“I told him the truth, Mr. President”, began Harsudiono “That there was a third bill in addition to the Elections Bill and the Status and Composition of the MPR/DPR Bill.”

“And now I’m going to tell you what I told him”, said Try “We’re doing just fine with Golkar, PPP, and PDI. There’s no need for additional parties, Mr. Minister of Home Affairs.”

Harsudiono laughed while shaking his head.

“You’re the President, Try. You’ve probably got a better view of the situation than I do”, Harsudiono said “Are you sure that’s the best reading you have of the situation?”

Try ignored the question and began digging into his lunch.

“Golkar’s not going to make it through your cold war with Tutut in one piece, Try”, said Harsudiono matter-of-factly causing the President to flinch “You know it and Tutut knows it, that’s what the two of you have in common. The two of you are just making sure that you’re not the one to cause Golkar to break apart.”

“And what does this have to do with new political parties, Harsudiono?” asked Try. He stopped eating looking like he swallowed something bitter.

“It has everything to do with it”, said Harsudiono “If for some reason she expels you and me and Edi and all your supporters out of Golkar, what then? You’re going to spend the next 2 years not being able to get your supporters elected to the DPR and the MPR and then we’re all going to be a laughing stock because we’ll be locked out of our own political system.”

“And if I’m the one that removes Tutut from the Chairwomanship and kick out her and her followers?” asked Try.

“To put it simply it’s too dangerous if people like them with their power, influence, and money to be locked out of the political system”, said Harsudiono “Keep them away from the cabinet, the bureaucracy, the governorships but they’ve still got to be able to channel their voice.”

Try sighed and put his face in his palm. A lot of thoughts going through his head.

That evening, there was a gathering of officials a Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. In the VIP Room, the President chatted with the Vice President, the Chairman of the DPR and the Commander of ABRI. Try was asking Sumarlin, Harmoko, and Wiranto to co-host a meeting with the chairpersons of Golkar, PPP, and PDI as well as the leaders of Golkar, PPP, PDI, and ABRI in the DPR to help expedite the election-related bills while he was abroad.

Meanwhile Edi was in a huddle with Harsudiono, Ari Sudewo, and Sugeng Subroto. The four discussed what the President should do next.

“That National Work Meeting next month that Tutut’s holding, that’s going to be the moment she begins directing Golkar in the direction of the 2002 Elections”, said Ari Sudewo “And it’s not going to be the President that she wants to benefit with a Golkar victory.”

“He needs to establish what he wants to achieve for the rest of his term and mobilize the personnel and the organization to achieve that goal”, said Sugeng Subroto “He needs to prepare his battle formation for 2002 and beyond in other words.”

“He listens to you, but for what it’s worth tell him to consider having the Political Parties Bill introduced”, added Harsudiono.

Edi nodded. It can be tricky being State Secretary.

---
The kidnappings at the beginning of this update are as OTL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Sipadan_kidnappings

We go to another election-related bill this time the Status and Composition of the MPR/DPR/and DPRD Bill. The flaw in the “MPR Elects the President” system of the New Order was that the President appoints up to 1/3 of the MPR delegates, leading people to think that the system is rigged in favor of the incumbent. The bill proposed by Try seeks to minimize this phenomenon.

The consolidation of Bulog accounts was achieved OTL by Rizal Ramli.

In the last two updates, Try is determined to go back and go about his work after the Slaughter of the 7S but clearly there’s something still bubbling on the surface on the part of Tutut and her supporters. The question is how long can the present state of affairs between Try and Tutut last.
 
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Still hoping that Indonesia could get into North America market. In regards to rural development, does Indonesia have anything comparable to Brazil's EFA (Family Farm School)?
 
Still hoping that Indonesia could get into North America market. In regards to rural development, does Indonesia have anything comparable to Brazil's EFA (Family Farm School)?

Not an expert but i dont think so. In 90s indonesia peasant development were often paired with major plantations iirc as support partners. Govt set up coops in every village but they mostly act as lenders and/or crop purchase point
 
Deepoceanblue is correct there. I think in terms of rural development

But I’m glad Derff picked up that not all is well in agriculture and rural development for Try.

There are some perceptions about Try that are being encouraged by the Tutut Supporters/Soehartoists ITTL. One perception is that the economic recovery was due to the policies laid down by Soeharto (ie. Try was just continuing policies being laid down).

The other perception is that he’s not doing enough in agriculture and rural development. Try has his own defense for this but if he does nothing, it can be politically exploited. At the very least it can be used to negatively contrast Try with Soeharto because Soeharto was of course very agriculturally and rural-oriented.

Keep tuning in.
 
Is prabowo head of the peasant association (HKTI) yet?

Anyways even suharto only discthe bare minimum in developing peasants, agricultural policy til today is very corporation focused instead of peasantry
 
Is prabowo head of the peasant association (HKTI) yet?

Anyways even suharto only discthe bare minimum in developing peasants, agricultural policy til today is very corporation focused instead of peasantry

Not yet. Though I don’t yet know if his present path will take him to the HKTI.

I have in my notes that the current (since 1998) Chairman of HKTI as Wardoyo who was the former Minister of Agriculture (1988-1993). Wardoyo is supportive of the government.

ITTL, the government’s orientation in agriculture tends to be in favor of breaking monopolies. But this tends to make the government’s critics or those whose interests are threatened to say that the government is “liberal” in its policies.
 
86: Try's Trip To Western Europe
6th May 2000:
At mid-morning, President Try Sutrisno’s flight touched down in Rome, Italy. His motorcade was taken through the streets of Rome to the Quirinal Palace. There there was a welcoming ceremony held by President of Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

From the Quirinal Palace, Try went to the Palazzo Chiggi. It was there that he and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita met with Prime Minister Massimo D’Alema and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lamberto Dini. D’Alema thanked Try for sending Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab to assist with Italy’s attempt to build ties with Iran. D’Alema expressed concern that if things “fall the right way” in the Russian and US Presidential elections, there will be a new Cold War. Both D’Alema and Try agree that Indonesia and Italy should be forces for moderation.

After meeting D’Alema, Try went to the Indonesian Embassy in Rome where the Embassy was holding a Serie A Football watch party. Try took questions about policy from the Indonesian community prior to the match.

7th May 2000:
At lunchtime, the President was taken to Vatican City where he had an audience with Pope John Paul II. Try delivered a speech on the occasion calling the Pope “A bridge builder across the world’s different nations and faiths” and hailing him as a “Pancasilaist”. The Pope gave a blessing and said that he was entrusting the protection of Indonesian Catholics and especially East Timorese Catholics into Try’s hands.

The nation and even members of Try’s delegation was more interested in football with the Serie A then being in its second-to-last week. Try himself sat with Edi in his room reading reports.

8th May 2000:
The President addressed a breakfast held by the Italian Business Association in Indonesia. In his speech he reiterated his intention to secure investment and export markets in Europe. Afterwards there was a networking session. Try worked the room talking to executives from multi-national companies and importers seeking to import Acehnese Coffee.

From there Try, Ginandjar, Edi, and Minister of Economics and National Development Soedradjad Djiwandono met with D’Alema, Dini, and Minister of Foreign Trade Piero Fassino. The two delegations agreed on investments in infrastructure in Indonesia’s coffee-producing provinces particularly roads leading to coffee plantations.

