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

[GSD310]

Road to the Golkar National Congress Pt. 1
4th October 1998:
Appearing on Sunday morning programming, Golkar Secretary Ary Mardjono welcomed Harmoko’s announcement that he will be contesting the chairmanship but resents Harmoko’s comment that anyone who does not show “blind” loyalty to the government is an obstacle. When said that these were harsh words for a secretary to say to his chaiman, Ary said: “It’s a certainty that I won’t be Golkar Secretary, there’s a 50-50 chance that he will be re-elected, either way, my days of working with him will come to an end soon.”


5th October 1998:
From the tribune of honor, President Try Sutrisno presided over ABRI Day celebrations and salued the troops marching past. Accompanying him at the tribune of honour were Commander of ABRI Wiranto, Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, Army Chief of Staff Agum Gumelar, Navy Chief of Staff Soeratmin, Air Force Chief of Staff Djatmiko, and Chief of Police Luthfi Dahlan. After the ceremonies, Try had a chat with Wiranto.

“How are the ABRI Headquarters regarding the Golkar National Congress? How are the regional commands?” asked Try.

“ABRI is solidly behind you, the government, and whatever stance you want us to take for the congress, Mr. President”, said Wiranto before adding “I haven’t had the chance to tell you this, Sir, but the “other side” approached me just this last weekend appealing for my support.”

“What did you tell the “other side”?” asked Try.

“Exactly what I just told you”, said Wiranto.

En route to the presidential car at the end of the ceremonies, Try found himself swamped by reporters asking for his opinion about there being two candidates for the chairmanship of Golkar.

“I think that Golkar is indeed lucky to have two fine cadres”, said Try “Who will emerge as the chairman out of the two? I will leave that to the Golkar National Congress.”

Governor of Central Java Prabowo Subianto attended the ceremonies as a recently retired ABRI member. Visiting the Soeharto Family Residence at Cendana Street that day, he discussed tactics ahead of the Golkar National Congress with his sister-in-law Tutut Soeharto. Prabowo says that Tutut will need to pull out all the stops to challenge Harmoko and says not to worry about not getting Wiranto’s support because Wiranto is a “coward” anyway.


6th October 1998:
President Try met with Minister of Industry, Research and Technology Siswono Yudohusodo. Siswono reports that the Rupiah has stabilized enough for large Indonesian businesses and factories to not be afraid of ordering imported material for their enterprise.

President Try, accompanied by State Secretary Edi Sudrajat and Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas welcomes the chairmen of the committees in charge of the Golkar National Congress: Chairman of the Organizing Committee Theo Sambuaga, Chairman of the Steering Committee Agung Laksono, and Chairman of the Congress Hamengkubuwono X.

The three came to officially invite Try to attend the Golkar National Congress as well as to talk about preparations of the congress thus far. Agung Laksono reported to the President that the National Leadership Council have requested that each individual member of the national leadership council get voting rights in the chairman’s election. Try, putting on his hat as Chairman of the Council of Patrons for a moment, approved of the changes.

“I supposed it’s only natural that after the Council of Patrons got the right to vote in the chairmanship election that the National Leadership Council would also ask for the vote as well”, said Edi.

“What does that make the magic number of votes Harmoko has to get to win?” asked Try

“301 regency/municipal branches, 27 provincial branches, 44 Council of Patron Members, and 45 National Leadership Council Members”, said Harsudiono “417 people will be voting”.

“209 votes will be required to win the chairmanship of Golkar”, said Edi.

7th-8th October 1998:
Vice President JB Sumarlin, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, and Governor of BI Boediono welcomed IMF Deputy Managing Director Stanley Fischer for his visit once every three months.

Over the next two days three Indonesian officials gave the latest updates about the economy. Fischer praised the government on being able to get a deal on the BLBI payments and said that with the currency stabilized, it would be beneficial for the Indonesian economy to lower its interest rates.

While Sumarlin dealt with Fischer, President Try spent the two days touring the province of Riau accompanied by OCDS Sugeng Subroto and Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi. He recognized the natural resource potential of the province and met with community leaders there wanting to have “more of Riau’s destiny” in Riau’s hands.

