7th April 2002:
President Try Sutrisno tonight attended a special dinner at Balai Kartini attended by all of the PKPI’s current DPR Members both those who will retire at the end of the current term and those who will be running for re-election. First and foremost among those running for re-election was none other than Chairman of the DPR Harmoko himself.
Harmoko delivered a speech on behalf of the PKPI’s DPR members but ended up drawing the ire of the crowd by coming across sycophantic, referring to the President each time by his longform title of “General (Retired) Haji Try Sutrisno”. This became particularly jarring when Harmoko’s text called for him to say “We support Try Sutrisno, we love Try Sutrisno, and we want to re-elect Try Sutrisno”.
The President did better and reminded the audience of some home truths.
“You are the PKPI, you are not Golkar”, said the President “ABRI and the civil service and all the organizations will no longer be mobilized in your favor, victory is not guaranteed, you have to go out there and earn the election victory.”
8th April 2002:
Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Oka Mahendra held a joint press conference with Chairman of ICMI Nurcholish Madjid. The latter introduced the “Petition of Thirty Five’s” initiative of buying a one-page ad on the nation’s major daily newspapers calling on people to vote. The ads will run everyday until Election Day and is the fulfillment of the request made by the President in February. Oka Mahendra praised it and called for the cooperation of the nation’s daily newspapers.
Arriving at his office, State Minister of Rural Development Feisal Tamin was asked about TVRI’s new program “Rural Progress” which begun airing the previous night. Feisal Tamin admitted that it was a program to highlight what the government has done in rural areas, which was considerable, but that it had nothing to do with the election coming up. The government has always cared about rural development.
9th April 2002:
Emerging out of a meeting with the President, Commander of ABRI Wiranto, Army Chief of Staff TB Hasanuddin, and Chief of Police Ansyaad Mbai spoke to the press saying that the President spoke about security for the Election and beyond. Wiranto said that the President has approved of Commander of Kostrad Srijanto and the Commander of the Mobile Brigade Firman Gani as the Commander and Deputy Commander of the Operation Command to maintain security throughout the election and until the 2003 MPR General Session.
In a joint press conference, Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Minister of Trade Anthony Salim, and Head of BARANTIN Ali Rachman announced that Indonesia will start importing meat again from Europe after imposing a ban due to the foot and mouth disease. Ali Rachman said that special care will be given in screening meat coming in from outside the country.
Sarwono said that one thing that he can take a note of in the last 24 months is that living standards in Indonesia has risen and one manifestation of that is the increased demand for meat. This is why in the last 12 months, the government has directed the populace to diversify their protein intake by eating fish though the main aim is increasing the population of cows and chickens.
10th April 2002:
Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi, and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat had another negotiating session with PT. Freeport Indonesia in the morning. The four emerged with happy faces but told reporters who were present that they wanted to safe the news for the President.
They reported that Freeport was shifting on royalties and is offering to increase the royalties it will pay the government. If in the past, Freeport has paid 1% royalties for gold and silver as well as 1-3% royalties for copper depending on market price, it is now offering to increase the royalties to a fixed 3.5% for copper, 3.25% for gold, and 3% for silver.
While the President thought it through, Djiteng reported that from his sources in the oil and gas industry, it seems that PT. Freeport Indonesia has been placed under renewed pressure in recent days by both its head office in the United States and the White House to complete a deal that would be favorable to Indonesia. Edi reported that it seems this pressure was applied after the events in Myanmar.
The President thought about the pressure that PT. Freeport Indonesia was under and asked what can be done to take advantage of the extra pressure. Djiteng almost drooled hearing that and put forward some proposals:
*Royalties of 7% for copper, 6.5% for gold, 6.25% for silver.
*Freeport to go through another environmental impact analysis (AMDAL) and make sure its results are adhered to.
*Freeport to expand its existing smelter in Gresik or build another smelter in Irian Jaya
*The present contract will last until 2021, but extension of the contract will not be an entitlement of Freeport’s but will be subject to mutual agreement by both the government and Freeport.
The President approved of this and the meeting come to an end.
“Let’s try to agree on terms before the end of the election campaign”, added the President “The signing can come later, but the agreement of the terms should be reached before the election campaign.”
“Now we’re talking, Mr. President”, said Harsudiono happily.
11th April 2002:
The President chaired a cabinet meeting attended by Vice President JB Sumarlin and the entire cabinet in which the following were discussed.
*Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti reported that the Indonesian economy is strong and energetic in the lead up to the election. Confirming Dorodjatun’s report, Minister of Industry Siswono said that any industry related to election merchandise are doing well (eg. textiles for t-shirt and printing). Golkar’s dissolvement and the emergence of the PKPI, the PKPB, and the PNI has meant that there are no recycled merchandise and has led to a demand for the production for election merchandise. Siswono said that these industries have also seen fit to employ extra people to cope with the increased demand.