After Try called on Ciampi and farewelled D’Alema, he and his delegation departed for Brussels, Belgium in the afternoon. At Brussels, Try and his delegation was welcomed by King of Belgium Albert II.

At the end of the day, the news coming from Jakarta was that Chairman of PDI Soerjadi was not ready to attend the meeting convened by Vice President JB Sumarlin and Chairman of DPR Harmoko discuss the election-related bills saying that this was a meeting that should be handed directly by the President. Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto said she reluctantly had to agree.

9th May 2000:
The morning was spent in a long meeting with Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, Minister of Foreign Affairs Louis Michel and Secretary of State of Foreign Trade Pierre Chevailer among others. The Belgians were interested in importing cacao from Indonesia for their chocolate production while Indonesia was interested in accessing the Belgian imported furnitures market. An MOU agreeing to this was signed by Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti and Chevalier on behalf of their governments along with another MOU agreeing that infrastructure in Belgian aid will be focused in Cacao growing areas.

The President then spent what he described as a surreal experience visiting a Cacao and Chocolate Museum though he came out of it “getting” that chocolate is big business in Belgium. The President and First Lady had dinner with Verhofstadt and his wife Dominique.

Talking to Harmoko on the phone, Try agreed with him that Tutut was playing “one of her games”.

10th May 2000:
The main meeting of the day was a working breakfast at the Berlaymont Building where Try met with President of European Commission (EC) Romano Prodi. Prodi was cold and less than friendly towards Try. He told Try that that Europe is willing to trade to Indonesia but that it wants to see improvements in human rights in East Timor. Try left the meeting asking Ginandjar why Prodi was like that. The information that came back to Try was that Prodi was Prime Minister of Italy prior to D’Alema and that Prodi did not look too fondly on D’Alema.

By midday, Try had arrived in Paris, France from Brussels. He was welcomed on the tarmac of Charles De Gaulle International Airport by President of France Jacques Chirac. Chirac hailed Indonesia as a friend and saluted both Indonesia and France’s traditions of independent foreign policy. Try said that he wanted closer ties with France and had no territorial interests.

A group of protesters planted themselves outside of Try’s hotel bearing placards saying “Free East Timor and Irian Jaya!”

11th May 2000:
Try’s day began with a meeting at Hotel Matignon, the residence of Prime Minister of France Lionel Jospin. Jospin was not as friendly towards Try as Chirac but this was disguised by the fact that both Try and Jospin’s delegations were having a productive meeting. By the end of it, the French government agreed to loosen import procedures for handicrafts and furnitures coming from Indonesia. The two countries also agreed to to built closer cultural links between the two countries.

The news from Jakarta was grim. The Supreme Court’s Honor Council was due to hear temporarily dismissed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Sarwata’s self-defense today. However, Sarwata became delirious and fainted. He was taken to the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital where he was diagnosed with “Extreme mental breakdown”.

The day ended with a dinner hosted by the Indonesian French Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Try delivered practically the same speech he delivered in Italy. The only consolation was that Chirac was sitting next to him and chatting with him. Chirac apologized for Jospin’s behavior. He explained that in France it’s possible for the president and prime minister to come from different parties but that the consequences are they get in each other’s way without being able to get rid of each other barring an election.

Try smiled to himself, the situation reminding him of his situation with Tutut. Chirac said that France will be holding a referendum that offers the possibility of there no longer being a president and prime minister from different parties.

“Why not do something about a situation you’re unhappy about rather than just complaining?” asked Chirac causing Try to think even more deeply about his situation with Tutut “This is doubly true when you’re a president.”

12th May 2000:
The President observed Friday Prayer at the Indonesian Embassy in Paris and then had a meet and greet with the Indonesian community in Paris. He took questions from them and on one occasion a complaint. Anggun Sasmi, an Indonesian singer who resides in Paris complained that the staff at the Embassy was not being helpful when she’s promoting her first album. Try wrote down the number of Ambassador to France Satrio Budiharjo Joedono’s number and gave it to Anggun so she could contact the ambassador directly.

The travelling press corps took the occasion to ask Try about the situation in Indonesia regarding the election-related bills and the news of Sarwata’s nervous breakdown. On the Chief Justice of Supreme Court’s nervous breakdown, the President said that he awaits the Supreme Court’s internal mechanism to sort itself out.

“About the election-related bills, if the Chairman of the PDI and the Chairwoman of Golkar preferred to hear from me directly rather than the Vice President or the Chairman of the DPR then that’s fine, it just means that it will take until my arrival back in Jakarta for the meeting to be held”, said Try “I do hope that after such a meeting the the election-related bills will receive quick passage in the DPR after I meet with the chairpersons of Golkar, PPP, and PDI and the leaders of Golkar, PPP, and PDI in the DPR.”

He spent the rest of the day sightseeing, visiting the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.

13th May 2000:
The President and his delegation checked out of his hotel today. Try had tomatoes thrown at him by the protesters though the Presidential Bodyguard made sure he was well protected. He caught a train from Paris heading for Madrid. Arriving at Madrid in the evening and with the nation’s attention focused on football, Try was informally welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Josep Pique on behalf of the Spanish Government.

At Jakarta, Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court I Ketut Suranta held a press conference. He said that on account of evidence they were finding and Sarwata’s mental state, he will be recommending Sarwata’s permanent removal as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to the President.

14th May 2000:
The morning was filled with ceremonies as Try was welcomed at the Royal Palace in Madrid; standing side by side with King Juan Carlos as the two nations’ national anthems played.

After the ceremonies had died down, it was time to get down to business. The President and Prime Minister of Spain Jose Maria Aznar and their respective delegations sat across the table with each other at the Palace of Moncloa. The meeting ended with an MOU pledging closer cooperation in defense industries as well as a bilateral trade agreement which would allow preferential access to each other’s markets in particular for rubber and coal in Indonesia’s case as well as cigarette paper and aluminum products from Spain.

At night, it was back to the Royal Palace in Madrid where Juan Carlos held a dinner in Try’s honor.

15th May 2000:
While Soedradjad Djiwandono, Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, and Mari Pangestu spent the day with the Spanish business community, Try got down to serious business. Accompanied by Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Edi Sudrajat and mediated by Aznar and Pique, Try met with two guests.

The first was Portugal’s Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Barosso. Try explained to Barosso what the situation was like in East Timor and that the two nations would have a productive relationship if only they would establish diplomatic relations. Barosso said that Portugal would like the guarantee that human rights are being observed in East Timor. Try countered that “we” are the ones protecting the East Timorese people from those who had been excessive in their harsh treatment. The talks were unresolved with Barosso saying that there is still a psychological hurdle to jump over.

The second was the Netherland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jozias Van Aartsen. Try said that he had had decided to withdraw the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands because of Prime Minister Wim Kok’s “hurtful” comment. Van Aartsen said that unfortunately the idea that Indonesia “sneaked in” the Singapore Settlement has some currency.

“If you were in my position and you saw an opportunity to settle the issue of East Timor and you were to claim that you wouldn’t have done what I did, I’d say that you’re hypocrites”, Try said bluntly.

On the way back to the hotel, Try discussed the situation with the Netherlands and Portugal with Ginandjar and Edi. All 3 agreed that the end goal is to restore relations with the Dutch and establish diplomatic relations with Portugal.

