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.