*Governor of Bank Indonesia Boediono reported that businesses and investors are taking up the government’s credit policies for priority sectors in the economy. For the moment, those wanting to set up budget hotels and investing in plantations are the ones wanting to take advantage of the said policies. Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu reported that the BKPM are receiving investment applications in these areas.
*Wiranto and Minister of Civil Service Reform Kuntoro Mangkusubroto reported that pocketbooks have been issued to ABRI personnel and civil service personnel respectively to provide them with guidelines as to how to behave during the elections campaign.
*Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman reported that ministers wanting to take part in the campaign can apply for 1 day’s leave each week but that otherwise, ministers make take part in campaign activities so long as they don’t take place during government working hours. The President reminded all ministers that the work of governing must be disrupted by the election campaign, that services provided must resume as normal and that ministers should be able to separate what constitutes an official activity and a campaign activity.
12th April 2002:
The President, accompanied by Harsudiono Hartas and Edi Sudrajat, today conducted an inspection tour in Jakarta. First stop was the KPU where they were welcomed by the Chairman of the KPU HBL Mantiri. As luck would have it, the last class for the last batch of balloting committees was being held. The people being trained here will be the running the polling stations on Election Day. The President shook hands and said that the successful conduct of the election rests on them.
From the KPU Building, the President and his two companions visited the PKPI National Headquarters. There, welcomed by Chairman of the PKPI Basofi Sudirman and Chairman of the PKPI National Campaign Hendropriyono, the President inspected the PKPI t-shirts that will be distributed for the campaign.
“These are the President’s dual function, as both an impartial organizer and as partisan participant”, joked Harsudiono “But on a more serious note, we do want this election to be legitimate. Nothing like the sham election like the one which occurred in Yugoslavia earlier in the year.”
14th April 2002:
In a meeting at the PKPI National Headquarters, the President named Chairman of the PKPI Basofi Sudirman, the Chairman of the PKPI National Campaign Hendropriyono, Harsudiono Hartas, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, and Minister of Transmigration Indra Bambang Utoyo as members of a Campaign Day-to-Day Supervisory Committee.
“The five of you negotiated the PKPI-PPP Coalition a few months ago”, the President “Now you’ll meet everyday throughout the course of the campaign, review how things are going, and make sure the campaign is on track.”
In turn, Basofi and Hendropriyono provided a final situation report prior to the campaign revealing that the PKPI has continued to lose votes again. The other members of the Campaign Day-to-Day Supervisory Committee seemed to ready to hear though it did not make them any less grim to hear the news.
Afterwards, the President had a private lunch at the PPP National Headquarters with Basofi and Chairman of the PPP Matori Abdul Djalil. Matori talked to the President that the PPP was ready but did not want delve into details considering that Basofi was present though Basofi shrugged it off. Matori reiterated that the PPP will not attack the President or the government or the PKPI and its candidates during the campaign and Basofi promised likewise.
15th April 2002:
State Minister of Urban Development Ridwan Hisjam, State Minister of Regional Autonomy Oemarsono, Governor of West Java Muzani Syukur, and Governor of East Java Haris Sudarno came out of a meeting with the President. Ridwan said that the President has said that East Java’s Gresik-Bangkalan-Mojokerto-Surabaya-Sidoarjo-Lamongan (Gerbangkertosusila) Metropolitan Area is not just a provincial priority but will also receive national priority. Ridwan reported that the President has also approved of Bandung Area, comprising Bandung, Cimahi, and Sumedang be designated a Metropolitan Area.
It was a long day for the President. His final meetings of the night were with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, Minister of Legal Affairs Marzuki Darusman and Wiranto. Edi Sudrajat sat in as the President asked both of them about developments regarding Myanmar’s Shwe Mann. Wismoyo said that it appears that Shwe Mann’s men are slowly smuggling themselves and their families across the border to India and then from India, they hoped to be able to get to Indonesia. The Indian Government is aware that this is going on and the aim of where they want to go and are silently taking them in but it will be sending President KR Narayanan to Malaysia next week. His official duty will be to attend the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's installation but one of his agendas will be to talk to the President about what to do with Shwe Mann and his evacuees.
Ginandjar advised the President to be careful. The advice already coming in from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Myanmar was that if the upcoming meeting in Kuala Lumpur did not end well, Chairman of SPDC Khin Nyunt was ready to recall Myanmar’s Ambassador to Jakarta. If it is known that Indonesia is taking in Lt. Gen. Shwe Mann, that may be grounds for Khin Nyunt to sever relations with Indonesia.