16th May 2000:
Try paid his respects to the Japanese Embassy in Madrid first thing this morning. The news from Tokyo the previous day was that former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi had died. Try signed a condolence book and saluted a picture of Obuchi.

The next stop in the itinerary for Try was the United Kingdom. By now the routine was well-established. From Heathrow Airport, he was immediately taken to Buckingham Palace. There Try and the First Lady, both of whom became starstruck, were given the official welcome by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip.

From Buckingham, Try headed to 10 Downing Street, pro-East Timor and Irian Jaya independence protesters with placards getting close to his car along the way. He shook hands with Prime Minister Tony Blair before disappearing inside Downing Street. Try met with Blair to talk about world affairs; Try invariably accompanied by Ginandjar and Edi, Blair by Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

“A little too much like Clinton”, muttered Try as he finished his meeting “Or maybe I’ve had my fill of being lectured about the internal affairs of my country by Western leaders.”

17th May 2000:
A networking breakfast hosted by Britcham began the day for the President and his delegation. The President delivered the same speeches he delivered in Italy and France promoting Indonesia’s economic growth and investment prospects. It was getting repetitive that Try found himself improvising a few of the sections.

It was not all tedious. From Britcham, it was off the offices of British Petroleum. There, accompanied by Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi, Try watched as CEO of Pertamina M. Arifin and CEO of British Petroleum John Browne signed a cooperation agreement to construct the EXOR III Refinery at Tanjung Uban Island at Riau. Robin Cook and Steven Byers stood on behalf of the UK Government.

The day ended with a meet and greet with Indonesian students and the Indonesian community in London at Indonesia’s UK Embassy.

18th May 2000:
The President and First Lady were invited to a brunch at Windsor Castle with the Queen and Prince Consort. Try can’t help but think that he was seeing more of the ceremonial Head of State than the Head of Government. Meanwhile Edi and the Indonesian delegation were meeting with a group of cabinet ministers, no doubt without Blair present. Try got to call on Blair later in the day at Downing Street but it was little more than a photo-op.

That night, Try met with his delegation to review what they have achieved during the trip. Mari Pangestu said that Zara of Spain is seeking to invest in Indonesia but that this will require a review of existing policy because foreign investment in retail is still prohibited. All agreed that there was demand for Indonesia’s agricultural commodities in Europe and that the government should do more to encourage agiculture production and exports.

19th May 2000:
In the morning the President and his delegation departed for Vienna, Austria. This time there was no elaborate ceremony as this was an unofficial visit, in light of the sanctions that the EU had placed on Austria and out of a desire not to offend some of the European nations which the President had recently visited, with the excuse being that this was a transit.

Try didn’t even leave the airport as Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel came to him. Try apologized that it was not until the last minute that the stopover at Austria was confirmed in the itinerary. Schussel understood. In the limited amount of time, Try and Schussel commited each other to closer economic ties. Schussel said that he will send an Austrian trade delegation and Try said that they would be welcome.

The real reason why Try had decided to put Austria on the itinerary became obvious towards the end of the meeting. Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro had made a secret trip so that he could join the President’s delegation at the last minute. Now he was invited into the room with Try and Schussel. Try allowed Soedjono to speak.

“We have reason to believe that there is some money that has been transferred into Austria that may rightfully belong to the Indonesian people”, said Soedjono “To the tune of $9 billion.”

Schussel said that it will be long and complicated but Try said that the they’re willing to jump through the hoops. Once the meeting was over, Try boarded his Presidential Plane and departed back for Jakarta.

---
That ends Try’s long trip to get sources of investment and export markets. The situation that exists ITTL between Indonesia and Netherlands comes from (https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...ry-sutrisno-1997.425151/page-12#post-19124684) (I guess you’re into uncharted territory when your source is things that happened ITTL.

Indonesia’s situation with Portugal only exists ITTL. In OTL, with East Timor no longer part of Indonesia, Portugal established diplomatic relations in 2000.

Aside from the previous source that I mentioned, there are no other mentions of Chief Justice’s Sarwata’s Rp. 15,000 per case fee. So I had him do a very Indonesian thing when he went under stress of being examined: he suffered a health breakdown.

Can anyone guess whose $9 billion was transferred into Austria and which is now being searched by the Attorney General?
 
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6th May 2000:
At mid-morning, President Try Sutrisno’s flight touched down in Rome, Italy. His motorcade was taken through the streets of Rome to the Quirinal Palace. There there was a welcoming ceremony held by President of Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

From the Quirinal Palace, Try went to the Palazzo Chiggi. It was there that he and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita met with Prime Minister Massimo D’Alema and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lamberto Dini. D’Alema thanked Try for sending Minister of Religious Affairs Quraish Shihab to assist with Italy’s attempt to build ties with Iran. Try said that it will be Indonesia’s honor to host a Dialogue of Civilizations at Jakarta later in the year. D’Alema expressed concern that if things “fall the right way” in the Russian and US Presidential elections, there will be a new Cold War. Both D’Alema and Try agree that Indonesia and Italy should be forces for moderation.

After meeting D’Alema, Try went to the Indonesian Embassy in Rome where the Embassy was holding a Serie A Football watch party. Try took questions about policy from the Indonesian community prior to the match.

7th May 2000:
At lunchtime, the President was taken to Vatican City where he had an audience with Pope John Paul II. Try delivered a speech on the occasion calling the Pope “A bridge builder across the world’s different nations and faiths” and hailing him as a “Pancasilaist”. The Pope gave a blessing and said that he was entrusting the protection of Indonesian Catholics and especially East Timorese Catholics into Try’s hands.

The nation and even members of Try’s delegation was more interested in football with the Serie A then being in its second-to-last week. Try himself sat with Edi in his room reading reports.

8th May 2000:
The President addressed a breakfast held by the Italian Business Association in Indonesia. In his speech he reiterated his intention to secure investment and export markets in Europe. Afterwards there was a networking session. Try worked the room talking to executives from multi-national companies and importers seeking to import Acehnese Coffee.

From there Try, Ginandjar, Edi, and Minister of Economics and National Development Soedradjad Djiwandono met with D’Alema, Dini, and Minister of Foreign Trade Piero Fassino. The two delegations agreed on investments in infrastructure in Indonesia’s coffee-producing provinces particularly roads leading to coffee plantations.

After Try called on Ciampi and farewelled D’Alema, he and his delegation departed for Brussels, Belgium in the afternoon. At Brussels, Try and his delegation was welcomed by King of Belgium Albert II.

At the end of the day, the news coming from Jakarta was that Chairman of PDI Soerjadi was not ready to attend the meeting convened by Vice President JB Sumarlin and Chairman of DPR Harmoko discuss the election-related bills saying that this was a meeting that should be handed directly by the President. Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto said she reluctantly had to agree.

9th May 2000:
The morning was spent in a long meeting with Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, Minister of Foreign Affairs Louis Michel and Secretary of State of Foreign Trade Pierre Chevailer among others. The Belgians were interested in importing cacao from Indonesia for their chocolate production while Indonesia was interested in accessing the Belgian imported furnitures market. An MOU agreeing to this was signed by Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti and Chevalier on behalf of their governments along with another MOU agreeing that infrastructure in Belgian aid will be focused in Cacao growing areas.