On the 8th, he visited Batam Island where he was accompanied by Governor of Riau who was also Acting Head of Batam Authority Soeripto. Soeripto also echoed the sentiments Try heard the previous day. Try said he will look into it after the Golkar National Congress because his “in-tray” is full. Soeripto says odds are, Try will have work with his successor because his term is running out in 2 months and he’s not eligible for re-election.

“I know that” said Try “Say, how is Riau doing in relation to the Golkar National Congress?”

“Word on the Riau grapevine that has reached my ear is that Tutut is willing to give a spot on the National Leadership Council to someone from Riau if the Golkar branches here support her for the chairwomanship”, said Soeripto.


9th October 1998:
The President met Stanley Fischer as the latter paid a courtesy visit. Fischer reminded Try that there were still some homework to be done from previous visits but that overall, he is happy with Indonesia’s economic performance.

After Friday prayer, Try had lunch with Chairman of the DPR/MPR Harmoko. Harmoko told him that Basofi is campaigning in West Sumatra and Jusuf Kalla in his native Sulawesi. He tells Try that they are good campaigners. Try tells Harmoko about his conversation in Riau with Soeripto. Harmoko says he knows one Riau person who might fit the bill Tutut is talking about, one of the Vice Chairmen of the DPR/MPR, Syarwan Hamid, is from Riau.

The two appeared to the media throng waiting outside and posed for pictures, saying that the President and the Chairman of the DPR/MPR are on the same page on all “matters on the state”.

11th October 1998:
Deputy State Secretary Soedibyo Rahardjo visited the father-in-law of his daughter, who was none other than BJ Habibie. After some pleasantries, Soedibyo appealed to Habibie for the latter’s support for Harmoko. Habibie said that he was not hostile to the President, that he would not get in the way of Harmoko, but that he will allow ICMI elements within Golkar to whomever they saw fit as Chairman of Golkar.


12th October 1998:
President Try today departed for West Kalimantan ahead of an entourage which included Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, Minister of Forestry and Environment Ardans, and Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman.

Try conducted inspections of projects across West Kalimantan such as defense housing at the Kalimantan-Malaysian border. Try also met with Governor Aspar Aswin, who was a classmate of Wismoyo’s. Aspar told him that West Kalimantan is not secure when it comes to the Golkar National Congress lots of “waverers”.

Try spent the evening and dinner at Central Kalimantan, meeting with Golkar leaders in the province and Governor Warsito Rusman.

“What we want is more Kalimantan faces holding high office in the cabinet and, indeed, in Golkar” they told him.

In Jakarta, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat had dinner with Feisal Tanjung. The two four star generals shot the breeze about being soldiers. The reminiscing culminated with Edi asking Feisal to support by the President by using his influence to sway the vote to Harmoko. Feisal said no and Edi reminded him that five years ago he supported Harmoko.

“I could make the argument that five years ago you and the President didn’t support Harmoko”, said Feisal.

The two at the very least joked about the fact that they were politicians now but it became clear to Edi that Feisal would not budge an inch.

“Then the word on the street these past few days must be true”, said Edi.

“I owe Soeharto a great deal; my military career was looking at a dead end until he put it back on track and put me as Commander of ABRI”, said Feisal “Consider what I’m about to do part of the payment for that debt.”

13th October 1998:
President Try continued his tour around Kalimantan, arriving at the Province of East Kalimantan. Talking with Governor Faroe Ishak and seeing Ardans interacting with East Kalimantan’s Golkar leaders, Try felt that this province could be secure for Harmoko. South Kalimantan could also seemed to be secure

Try was flying back to Jakarta when a phonecall came to him from Edi.

“Mr. President, I have some news”, Edi said “Feisal Tanjung has just come out of a meeting with Tutut. He says he will be supporting Tutut at the Golkar National Congress and will be encouraging his “guys” to vote for Tutut as well.”

The television on the Presidential Aircraft was turned on and there was Feisal Tanjung taking questions from the reporters. Behind him stood Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid the Vice Chairman of the DPR/MPR, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) ZA Maulani, and Lt. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah.

