22nd October 2000:
The people of Biak Island received a surprise when the Presidential Airplane landed at Frans Kaisiepo International Airport. President Try Sutrisno emerged out of the airplane with the delegation that joined him from South Korea and those which joined him in Biak which also included Governor of Irian Jaya Jacob Pattipi.
Biak was part of an Integrated Economic Development Zone designated by Soeharto in 1996 and it was noted for its fisheries potential so Try was flanked by Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Tanto Kuswanto and State Minister of the Development of Eastern Indonesia and Special Development Zones Jusuf Kalla in the Presidential vehicle as it wheezed around Biak. The President paid particular attention to infrastructure such as harbours for fishing boats to settle in and the fish quarantine center as he inspected Biak, instructing Tanto to have a “proper” fish market constructed there. The President also paid a visit to a tuna canning factory with a capacity of 300,000 tonnes of fish per year.
On Biak’s status as a special development zone, Kalla advised the President that Biak’s Integrated Economic Development Zone was too large with some of its territory on mainland Irian Jaya. The President agreed with this and said that Indonesia’s Special Economic Zones should have a more manageable size.
The President ended his day at Biak looking at the construction of the to-be created 4th National Air Defense Sector Command’s Headquarters. He reminded Air Force Chief of Staff Hanafie Asnan to apply for as much funding as possible in next year’s budget so that this unit could be completed as quickly as possible.
23rd October 2000:
The President landed in Jayapura this morning where there was some ceremony to attend to. At the Irian Jaya DPRD Building, the President and Jacob Pattipi sat down as Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas administered the oath to 25 extra DPRD members as per the provisions of Irian Jaya’s becoming a Special Region. Once this was done, it was the President’s turn to swear in the 51 members of the Irian Jaya People’s Assembly (MRIJ).
The President spent the day meeting with Jacob Pattipi and provincial officials who reported on progress in the Province. Pattipi said that he’s using the extra proceeds from natural resources to build a paved road from Jayapura to the border of Papua New Guinea which the President approved of. Try then spent the day on a walkabout around Jayapura, shaking hands with the locals and visiting the Hamadi Market.
The President flew from Jayapura to Jakarta in the afternoon. Taking it easy without paperwork, Try was nevertheless reminded of another issue he would need to work on soon while the plane flew over Irian Jaya. Something caught Try’s eyes and he asked Edi what it was. Edi looked down and turned serious. Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi had talked to him about what Try was seeing though Edi had told that there were other priorities on the President’s table.
“Those are mines, Mr. President”, said Edi “One big copper mine, one big gold mine.”
“Where in Irian Jaya are we?” asked Try.
“Timika, Mr. President”, explained Edi “Those mines belong to Freeport.”
24th October 2000:
The President accompanied by State Secretary Edi Sudrajat met with Harsudiono Hartas and Minister of Legal Affairs Marzuki Darusman. The two ministers reported on two organizations which had applied to have its existence recognized by the Government. The two ministers had formed an interdepartmental team which have travelled around the country to verify that these two would-be organizations has representatives in all the provinces and in most regencies and municipalities.
“The existence of the two applicants has been successfully verified in accordance with the Political Parties Law. We therefore recommend that the two applicants be allowed to exist as Political Parties”, said Marzuki Darusman.
“Alrighty then”, said Try as he went on to sign two Presidential Decisions. One approving the existence of the PKPI and the other approving the existence of the PKPB.
After Marzuki Darusman left to announce the President’s approval of PKPI and PKPB, Harsudiono stuck around as the President invited Commander of ABRI Wiranto, Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo, and ABRI Chief of Social-Political Affairs Staff Agus Wirahadikusumah. In front of those present, the President said that he would allow Megawati Soekarnoputri to try to bring about an PDI Extraordinary National Congress. The President asks Harsudiono to convey a request that Megawati will begin her effort in December after the ICMI National Congress.
The discussion then went on to the technicalities. Harsudiono explained that if Megawati can claim to have the support of most of the PDI’s branches in the regions for an Extraordinary National Congress, then Chairman of PDI Soerjadi would have to hold this Extraordinary National Congress.
“In 1996, Megawati was toppled using exactly this mechanism though back then, Soerjadi also had the help of the then Commander of ABRI and the ABRI Chief of Social-Political Affairs”, said Harsudiono.
“This is where the two of you come in; don’t get in her way but don’t help her either. Just stay neutral”, said Try to Wiranto and Agus before he turned to Harsudiono “The same goes with the regional governments. Stay neutral.”
26th October 2000:
The President, Vice President JB Sumarlin, and the Seventh Development Cabinet held a full meeting today though the President did most of the talking:
*The President determined that whatever decline in exports to the United States as result of its desire to gain a “soft-landing” in its economy must be offset by an increase in investment from other countries. Increasing investment’s share in Indonesia’s economic growth will be Indonesia’s economic strategy for 2001.