The President then spent what he described as a surreal experience visiting a Cacao and Chocolate Museum though he came out of it “getting” that chocolate is big business in Belgium. The President and First Lady had dinner with Verhofstadt and his wife Dominique.

Talking to Harmoko on the phone, Try agreed with him that Tutut was playing “one of her games”.

10th May 2000:
The main meeting of the day was a working breakfast at the Berlaymont Building where Try met with President of European Commission (EC) Romano Prodi. Prodi was cold and less than friendly towards Try. He told Try that that Europe is willing to trade to Indonesia but that it wants to see improvements in human rights in East Timor. Try left the meeting asking Ginandjar why Prodi was like that. The information that came back to Try was that Prodi was Prime Minister of Italy prior to D’Alema and that Prodi did not look too fondly on D’Alema.

By midday, Try had arrived in Paris, France from Brussels. He was welcomed on the tarmac of Charles De Gaulle International Airport by President of France Jacques Chirac. Chirac hailed Indonesia as a friend and saluted both Indonesia and France’s traditions of independent foreign policy. Try said that he wanted closer ties with France and had no territorial interests.

A group of protesters planted themselves outside of Try’s hotel bearing placards saying “Free East Timor and Irian Jaya!”

11th May 2000:
Try’s day began with a meeting at Hotel Matignon, the residence of Prime Minister of France Lionel Jospin. Jospin was not as friendly towards Try as Chirac but this was disguised by the fact that both Try and Jospin’s delegations were having a productive meeting. By the end of it, the French government agreed to loosen import procedures for handicrafts and furnitures coming from Indonesia. The two countries also agreed to to built closer cultural links between the two countries.

The news from Jakarta was grim. The Supreme Court’s Honor Council was due to hear temporarily dismissed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Sarwata’s self-defense today. However, Sarwata became delirious and fainted. He was taken to the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital where he was diagnosed with “Extreme mental breakdown”.

The day ended with a dinner hosted by the Indonesian French Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Try delivered practically the same speech he delivered in Italy. The only consolation was that Chirac was sitting next to him and chatting with him. Chirac apologized for Jospin’s behavior. He explained that in France it’s possible for the president and prime minister to come from different parties but that the consequences are they get in each other’s way without being able to get rid of each other barring an election.

Try smiled to himself, the situation reminding him of his situation with Tutut. Chirac said that France will be holding a referendum that offers the possibility of there no longer being a president and prime minister from different parties.

“Why not do something about a situation you’re unhappy about rather than just complaining?” asked Chirac causing Try to think even more deeply about his situation with Tutut “This is doubly true when you’re a president.”

12th May 2000:
The President observed Friday Prayer at the Indonesian Embassy in Paris and then had a meet and greet with the Indonesian community in Paris. He took questions from them and on one occasion a complaint. Anggun Sasmi, an Indonesian singer who resides in Paris complained that the staff at the Embassy was not being helpful when she’s promoting her first album. Try wrote down the number of Ambassador to France Satrio Budiharjo Joedono’s number and gave it to Anggun so she could contact the ambassador directly.

The travelling press corps took the occasion to ask Try about the situation in Indonesia regarding the election-related bills and the news of Sarwata’s nervous breakdown. On the Chief Justice of Supreme Court’s nervous breakdown, the President said that he awaits the Supreme Court’s internal mechanism to sort itself out.

“About the election-related bills, if the Chairman of the PDI and the Chairwoman of Golkar preferred to hear from me directly rather than the Vice President or the Chairman of the DPR then that’s fine, it just means that it will take until my arrival back in Jakarta for the meeting to be held”, said Try “I do hope that after such a meeting the the election-related bills will receive quick passage in the DPR after I meet with the chairpersons of Golkar, PPP, and PDI and the leaders of Golkar, PPP, and PDI in the DPR.”

He spent the rest of the day sightseeing, visiting the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.

13th May 2000:
The President and his delegation checked out of his hotel today. Try had tomatoes thrown at him by the protesters though the Presidential Bodyguard made sure he was well protected. He caught a train from Paris heading for Madrid. Arriving at Madrid in the evening and with the nation’s attention focused on football, Try was informally welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Josep Pique on behalf of the Spanish Government.

At Jakarta, Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court I Ketut Suranta held a press conference. He said that on account of evidence they were finding and Sarwata’s mental state, he will be recommending Sarwata’s permanent removal as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to the President.

14th May 2000:
The morning was filled with ceremonies as Try was welcomed at the Royal Palace in Madrid; standing side by side with King Juan Carlos as the two nations’ national anthems played.

After the ceremonies had died down, it was time to get down to business. The President and Prime Minister of Spain Jose Maria Aznar and their respective delegations sat across the table with each other at the Palace of Moncloa. The meeting ended with an MOU pledging closer cooperation in defense industries as well as a bilateral trade agreement which would allow preferential access to each other’s markets in particular for rubber and coal in Indonesia’s case as well as cigarette paper and aluminum products from Spain.

At night, it was back to the Royal Palace in Madrid where Juan Carlos held a dinner in Try’s honor.

15th May 2000:
While Soedradjad Djiwandono, Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, and Mari Pangestu spent the day with the Spanish business community, Try got down to serious business. Accompanied by Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Edi Sudrajat and mediated by Aznar and Pique, Try met with two guests.

The first was Portugal’s Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Barosso. Try explained to Barosso what the situation was like in East Timor and that the two nations would have a productive relationship if only they would establish diplomatic relations. Barosso said that Portugal would like the guarantee that human rights are being observed in East Timor. Try countered that “we” are the ones protecting the East Timorese people from those who had been excessive in their harsh treatment. The talks were unresolved with Barosso saying that there is still a psychological hurdle to jump over.

The second was the Netherland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jozias Van Aartsen. Try said that he had had decided to withdraw the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands because of Prime Minister Wim Kok’s “hurtful” comment. Van Aartsen said that unfortunately the idea that Indonesia “sneaked in” the Singapore Settlement has some currency.

“If you were in my position and you saw an opportunity to settle the issue of East Timor and you were to claim that you wouldn’t have done what I did, I’d say that you’re hypocrites”, Try said bluntly.

On the way back to the hotel, Try discussed the situation with the Netherlands and Portugal with Ginandjar and Edi. All 3 agreed that the end goal is to restore relations with the Dutch and establish diplomatic relations with Portugal.

16th May 2000:
Try paid his respects to the Japanese Embassy in Madrid first thing this morning. The news from Tokyo the previous day was that former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi had died. Try signed a condolence book and saluted a picture of Obuchi.

The next stop in the itinerary for Try was the United Kingdom. By now the routine was well-established. From Heathrow Airport, he was immediately taken to Buckingham Palace. There Try and the First Lady, both of whom became starstruck, were given the official welcome by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip.

From Buckingham, Try headed to 10 Downing Street, pro-East Timor and Irian Jaya independence protesters with placards getting close to his car along the way. He shook hands with Prime Minister Tony Blair before disappearing inside Downing Street. Try met with Blair to talk about world affairs; Try invariably accompanied by Ginandjar and Edi, Blair by Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

“A little too much like Clinton”, muttered Try as he finished his meeting “Or maybe I’ve had my fill of being lectured about the internal affairs of my country by Western leaders.”