“General Feisal”, asked a foreign reporter “Don’t you think that your support for Tutut reveals that the division between a Red and White ABRI as well as a Green ABRI exists?”

“To quote my friend Edi Sudrajat all ABRI is red and white”, said Feisal “But make no mistake, all of ABRI is not represented by the officers orbiting around the State Secretariat at the moment.”

 

[GSD310]

Road to the Golkar National Congress Pt. 2
14th October 1998:
At ABRI Headquarters, Commander of ABRI Wiranto held a press conference. Flanked by Chief of General Staff Widodo AS and Chief of the Socio-Political Affairs Staff Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Wiranto issued a statement on its stance towards the Golkar National Congress which included the following:

“ABRI continues to stand steadfastly with President Try Sutrisno as ABRI’s constitutional Supreme Commander and it will stand steadfastly with those who have shown their support for the government. At the present moment, it is the stance of ABRI that it will stand with Mr. Harmoko in his bid for re-election at the Golkar National Congress…

As to the matter of certain officers who have declared themselves in support of Mrs. Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, I would say that who retired ABRI officers support is a matter for them as private citizens. However, active duty ABRI officers in this case Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid and Lt. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah should support the line that I have just outlined.”

Asked by a media throng just as he emerged from his office, Chairman of the DPR/MPR Harmoko said that he is upbeat because he has the support of the "real" ABRI.

15th October 1998:
In an interview with RCTI, Tutut Soeharto revealed her optimism about her upcoming contest for the chairmanship of Golkar. She thanks those who have declared themselves to be suppoting her.

The President called Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia to congratulate the latter on his swearing-in as the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Badawi was elected after UMNO had opted to remove Mahathir Mohammad and Anwar Ibrahim from their positions in an Emergency UMNO General Assembly after their rivalry has only caused political uncertainty in the midst of the Asian Financial Crisis which in turn had led Malaysia to enter a recession.

16th October 1998:
At the DPR, Golkar members who are part of what is unofficially known as the Hartono Caucus gathered for a press conference. These members, who had voted against the Anti-Monopoly Bill, now gathered to declare their support for Tutut. At the same time as they made fun of Harmoko saying that he does not enjoy support both in Golkar and the DPR otherwise he would have been president rather than contesting for the chairmanship of Golkar.

In a meeting with Vice President JB Sumarlin, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Governor of BI Boediono, and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, the President approved of interest rate cuts to stimulate economic activity.

As explained by Soedradjad, Mar’ie, Boediono, and Edi in their joint press conference after the meeting, interest rates had been hiked when the value of the Rupiah had started to fall back in August 1997. Now the economy has stabilized and the currency has stabilized but the economy still needs to grow.


18th October 1998:
In a press conference at Soeharto Family Residence at Cendana Street in Jakarta, Tutut Soeharto announced that her candidate for Golkar Secretary will be Lt. Gen. (Ret.) ZA Maulani. When given the chance to speak, Maulani promised that with Tutut and himself at Golkar’s helm, Golkar will be a force that will be friendly to the ummah.

President Try met with Edi Sudrajat, Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo, and OCDS Sugeng Subroto. They five discussed how to handle Maulani being Tutut’s Golkar Secretary Candidate.

“It’s the smart pick”, said Ari Sudewo “He has a military background, he’ll for sure bring some of Habibie’s supporters over, and he’s from Kalimantan, where there are still votes to be fought for. Tutut is planning to cross the line with this pick.”

Edi says he feels Harmoko is not going to win. Sugeng Subroto agrees. The two suggested withdrawing Harmoko’s candidacy and nominating Siswono Yudohusodo as Chairman of Golkar, who was from Kalimantan, if the Kalimatan provinces are still in play.

“It’s too late in the game”, said Harsudiono “I don’t know how Harmoko or Ginandjar would react or whether or not they will play along. If we do that and they bolt, that’s the anti-Tutut votes divided and she’ll win easily.”

“In other words”, said Try “We’ve got to fight with what we have.”


19th October 1998:
By the time President Try arrived at Astana Giribangun in Solo, Central Java, the mausoleum which housed Soeharto’s tomb was covered in the yellow from all of the Golkar delegates presently crowding around and wearing their yellow jackets.