*The President forwarded Prime Minister of Belgium Guy Verhofstadt’s complain that Belgium businessmen were being hindered when trying to invest in Sulawesi. He asked that all Departments, Agencies, and Regional Governments do their outmost to facilitate investment both domestic and foreign and that there would be consequences for not complying with this.
*On Malaysia, the Cabinet was pleased when the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita reported that Indonesia and Malaysia would work towards an agreement across various areas in the coming months.
27th October 2000:
After Friday prayers at his house at Kuningan, Chairman of ICMI BJ Habibie announced that he will be running for re-election as Chairman of ICMI at ICMI’s National Congress in December.
The President ended the day meeting with Wiranto and ABRI Chief of General Staff Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Yudhoyono reported that ABRI Headquarters have been swamped by a mass request for early retirement from officers, all of whom wishing to do so because they would like to join the PKPB. Among those wishing to retire early were the following:
*Gen. (Police) Dibyo Widodo- former Chief of Police
*Lt. Gen. (Marines) Suharto- former Commander of the Marine Corps and Head of Basarnas
*Lt. Gen. Soegiono- currently Secretary of the Minister of Defense and Security also has asked to resign from his post. Former Aide de Camp to Soeharo
*Maj. Gen. Muchdi PR- former Commander of the Kalimantan Regional Military Command
*Maj. Gen. Kivlan Zen- former Chief of Staff to the Sulawesi Regional Military Command
*Maj. Gen. Izmed Yuzairi Chaniago- former Kostrad Chief of Staff
*Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin- former Commander of the Jakarta Regional Military Command
*Col. Chairawan- former Commander of Kopassus’ Group IV
*Col. Issantoso- former Aide de Camp to Soeharto
“This is like a who’s who list of those who are either Prabowo allies or those who are still loyal to Soeharto”, said Edi Sudrajat when he read the list.
28th October 2000:
President Try marked Youth Oath Day 2000 by attending a ceremony at Senayan Stadium. But the day became marred by Prabowo Subianto’s verbal brawl with Wiranto. Speaking on RCTI in the morning, Prabowo said that it’s just as well that those officers asked for early retirement because they have all gone to waste under the “present regime” because most have been without an assignment since 1998 so they might as well join the PKPB and do something useful.
Speaking on TVRI in the afternoon, Wiranto said that he hopes that all those who are ABRI members will continue to be loyal because he doesn’t want those “who are loyal to those hostile towards the Constitutional Government”.
30th October 2000:
In a joint press conference, Edi Sudrajat and Military Secretary Sudrajat announced that the President has signed off on the early retirements of the officers who have asked for it a few days ago. Edi said that the President respects these officers’ political aspirations but at the same time echoed Wiranto’s comments that those who are sympathetic towards those hostile towards the Government should no longer serve in ABRI.
President Try and Chairman of DPR Harmoko agree to declare null and void the 1997 Manpower Law owing to the controversy that DPR members were bribed during the process of its legislation in the final weeks of Soeharto’s presidency and also because the President felt there was a need to rewrite the law as a whole.
As the meeting finished, the President walked with Harmoko as the latter was about to depart.
“If I could ask you about your decision to allow Megawati Soekarnoputri to bring about a PDI Extraordinary National Congress, Mr. President”, said Harmoko “If she becomes Chairwoman of PDI again…well, let’s just say that when I was Chairman of Golkar, I was quite intimidated by the idea of taking her on in a Legislative Election campaign. If she leads the PDI into the 2002 Election, they’re going to get a lot more than the pathetic 11 seats they have now.”
“Someone like Megawati is too charismatic to ignore, as much as that charisma is because she’s riding on President Soekarno’s coattails, Mr. Chairman”, replied Try “If she somehow becomes Chairwoman of PDI then she will compete in the 2002 Elections and if that happens, well let’s give her a fight instead of maneuvering to remove her…the same goes with our old friend Mrs. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.”
31st October 2000:
The DPR had a productive day and passed 2 laws:
*The Construction Services Law which regulates construction work using contractors and mandates the use of contracts for such work. A key provision which Minister of Public Works Rachmat Witoelar was able to secure was a provision that any contract work to be funded by Government money must be subjected to a tender process. Only in special cases is a direct appointment be allowed.
*The Medicinal Practice Law which regulates medicinal practice for doctors and dentist. The highlight of the law was the formation of Medicinal Council to protect patients and improve the quality of medicinal practice. It also mandates doctors and dentists to have a Registration License Letter and a Practice License in order to practice. Minister of Health Azrul Azwar looked on and clapped with glee when the law was passed.
Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi came out of a meeting with the President to announce that the Government would not be increasing the price of fuel for the remainder of the year despite world oil prices reaching above $30 per barrel. Some of the consideration for this is that the state of Government finances is strong and that the President does not want to slow down Indonesian economic growth just as US economic growth is slowing down.
1st November 2000:
The President arrived at Merak Harbour at Cilegon, West Java today. Accompanied among others by Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja, Rachmat Witoelar, Governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso, Governor of West Java Muzani Syukur, and Governor of Lampung Sofjan Jacoeb the President inaugurated the following:
*Expansion of the Jakarta-Merak Toll Road
*Phase II of the Tangerang-Merak Toll Road
*New trains for the Jakarta-Merak Railway Link
*Completion of new piers at Merak Harbour and Bakaheuni Harbour in Lampung.
Back in Jakarta, DPR member Hartono was ambiguous when asked if he would run for the chairmanship of ICMI or not. He only smiled and said that he was an ICMI member.
2nd November 2000:
Harsudiono Hartas received a hostile welcome as he opened the PKPB’s first National Leadership Meeting on behalf of the President. Jeers greeted him when he said that the President “Sends his regards”. Tutut tried to calm her supporters down though it was clear that she too enjoyed what was happening.
The President accompanied State Minister of Youth and Sports Hajriyanto Thohari and Chairman of KONI IGK Manila has a meet and greet with the Indonesian National Football Team which finished 4th at the Asian Football Confederation Cup held at Lebanon, losing to China in the 3rd Place Playoff. Try congratulated Manager Glenn Hoddle and the players on their efforts. He said that he hopes Indonesia can make it to the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.
3rd November 2000:
The President and Minister of Trade Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti met with a delegation from the Indonesian Retail Businessmen Association (Aprindo). Chairman of Aprindo Steve Sondakh only said that they talked about the state of the retail sector.
Having lunch together, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Taufiq Kiemas discussed the President’s request that they make their move to bring a PDI Extraordinary National Congress after the ICMI National Congress has finished. Megawati said that “the boys” can’t wait to get started. Taufiq however disagreed. He told Megawati to leave the “blatant disobedience and respect” to Tutut and respect this request.
4th November 2000:
The PKPB’s National Leadership Meeting ended with its delegates passing a motion “To name Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana Chairwoman of PKPB and authorize her to name the PKPB’s National Leadership Council”. With hand on heart, Tutut Soeharto accepted this unanimous appointment and bowed at the PKPB delegates.
At the press conference afterwards, Tutut announced that ZA Maulani and Akbar Tandjung will respectively become the Secretary and Treasurer of PKPB; thus continuing the partnership they had forged at Golkar since 1998.
6th November 2000:
In a signing ceremony also attended by Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Oka Mahendra and Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo, CEO of Nokia Jorma Olilla signed an MOU with Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu committing Nokia to constructing a factory in Indonesia. Olilla said that in 1999, Indonesia’s market of mobile phone users was 5.2 million and rapidly growing so Nokia wants to be part of that.
DPR Member Hartono officially announced that he will be a candidate for the ICMI Chairmanship at the ICMI National Congress next month. Hartono vowed that if elected chairman, he would restore Islamic intellectuals to their rightful place instead of merely being lackeys of the Government.
7th November 2000:
Edi Sudrajat and Ginandjar Kartasasmita hold a joint press conference to go over the President’s itinerary as he heads off to the OIC and APEC Summits. Edi announced that BJ Habibie will be part of the President’s delegation to the two summits.
After Ginandjar had answered a question about the 2000 Presidential Elections (“The Government will work with whichever incoming administration, Gore or McCain”), Edi was asked about the President’s stance on the ICMI National Congress. Edi said that the President wishes the best for the ICMI National Congress but does not agree with the characterization that Islamic intellectuals are lackeys.
At Cendana Street, Tutut watched the press conference with Prabowo by her side.
“I told you that’s what the President’s going to do,
Mbak, he’s done it with the PPP and the Muhammadiyah National Congresses and now he’s doing it with ICMI”, said Prabowo “Only this time he’s walking into a trap.”
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Gasp…gasp
OK that one was pretty jam-packed with political events: the PKPI and PKPB officially existing, Megawati being given permission to try bringing about a PDI Extraordinary National Congress, pro-Soeharto and pro-Prabowo officers asking for early retirement, and the road to the ICMI National Congress officially under way.
According to Wikipedia, there were 3.6 million mobile phone users in Indonesia in 1999 OTL. The 5.2 million is with the assumption of people buying mobile phones in a recovering economy ITTL rather than a still struggling economy OTL.
https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telek...lekomunikasi_seluler_pada_masa_krisis_moneter