17th May 2000:
A networking breakfast hosted by Britcham began the day for the President and his delegation. The President delivered the same speeches he delivered in Italy and France promoting Indonesia’s economic growth and investment prospects. It was getting repetitive that Try found himself improvising a few of the sections.

It was not all tedious. From Britcham, it was off the offices of British Petroleum. There, accompanied by Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi, Try watched as CEO of Pertamina M. Arifin and CEO of British Petroleum John Browne signed a cooperation agreement to construct the EXOR III Refinery at Tanjung Uban Island at Riau. Robin Cook and Steven Byers stood on behalf of the UK Government.

The day ended with a meet and greet with Indonesian students and the Indonesian community in London at Indonesia’s UK Embassy.

18th May 2000:
The President and First Lady were invited to a brunch at Windsor Castle with the Queen and Prince Consort. Try can’t help but think that he was seeing more of the ceremonial Head of State than the Head of Government. Meanwhile Edi and the Indonesian delegation were meeting with a group of cabinet ministers, no doubt without Blair present. Try got to call on Blair later in the day at Downing Street but it was little more than a photo-op.

That night, Try met with his delegation to review what they have achieved during the trip. Mari Pangestu said that Zara of Spain is seeking to invest in Indonesia but that this will require a review of existing policy because foreign investment in retail is still prohibited. All agreed that there was demand for Indonesia’s agricultural commodities in Europe and that the government should do more to encourage agiculture production and exports.

19th May 2000:
In the morning the President and his delegation departed for Vienna, Austria. This time there was no elaborate ceremony as this was an unofficial visit, in light of the sanctions that the EU had placed on Austria and out of a desire not to offend some of the European nations which the President had recently visited, with the excuse being that this was a transit.

Try didn’t even leave the airport as Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel came to him. Try apologized that it was not until the last minute that the stopover at Austria was confirmed in the itinerary. Schussel understood. In the limited amount of time, Try and Schussel commited each other to closer economic ties. Schussel said that he will send an Austrian trade delegation and Try said that they would be welcome.

The real reason why Try had decided to put Austria on the itinerary became obvious towards the end of the meeting. Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro had made a secret trip so that he could join the President’s delegation at the last minute. Now he was invited into the room with Try and Schussel. Try allowed Soedjono to speak.

“We have reason to believe that there is some money that has been transferred into Austria that may rightfully belong to the Indonesian people”, said Soedjono “To the tune of $9 billion.”

Schussel said that it will be long and complicated but Try said that the they’re willing to jump through the hoops. Once the meeting was over, Try boarded his Presidential Plane and departed back for Jakarta.

---
That ends Try’s long trip to get sources of investment and export markets. The situation that exists ITTL between Indonesia and Netherlands comes from (https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...ry-sutrisno-1997.425151/page-12#post-19124684) (I guess you’re into uncharted territory when your source is things that happened ITTL.

Indonesia’s situation with Portugal only exists ITTL. In OTL, with East Timor no longer part of Indonesia, Portugal established diplomatic relations in 2000.

Aside from the previous source that I mentioned, there are no other mentions of Chief Justice’s Sarwata’s Rp. 15,000 per case fee. So I had him do a very Indonesian thing when he went under stress of being examined: he suffered a health breakdown.

Can anyone guess whose $9 billion was transferred into Austria and which is now being searched by the Attorney General?
Probably the Wood family.
 
87: The Beringin Tree Tears Itself Apart Part I
20th May 2000:
Though he had arrived from Austria that dawn, President Try Sutrisno was suitably rested to attend the National Awakening Day Celebrations and the 5th Anniversary of the National Discipline Movement. In his speech, Try called on the nation to maintain the spirit of National Awakening and National Discipline because it will take time for the spirit of these two movements to take effect and yet these two movements are important in Indonesia’s journey to become a great nation.

As he walked to the Presidential Car, Try confirmed to members of the press wanting to ask him questions that he had just signed off on Chief Justice of Supreme Court Sarwata’s dismissal from his position.

21st May 2000:
An official invitation to attend the Golkar National Leadership Meeting on 8th-11th June 2000 arrives at the Presidential Palace.

22nd May 2000:
The President today swore in V. Adm. Achmad Sutjipto as the Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas); the position having been left vacant for two months.

Afterwards, he had a meeting with Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja. The two did a stocktake of what had been achieved thus far in agriculture. They agreed that they could point to putting export bans on rice and crude palm oil thus ensuring price stability of rice and cooking oil, the abolition of BPPC, and making a regulation that farmers/peasants could sell non-rice produce to non-KUD cooperatives as achievements.

“It’s not that you haven’t done enough in agriculture, Mr. President, it’s the perception of it”, said Sarwono “We haven’t neglected agriculture but your opponents will continue to create the impression that that’s case so long as we still haven’t achieved rice self-sufficiency. It’s an easy way for them compare you with Soeharto and then say “This Try guy is worst than Soeharto.””

Try asked for advice. Sarwono told him to “play the game”. Pay more attention to rice production to neutralize the criticism from the opponents so that Try can go on with his real agenda in agriculture and in other areas.

23rd May 2000:
Commander of ABRI Wiranto announced a command shuffle, the highlights of which are the following:
*Endriartono Sutarto is promoted to lieutenant general and takes over Achmad Sutjipto’s former position as Inspector General of ABRI.

*Abdul Rahman Gaffar’s tenure as Commander of the Presidential Bodyguard comes to a close, taking over Endriartono’s former position as Commander of the Central Java Regional Military Command.

*Brig. Gen. (Mar.) Nono Sampono is promoted to major general and takes over as Commander of the Presidential Bodyguard.

The more interesting happening was occurring at the Presidential Palace where Try summoned Minister of Legal Affairs Albert Hasibuan for a meeting. State Secretary Edi Sudrajat and Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court I Ketut Suranta sat in on the meeting as the President chatted to the minister about legal issues and the courts though nothing about specific issues. Hasibuan was polite, but realizing that he had better use for time, asked Try gently what was the purpose of the meeting.

“Well, it’s clear that you have a legal background, know the legal world, you know the issues and you know the politics and this meeting confirmed that”, said Try “That’s why I want you to be the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.”

24th May 2000:
The President had a meeting Chairman of DPR Harmoko accompanied by Edi Sudrajat, Deputy State Secretary Soedibyo Rahardjo while Harmoko was accompanied by Vice Chairman of DPR Hari Sabarno and Leader of Golkar in the DPR Irsyad Sudiro. Harmoko said that with Sarwata’s nervous breakdown and dismissal, the priority for the moment would have to be who will be the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Try agreed and revealed to all present who he wanted as the next chief justice. Harmoko readily agreed, an important point considering that by law it is the DPR that officially nominates candidates for the Chief Justice.

The discussion went to the technicalities. Soedibyo Rahardjo reported that since the candidate for chief justice has to be a Supreme Court judge, Hasibuan would have to be nominated as a Supreme Court Judge, approved, and sworn in and then immediately nominated to be chief justice. Irsyad Sudiro cautioned those present that there will be some resistance from the Tutut supporters.

As suspected, Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto held a press conference in which she announced that her preference would be for Acting Chief Justice of Supreme Court I Ketut Suranta to be the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Tutut called on all Golkar members to respect the fact that Suranta is the next in line to be chief justice.