They gathered in the mausoleum with Try sitting front row center directly in front of Soeharto’s tomb flanked on his right by Harmoko as the incumbent Chairman of Golkar and on his left by Tutut. Minister of Religious Affairs Quraish Shihab led those present to pray for the “Success of the Golkar National Congress due to start tomorrow”.

Then, one by one and starting with the President, all present began to scatter flowers on Soeharto’s tomb. Try watched behind him as Harmoko scattered fllowers on Soeharto’s tomb while Tutut held the basket and then Tutut scattered flowers on her father’s grave while Harmoko held the basket. Try looked around and saw television cameras, the image of these two rivals showing unity, at least while paying their respects to Soeharto, were being beamed live across the nation.

 

[GSD310]

The Sixth Golkar National Congress
20th October 1998:
“While saying Bismillah, I hereby declare the Sixth Golkar National Congress open”, President Try Sutrisno said, concluding his speech. Not long thereafter, Try hits a gong to officially open the Golkar National Congress with Chairman of Golkar Harmoko standing beside him.

The odd thing about Golkar National Congress openings is that there was always a pretense of neutrality on the part of the President. Soeharto had attended such congresses in his capacity as President despite being also the Chairman of Golkar’s Council of Patrons and Try, not having any improvements to offer, did the same. It was why Try wore a black suit and tie rather than the yellow jackets all the congress delegates wore.

After opening the congress, Try toured Solo accompanied by Governor of Central Java Prabowo Subianto and Commander of the Central Java Regional Military Command Syahrir MS. Governor was most enthusiastic talking about the government projects that are under way. Try took the opportunity to ask Prabowo what his priorities were as governor.

“Facilitating the government’s stimulus package, maximizing revenue collection and utilization to implement the provincial government’s programs, and attracting university graduates to become civil servants in Central Java”, Prabowo said.

“Prabowo’s overly ambitious, impulsive, emotional, unpredictable”, said Try to State Secretary Edi Sudrajat “But Goddamn, he’s got brains.

While Try headed to the Presidential Palace, Harmoko just barely survived his end of term address. Throughout the address, there were audible laughter and boos when he would claim a success during his term as chairman. It was when a certain part of the audience began singing derisively Mari pulang…marilah pulang…marilah pulang….bersama-sama (“Let’s go…let’s go home together”, a song normally sung in boredom) that Hamengkubuwono X laid down the law as Chairman of the Congress and declared that Harmoko will be heard.

That night Try played host as the entire delegates attending the Golkar National Congress visited the Presidential Palace in Yogyakarta to celebrate the 34th Anniversary of Golkar’s foundation.

21st October 1998:
President Try returned to Jakarta to carry on with his duties of as president while the Golkar National Congress carried on without him.

That day the Golkar National Congress passed amendments to standing orders which made the chairmen of the Golkar regency branches, the members of the Council of Patrons, and the members of the Central Leadership Council voting delegates in the chairmanship election.

The Golkar National Congress also unanimously elected Try Sutrisno to a full five year term as Chairman of the Council of Patrons. This election was never in doubt.

At the end of the day, Try, accompanied by Edi Sudrajat and Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Ginandjar Kartasasmita spoke on the phone with Harmoko, Basofi Sudirman, and Jusuf Kalla to talk about progress.

Harmoko thanked Ginandjar for successfully securing all the votes in West Java while Ginandjar said “You’re welcome” with a self-satisfied smile. Kalla says that he is “fighting” for South Sulawesi’s votes because thereis Yunus Yosfiah campaigning heavily on Tutut’s behalf.

After this larger conference call, Try and Edi called in Ari Sudewo and Sugeng Subroto then together called Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas whose ministerial responsibilities including keeping an eye on such political events. All five agreed that the situation was still fluid.

22nd October 1998:
Things started happening today…and not in Harmoko’s, or Try’s for that matter, favor.

Just as debate and discussion about the rules of the chairmanship election had finished, Ary Mardjono stood up. He called for a motion to be passed calling for the Golkar National Congress to give sole authority to appoint members of the Central Leadership Council to the elected chairman, whoever that may be.