“There’s also another thing to consider”, said Ginandjar “If we take them in, what makes us any different from the countries taking in the various separatist groups? One would think we lose the moral high ground if we took Lt. Gen. Shwe Mann and his men in. Countries harbouring the OPM would point at the fact that we’re harbouring Lt. Gen. Shwe Mann and co. when we confront them about not doing anything about the OPM.”
There was quiet in the room for a time, then Marzuki spoke up. Immigration coming under his purview, Marzuki asked how many people will be coming to Indonesia supposing that the government takes them in. Wismoyo glanced at Wiranto.
“Shwe Mann tells me 13,000-14,000 military personnel plus 16,000-17,000 of the wives and children of those who are married, not all are married of course”, reported Wiranto.
“I’m sure the Minister of Legal Affairs would agree that this is a politically-charged humanitarian crisis”, declared Ginandjar.
“I’m not at a stage where I want to place labels, Mr. Minister of Foreign Affairs”, replied Marzuki.
The meeting was dismissed not long thereafter, not so much because they had reached a dead end but because the President got the sense that Wismoyo and Wiranto had something they did not want to tell the meeting. He deliberately held them back when the meeting broke up.
“13,000 to 14,000 is the size of a Kostrad Division, Mr. President, we can integrate them into ABRI as an Auxiliary Force” said Wiranto when he was asked “Their Army, Navy, and Air Force are represented so we can spread them across our Army, Navy, and Air Force.”
“Is there anything else I should know?” asked the President.
“There are personnel from their Directorate of Defense Industries among those Shwe Mann is evacuating from Myanmar, Mr. President”, said Wismoyo “People who know about Chinese weapons systems because Myanmar’s bought some weapons from China to not say anything about weapons designs”
The President nodded at the extra considerations he now had to weigh on the table.
“I will see both of you again before I leave for Malaysia”, he said.
16th April 2002:
The President, accompanied by Harsudiono Hartas held a special lunch attended by Chairwoman of the PNI Megawati Soekarnoputri, Chairwoman of the PKPB Tutut Soeharto, Basofi Sudirman and Matori Abdul Djalil.
At the conclusion of the lunch, all four chairpersons of the four political parties held a joint press conference. Matori acted as the spokesperson saying that all four party chairpersons and their parties are committed to a peaceful election campaign, a peaceful Election Day, and a peaceful post-Election climate once the results have been announced. Matori further adds that they are committed to respecting the results of the elections.
When taking questions from members of the press, it was Megawati who provided the highlight.
“It’s been nearly 6 years since I was removed from the leadership of the PDI and nearly 6 years since my supporters were removed from the political system for supporting me”, said Megawati “Now our wait is over, now is the time to run the strong campaign that we would have run in 1997.
Merdeka!”
17th April 2002 (Day 1 of the Election Campaign):
Overnight, it was as if banners, posters, and flags with the logos of the political parties sprouted from the ground. All over Indonesia, campaign paraphernalia appeared everywhere. Members of the political elite, wearing campaign gear, bumped into each other at airports as they headed off around Indonesia to sell the message of their parties.
“This is a historical election, one that will confirm the arrival of the new political party system”, said Political Observer Andi Mallarangeng “The greatest omission in this picture will of course be Golkar, the 6-time election winner but nowhere to be seen in the current election…”
Tutut had just landed in Denpasar, Bali for her first campaign stop. She was taking a rest in the Airport’s VIP Lounge when she noticed that on the television, there was the sight of Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja.
“Due to the importance of the Kualanamu Airport project in Medan to national development and the non-performance of the contract to build this airport by the contractor, the President has given his approval for me to cancel this contract”, announced Soerjadi Soedirja “The Department of Transportation will in the near future invite tender applications for the construction of this airport…”
Tutut looked around and saw her staff trying their best not to make eye contact with her even as they judged how she would react. It made sense that they would do that, the company that just found its contract to build the new airport in Medan is hers. Tutut looked at her staff and gave them the mysterious smile she had learned from her father.
Don’t worry, Mas Try, I’m not taking you lightly, but my turn to strike again is coming…ready or not, here I come…
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The Election Campaign has begun, folks, and lots of things are on Try’s plate.
It is interesting to wonder how PKPI members ITTL process and perceive their party's idea. I think OTL Golkar, going into the first Election in the Reformasi Era knew things were never going to reach 60% or 70% of the votes again. ITTL, without May 1998 and the political turbulence, I guess subconsciously the PKPI guys still expect to do nearly as well as Golkar because they still get shocked at the idea that they're not going to get 60% much less 70%. The PKPB guys would probably be more accepting of the idea that they won't get 60-70% because they're not the governing party.
Tutut’s company being the original contractor for Kualanamu comes from
https://www.google.co.id/books/edit...ut+medan+airport&pg=PA260&printsec=frontcover
and
https://www.google.co.id/books/edit...ut+medan+airport&pg=PT302&printsec=frontcover