DPR Member Basofi Sudirman appeared on TVRI that night to counter Tutut’s request. He said that Suranta will hit retirement age in December 2000 while Hasibuan will hit retirement age in March 2004. Thus, Hasibuan will provide the Supreme Court with a stable leadership.

25th May 2000:
The President this morning chaired a cabinet meeting attended by Vice President JB Sumarlin and the entire Seventh Development Cabinet. The meeting heard Edi Sudrajat speak about the results of the President’s recent visit to Western Europe including prospects for exports as well as companies and individuals interested in investing Indonesia.

Try’s instruction was that he expected the cabinet to follow up on these prospects. He called on ministers to facilitate these investments if they fall within their jurisdiction and ordered embassies and the BKPM alike to compete if necessary to chase those who are having second thoughts about investing in Indonesia.

“It’s important that we don’t take both our present economic situation and those who would like to invest in it for granted”, said Try.

26th May 2000:
Members of the President’s Pancasila Coalition Harmoko, Wahono, Chairman of ICMI BJ Habibie, Chairman of PPP Matori Abdul Djalil, Chairman of NU Abdurrahman Wahid, and Chairman of Muhammadiyah Amien Rais came out of a breakfast meeting with the President. Acting as the spokesperson of the group, Amien Rais said that they support the President and his nominee for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court’s position.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita issued a statement saying that in response to the Japanese Government’s intention to hold a public funeral for its deceased former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on 8th June, the President has announced that he will attend.

At the DPR Harmoko announced Hasibuan’s nomination as Supreme Court Judge. He was interrupted by DPR Member Hartono who called for a vote because not all DPR members approved of Hasbuan. He was seconded by Fuad Bawazier.

When all was said and done, Hasibuan’s nomination as Supreme Court Judge was supported by the DPR 342 votes for to 157 votes against.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra asked for an urgent meeting with Tutut and got it. The constitutional lawyer told Tutut, accompanied by Prabowo Subianto, that she must do all that she can to prevent Hasibuan from becoming chief justice. Tutut then said that that’s precisely what she’s doing.

“No, Madam Chairwoman, you don’t understand”, said Yusril “Should the President want to move against Golkar and put what would amount to a ban on it, he legally needs the advice of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to do so. He is certain to get that advice if the chief justice in question is Hasibuan.”

28th May 2000:
Whilst visiting the offices of Golkar’s West Java Provincial Branch, Tutut was asked about the situation regarding the nomination for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Tutut congratulates Hasibuan on his appointment as supreme court judge but says that the situation has become unconducive for her and Golkar. She adds that the way the nomination for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court along with many other issues that Golkar has with the government will be discussed at the National Leadership Meeting.

29th May 2000:
Albert Hasibuan submits his letter of resignation as Minister of Legal Affairs to the State Secretariat before attending a swearing-in ceremony at the Supreme Court Building. Hasibuan is now officially a Supreme Court Judge.

The President made an appearance at Mal Taman Anggrek today, surprising office workers and shoppers alike. He was accompanied by Edi Sudrajat and Minister of Trade Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti. He was most happy when he went to Matahari and was told that in that particular shop, 30% of the employees currently there were recruited within the previous month because of increased activity.

As he left his office at the end of the day, Harmoko said that the DPR will officially nominate Hasibuan as Chief Justice of Supreme Court tomorrow.

In a short statement at 8 PM, the President announced that DPR Member Marzuki Darusman will become the new Minister of Legal Affairs, succeeding to the post left behind by Albert Hasibuan. The press, however, was keen to ask him questions while he’s there.

On what is by now referred to as Tutut’s “Unconducive” interview, Try laughed it off and said he doesn’t understand what the Chairwoman means.

Try was also asked if he noticed that Keizo Obuchi’s State Funeral will take place on the opening day of the Golkar National Leadership Meeting. Try said he hadn’t because he hadn’t even been consulted that Golkar will even have a National Leadership Meeting. Try added that Obuchi was a friend and that he will pay due respect to him.

The day ended with Golkar Secretary ZA Maulani issuing a statement on behalf of the Chairwoman of Golkar. In the statement, Tutut said that all Golkar members in the DPR who support Hasibuan’s candidacy as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is at risk of not having their candidacy approved for the 2002 Legislative Elections.

30th May 2000:
It proved to be memorable day at the DPR. Harmoko had banged the session open with his gavel and was beginning his opening address when he was interrupted by DPR Member Hartono. The Tutut supporter called it a sham that Hasibuan, who wasn’t even a Supreme Court Judge a week ago and who at the moment is, at best, the most junior member of the Supreme Court would be elevated to the Chief Justice’s position.

Basofi Sudirman then interrupted and stood up for the Try supporters. He said that the real sham here is the obstructionism that President Try’s government had had to put up with since 1998 from within Golkar and which had only gotten worst with the election of Tutut Soeharto to the Chairwomanship of Golkar. Basofi said that the “threat” made by the Golkar Secretary on behalf of the Chairwoman confirms the “moral bankruptcy” that those in the provincial congresses earlier in the year were reporting about.

“If Golkar is going to turn into an organization that undermines the President’s efforts at every turn”, said Basofi “We might as well leave Golkar and form our own organization!”

“Be careful what you wish for”, retorted Hartono “You might just get it.”

Basofi and Hartono, along with many others were standing up in their chairs and shaping up for a fight. It fell to Vice Chairman of DPR Hari Sabarno to call on ABRI members in the DPR to mediate and try to calm the situation down.

Hartono calmed down but not before getting on the microphone and saying that he would not be a part of this. He called those who were “For Tutut” to walk out. Thus were Golkar DPR members who were Tutut supporters, PPP DPR members who supported Hamzah Haz, and all 11 DPR members from the PDI including Vice Chairwoman of the DPR Fatimah Achmad, conducted a walk out.

Hasibuan’s nomination as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, supported by the remaining DPR members, went ahead as planned. Before the day was over, the President had issued a statement through Edi Sudrajat that he will arrange for Hasibuan to be sworn in as the new Chief of Justice of the Supreme Court the next day.

But Hasibuan’s impending assumption of the Chief Justice’s office was quickly an afterthought. The man himself acknowledged this in an interview years after the fact:

“The most electorally successful political organization in Indonesia just began tearing itself apart on such a national and public scale. Compared to that, I’m just a footnote.”
---

All of the procedures involved in Hasibuan’s appointment as Chief Justice are based on Article 8 of Law 14/1985 on the Supreme Court which can be found at http://www.dpr.go.id/dokjdih/document/uu/681.pdf (In Indonesian). Of course, political considerations (securing the appointment of a Chief Justice who would be friendly to Try) takes precedence here.

Essentially, the Chief Justice must be picked from among the Supreme Court judges. Supreme Court judges maybe drawn from the rank of judges and non-judges alike. In the case of non-judges, the person has to be someone with long experience in the legal field.
 
88: The Beringin Tree Tears Itself Apart Part II
31st May 2000:
With the President acting as a witness, Albert Hasibuan self-administers his oath office and officially becomes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. After Hasibuan had taken his oath, the President swore in Marzuki Darusman as the new Minister of Legal Affairs.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the President immediately held a meeting with Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas and Minister of Legal Affairs Marzuki Darusman.