That roused Harmoko, who was sleepy from lobbying for support all night long. Agung Laksono as Chairman of the Steering Committee protested that “This was not in the script”.

Try was also paying attention as was Edi and Sugeng Subroto who joined him in his office to watch what was happening on television. The delegates voted and then counting began. It was in the middle of this, a call came in from Harsudiono.

“The Tutut supporters motioned for this, Mr. President and they wouldn’t have done this if they didn’t think they would win”, said Harsudiono “Someone big just switched over to Tutut.”

Joining his close friends, Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo confirmed that someone has just declared for Tutut and bringing a large bloc of votes over to her.

The motion was passed decisively. Whoever was voted chairman would have sole authority to determine their Central Leadership Council instead of having to share that authority with a team of formateurs as was past practice.

After the vote was over and the congress broke off for recess, all of the reporters, journalists, and cameramen looked for Akbar Tandjung. They found the former Minister of Housing walking down a hallway. In a short statement, Akbar Tandjung declared that he has accepted Tutut’s offer to become the Treasurer of Golkar should Tutut be elected.

In their conference call, Try, Edi, and Ginandjar in Jakarta, Harmoko, Basofi, and Kalla in Solo were all dejected. Harmoko was livid.

“YOU NEVER OPENLY DECLARED FOR ME, MR. PRESIDENT! YOU NEVER DID AND THAT’S WHY I’M IN THIS SITUATION!” Harmoko yelled down the phone.

“WATCH IT, YOU’RE SPEAKING TO THE PRESIDENT, AND HE DOESN’T HAVE TO DECLARE ANYTHING!” yelled Edi back.

“What do we do now?” asked Basofi “Maybe the President ought to do what Mr. Harmoko is suggesting.”

“Things are now too far in motion”, said Ginandjar “Akbar Tandjung’s going to bring with him all of his network, going as far as his student activist days. That's a lot of people who he's calling in favors from. We’re in deep shit.”

After the call was over, Ginandjar walked with slumped shoulders.

“You should have given me the chance to…” Ginandjar said while walking in Try’s direction before Edi got in his way.

“Back off”, Edi growled.

Ginandjar walked to the door with a slumped shoulder.

23rd October 1998:
The President never declared for Harmoko. Not in the months leading up to the congress because the precedent set by Soeharto was that the President never declared for anyone even if he had someone to favor. And especially not now.

In the meantime, others declared against Harmoko. In a press conference accompanied by outgoing Golkar Secretary Ary Mardjono and fellow Vice Chairman of DPR Syarwan Hamid, Vice Chairman of DPR Abdul Gafur declared that he is supporting Tutut and urged his “comrade-in-arms” who have voting rights to vote for Tutut.

Try was in Solo by afternoon. After dinner, the Golkar National Congress got underway again. Hamengkubuwono X first declared that there will be 417 delegates of at the Golkar National Congress with voting rights

After confirming that there are only two candidates for the position of chairman, the voting began. Starting with Try, all 417 delegates voted. There was a loud cheer for Tutut that just utterly crushed Harmoko and made Try think “Oh dear God”.

The votes were then counted one by one. Try sat between Harmoko and Tutut trying to look dignified. Harmoko tried to look cheerful. Tutut was relaxed.

It was not even close, though Harmoko got a fair amount of votes. After a while the congress disintegrated into prolonged cheering, though there were enough who looked dejected at what was happening.

For appearance’s sake, Try shook hands with Tutut and patted her shoulder. Then he shook hands with Harmoko, whose chairmanship of Golkar will be ending soon, and patted his shoulder.

The chanting of “Tutut! Tutut!” and “Soeharto! Soeharto!” only stopped after a piece of paper was handed to Hamengkubuwono X.

“The results are as follows:
Harmoko: 178 votes
Siti Hardijanti Rukmana: 239 votes

I declare Siti Hardijanti Rukmana elected as Chairman…or should I say Chairwoman…of Golkar!”

Later, while Try and Harmoko made quiet exits, Tutut was hoisted on the shoulders of her supporters and paraded around. Struggling to keep her headscarf intact, Tutut spoke into a microphone that was handed to her.