In a press conference after the meeting, Harsudiono unveiled a letter with the President’s signature on it. Harsudiono said that this is a reprimand letter to the Chairwoman of Golkar for the conduct of certain Golkar members during the nomination of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Marzuki explained that by disruptively obstructing the nomination of a Chief Justice, Golkar is preventing a provision of the 1945 Constitution, namely the necessity for a Supreme Court, to be carried out.

Harsudiono concluded by saying that Golkar will be required to respond to the letter.

1st June 2000:
It was Ascension Day Holiday but politics did not go on holiday. Try received an unexpected guest early in the morning in the form of Former Vice President Sudharmono. Try was polite, Sudharmono was pleasant, but both knew the topic they wanted to talk about.

“You want me to make peace with Tutut”, said Try cutting through the small talk “But there’s no reason for me to agree. Each time I’ve shown leniency she has continued to maneuver against me.”

“Do it for the sake of Golkar, Mr. President”, implored Sudharmono.

“The time for peace has come and gone, Mr. Vice President”, said Try coldly.

2nd June 2000:
The President landed in Palu in the morning where Governor of Central Sulawesi Bandjela Paliudju and Commander of the Sulawesi Regional Command Cornel Simbolon welcomed him. At Palu, Try and Minister of Religious Affairs Quraish Shihab opened the 2000 Qur’an Reading Competition (MTQ).

After opening the MTQ, the President took a helicopter to Banggai Island where an earthquake occurred a month prior. Speaking to the victims, Try was surprised to hear that the information given by the authorities were unclear. After speaking to those in his delegation, Try became annoyed when Paliudju and National Disaster Management Coordination Office Rilo Pambudi admitted that there had been poor coordination.

Back at Jakarta, Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto in a press conference said that she had received the letters but maintained that she was under no obligation to respond to it because her mandate comes from the Golkar National Congress. Tutut further adds that she is contemplating disciplinary measures against Golkar DPR Members who supported Albert Hasibuan.

3rd June 2000:
As though thumbing his nose at Tutut, President Try held a luncheon for the 342 DPR members from Golkar, PPP, and ABRI who voted in favor of Hasibuan’s nomination. Try praised ABRI DPR member for their consistency, highlighted that the PPP has had its own divisions in recent times, and singled out Golkar members who had supported him. Try also spent time explaining to those present about the provisions of the Elections Bill and the Composition and Status of the MPR, DPR, and DPRD Bill.

“So we’ll help facilitate the election along but there’s no guarantee we’ll be participating in them”, quipped Harmoko to the laughter of all those present.

4th June 2000:
At night an underwater earthquake struck close to Enggano Island in Bengkulu. The President, roused from bed, immediately dispatched Rilo Pambudi to Bengkulu.

5th June 2000:
The President met with State Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Bacelius Ruru and Junior Minister of Finance Marzuki Usman. He approved of plans for state-owned toll road company Jasa Marga to conduct an IPO.

Commander of ABRI Wiranto accompanied by Army Chief of Staff Agum Gumelar, Navy Chief of Staff Indroko Sastrowiryono, Air Force Chief of Staff Hanafie Asnan, Chief of Police Yun Mulyana, Deputy Commander of ABRI Chappy Hakim, ABRI Chief of General Staff Luhut Panjaitan, and ABRI Chief of Socio-Political Affairs Staff Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued a statement on the recent situation on Golkar.

“We hope that irrespective of what happens next that all remain peaceful. That if Golkar settles its problems, that it does so peacefully and that if the solution to Golkar’s present problems are “other possibilities” that these possibilities are reached peacefully”, read Wiranto.

This comment led into an awkward moment where reporters tried to get Wiranto to specify what are the possibilities for Golkar in its present situation if it doesn’t settle its internal problems.

6th June 2000:
Megawati Soekarnoputri and her PDI supporters pay their respects at Soekarno’s tomb in Blitar, East Java. Megawati said that she and her supporters remain steadfast to their goal of winning the PDI National Congress scheduled for next year and then participating in the 2002 Legislative Election.

With Minister of Public Works Rachmat Witoelar and Junior Minister of Housing Enggartiasto Lukita, Try inaugurated a government-built apartment bloc at Pulogebang, East Jakarta. Members of the public who has never owned a house and qualify for the government-subsidized loans can become eligible to buy these apartments.

The reporters covering the event were not interested in housing, however. As the President toured the apartment bloc, he was constantly asked if he was going to attend the Golkar National Work Meeting. At a certain point in the tour he turned around to the microphones thrust at his face.

“I’ll say this once and then I hope we can get back to housing”, said Try “I will not be attending the Golkar National Work Meeting, I will be attending the funeral of someone who had wished the best for Indonesia.”

7th June 2000:
The President landed in Tokyo, Japan at midday. He was welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Takashi Fukaya at the Airport. Not long thereafter, Try and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita got to meet Prime Minister Koichi Kato. Kato said that relations between Japan and China should be as close as that of Japan and the US.

Try also met Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov of Russia and pledged closer Indonesia-Russian ties. He congratulated Primakov on his election as President of Russia just a few days ago.

President Joseph Estrada paid a visit to Try at his hotel. Estrada reported that his forces are making progress against the MILF. Estrada also asked Try if he could appeal to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to revoke the MILF’s observer status. Try said he will consider this.

8th June 2000:
Vice President JB Sumarlin got the unenviable task of opening the 2000 Golkar National Work Meeting at the Jakarta Convention Center. He had wished he could just hit the gong and walk away but the State Secretariat had asked him to read a speech on behalf of the President rather than write his own. Things went smoothly though there were jeers and boos when he read out a part which called on “The Chairwoman and others in the organizational structure of Golkar should conduct self-introspection when asking why there had been such internal divisions within Golkar”.

Tutut then made a short speech and introduced a video about Soeharto with liberal doses of the deceased President wearing yellow batik to highlight his Golkar origins. After calling Golkar members to unite she handed over to Golkar Secretary ZA Maulani.

Maulani’s speech was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Saying that Golkar must consolidate itself first before it can go forward and contest the next elections, Maulani declared that Golkar must cleanse itself first. He then went on that over the past 5 months, he had conducted an internal investigation based on clues and leads that there is a movement seeking to sabotage and weaken Golkar.

“From my investigation, I can conclude that at present there exists within Golkar a movement calling itself “Operation Lifeboat” which seeks to weaken the authority of our Chairwoman”, announced ZA Maulani.

Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas tried to keep a poker face while Chairman of DPR Harmoko looked nervous. Meanwhile Tutut had a satisfied smile on her face as Hartono looked around gleefully at the tense faces in the crowd. Maulani went on and said that there was a 90% correlation between the Golkar DPR Members that voted for Hasibuan as Chief Justice and available data on who might be part of Operation Lifeboat’s “DPR Branch”. Maulani said that there exists “further branches” of Operation Lifeboat across the 27 provinces and the regencies and municipalities.

From his office, Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo placed a call to Japan. Presidential Secretary Soedjoko, who hadn’t been enlightened on events, answered. Soedjoko said that the President has gone for his itinerary of the day. Ari asked that the President be chased up and told that “The Chairwoman of Golkar knows about Operation Lifeboat”.

Back at Golkar’s National Work Meeting, cabinet ministers tried to digest the news; the President had obviously never told them about this. Wiranto managed to keep a poker face but gripped tightly at the arms of his chair. Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo looked at each other in disbelief but telling each other that they had to get behind this.

Drinking only a glass of water, Maulani continued on. The disciplinary actions taken against the Golkar DPR Members who had supported Albert Hasibuan must also take into account the fact that these members are part of Operation Lifeboat.

It was a Thursday, a working day. But all who had access to a television and radio kept their eyes and ears glued to developments.

The National Work Meeting took a break for lunch. Wiranto ordered Agum Gumelar to deploy extra troops from the Regional Jakarta Military Command, Kostrad, and Kopassus to secure Jakarta (“It’s getting tense”). Wiranto then joined a huddle comprising of Sumarlin, Harsudiono, and Harmoko all of whom said the President was unreachable.

When the National Work Meeting assembled again, the pro-Try Golkar DPR Members were asked to stand in front of the podium. Maulani read out the “offenses” of these members and then asked for a response to these charges.

“We support President Try and we’re proud of it”, said Basofi Sudirman as the Jakarta Convention Center rumbled with the cheers of Try supporters and the boos of Tutut supporters alike.

It was left for Tutut to pronounce the sentence. After making a short speech, Tutut looked down at the Try supporters from the podium.

“Originally I wanted to announce that all of you will no longer be considered for candidacy to the DPR. As of right now, you are no longer qualified to nominate for re-election in 2002”, began Tutut before pausing dramatically “But considering that you are also part of a movement to take Golkar down from within, I feel that a harsher sentence is necessary.”

Silence in the Jakarta Convention Center.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must terminate all of your memberships from Golkar and that because you are no longer members of Golkar, I must ask you to leave this venue immediately”, said Tutut.

There was a tense silence as Harmoko walked up to the stage. He got out his wallet, pulled out his Golkar membership card, threw it at the podium, and then turned around to leave. Then Irsyad Sudiro did the same and then Basofi and then everyone else. Not all threw their Golkar membership card at Tutut. Those who hadn’t laminated their membership cards ripped it into shreds, others threw it to the nearest trash can, some threw it on the ground and started jumping on it, still others spat on their card.

The group of expelled Golkar members was immediately swarmed by the media when they stepped outside of the JCC. Basofi was appointed of the spokesperson of this group. He flashed his Operation Lifeboat card as he spoke.

“There are those of you who hold this card and are trapped inside the Convention Center and there are those of you who hold this card and are watching this all around Indonesia”, he said “Where ever you are, make yourself and your support for President Try’s government known. Don’t be part of Tutut’s Golkar.”

---
By the time Edi Sudrajat got the news from Harsudiono Hartas and Ari Sudewo, Obuchi’s funeral had gotten underway and Try was sitting far away from him in a VVIP box with the other heads of state and government.

Angering Japanese protocolar officers for the national interest, Edi forced himself into the VVIP Box to hand Try a handwritten note. The protocolar officers allowed Edi to hand the note but forbade him to speak and immediately escorted him.

Try opened the note, read it and tensed up before re-folding it and putting it in his left breastpocket.

It was said later that what proved fatal for Golkar was the fact that Try still had to sit through Obuchi’s funeral and was left to think by himself about how he should respond. Someone in the President’s circle once asked him after the fact what was he thinking about after he had received Edi’s note. This source said that the President thought about “everything the Chairwoman had done to snub, disrespect, and obstruct my government and myself in the 20 months that she had held that office.”

By the time the funeral was over, the President had already made up his mind about what he wanted to do and had made up his mind to the point where he no longer wanted to debate the issue, only its implementation. When the ceremony was over, the President exchanged pleasantries with various leaders though it was clear his mind was on other matters.

As his delegation frantically packed and an announcement issued that he will be flying out of Tokyo that evening instead of tomorrow morning, Try watched the television for developments fom Jakarta. The last thing he saw before he walked out of his suite was the Golkar National Work Meeting ending its activities for the day and the executive of the Golkar East Java Provincial Branch voluntarily quitting their Golkar memberships and joining the pro-Try Golkar members.

After making farewell visits to Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Kato, Try departed for Narita Airport. It was only when he had arrived at Narita that the President was prepared to make statement. It was 8.10 PM Tokyo time. 6.10 PM Jakarta time.

The President first explained that he had been kept up to speed with the day’s events especially regarding the expulsion of DPR Members from Golkar, including the Chairman of DPR, for their support for the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Try said that this expulsion, together with the walk-out of the DPR when the nomination for the Chief Justice was finalized, marked a low point in Golkar’s history.

It also confirmed that during the Chairwoman of Golkar’s leadership, Golkar has consistently undermined the government’s position. Dispassionately and almost clinically, Try highlighted the various ways Tutut had defied him; the way she did not provide help in passing amendments to the Banking Law in the middle of the crisis; the way she appointed herself as representative of the Indonesian people at King Hussein of Jordan’s funeral; the way she openly backed her own candidate for Chairman of the PPP when the President had made his own choice; and the way in which she had not consulted him when intending to hold the Golkar National Work Meeting currently in Jakarta.

“What action I will take against Golkar in my capacity as President of the Republic of Indonesia, I will consult with various officials when I get back to Jakarta.

As Chairman of the Golkar’s Council of Patrons and as Leader of Golkar, however, I can take more immediate action and here’s what I have decided to do.

It is my opinion that by expelling 200+ DPR members, including the Chairman of DPR, the Chairwoman of Golkar is endangering Golkar as an organization. It is endangering Golkar because it is depriving Golkar, not to mention the people, of the elected officials who will work together with the President to various laws.

In determining that Golkar is in an endangered organization, it is also my decision that I will now use the powers given to me by Golkar’s Constitution.

Thus, I announce the following:

First, I hereby freeze the positions of Chairwoman of Golkar, the Secretary of Golkar, the Treasurer of Golkar and other positions in Golkar’s National Leadership Council. As of this moment, the Golkar National Leadership Council is frozen and its members no longer exercises the powers and responsibilities that come with those positions. At the same time, I free all Golkar branches across the provinces, regencies, and municipalities from the obligation of adhering to the decisions and instructions of the now-frozen National Leadership Council.

Second, I announce that a Golkar Emergency National Congress will be called into session. Its two main agendas will be to officially remove the Chairwoman of Golkar and the present National Leadership Council and elect a new National Leadership Council. Considering that the leadership of the provincial, regency and municipal branches are in Jakarta for the National Work Meeting, I hereby change the status of the 2000 Golkar National Work Meeting to that of the 2000 Golkar Emergency National Congress.

I do not make this decision lightly but believe that with the expulsion of DPR members who are supportive of the government’s agenda the situation has become untenable.

If you’ll excuse me, I have a plane to catch. Thank you very much for your attention. Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.”

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The Obuchi Funeral is very much real and follows OTL https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2000/06/09/national/6000-attend-obuchis-funeral/#.XYZS_CgzbIU
 
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Holy shit. Now the bombs have dropped and the civil war has officially started. I'm not well versed in politics but Tutut really exposed herself as an extremely petty person. She might have her own reason for it but to external viewers she's exactly that petty. This looks like there will be a PDI-PDIP style schism that ironically haven't happened yet in this timeline. Great update, now I can sleep in peace and hyped up.
 
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