“This is a victory for Golkar! This is a victory for the New Order! This is a victory for those who believe in President Soeharto!” she proudly declared.

24th October 1998:
At the closing session of the Golkar National Congress, President Try Sutrisno officially swore in Tutut as the new Chairwoman of Golkar.

At the conclusion of the small ceremony, Try was the first to shake hands with Tutut.

“I guess it’s official now, Madam Chairwoman”, said Try “Congratulations and looking forward to work with you.”

“Thank you very much, Mr. President”, replied Tutut “Looking forward to you too.”

Both wondered how long cordial relations would last.

----
Tutut Soeharto’s official name is Siti Hardijanti Rukmana for all those wondering.

I suppose things can’t always go smoothly for Try. The situation that he’s entering now is akin to the President of the United States having a Chairman of the Republican/Democratic National Committee who is hostile to him.

In this TL nation never saw the Rupiah plummet to $1= Rp. 17,000, May 1998 riots, and Soeharto lose all credibility. So it's not beyond ridiculous or laughable to be a supporter of Soeharto unlike in OTL where you facepalm at the sight of Tommy Soeharto creating his own political party and wanting to bring back "The good old days".

 

[GSD310]

The Shadow of Soeharto
25th October 1998:
Tutut had remained in Solo after the Golkar National Congress had closed to celebrate her victory with the rest of the Soeharto family. She makes special acknowledgement of her brother-in-law Prabowo and thanks him for recommending ZA Maulani and Akbar Tandjung to be her Golkar Secretary and Treasurer.


26th October 1998:
President Try Sutrisno, accompanied by Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat today attended the opening of the Jakarta Stock Exchange. Though the event had been set in his calendar months ago, his attendance made it look like he was trying hard to make sure that it was still okay to do business in Indonesia after Tutut’s rise as Chairwoman.

“Were you defeated at the Golkar National Congress yesterday?” asked a foreign reporter, always asking such helpful questions.

“The Golkar National Congress is over and we should respect the results”, said Try before Edi helped escort him away.

In the car, Try asked Edi to get into contact with Harmoko and asked that a vote be held to pass the Government Regulation in Lieu of a Law on Banking into a law.

Harmoko swears in Marzuki Darusman and Jacob Tobing as DPR members. The two filled in the vacancy left behind by Roesdi Roesli (who became Assistant State Secretary for Legislative Affairs) and Burhan Magenda (who became Governor of West Nusa Tenggara). The two were also appointed to give teeth for Try supporters in the DPR in the face of the Hartono Caucus.

27th October 1998:
Harmoko officially hands over the keys to the Golkar Central Leadership Council building to Tutut, who will begin to go to office there as Chairwoman of Golkar.

That afternoon, with the cameras of the media trained on her, Tutut reads out the list of her 45-strong Central Leadership Council. She said that she has asked for time to meet with the President to introduce her team and for the President “to get a good look at us”.

Edi Sudrajat had dinner at Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Ginandjar Kartasasmita’s office. Ginandjar seemed frustrated and began ranting about how it should have been him facing off against Tutut at the Golkar National Congress.

“The rice has turned to porridge on that, pal”, said Edi “What I want you to know is whether you’re still loyal to the President.”

“He’s the best we’ve got right now”, said Ginandjar calming down “How’s he holding up? What gameplan he wants to try?”

Edi told him what the President wants to do.

“Don’t”, said Ginandjar “It won’t go unnoticed that the President has not punished the two vice chairmen of the DPR that supports the other side. The waverers will go over to the other side because they’re not seeing strength. The Tutut supporters will for sure test the President with a vote.”

“What should his play be?” asked Edi.

“Get Harmoko to remove both Syarwan and Abdul Gafur. Take down two vice chairmen of the DPR, people will take notice.”

“They’ll still try to test him with a vote”, said Edi.

“They’ll test him either way”, replied Ginandjar “But there’ll be less wavering because people will see that the President has strength.”


28th October 1998:
President Try Sutrisno accompanied by Minister of Employment and Small Business Oetojo Oesman as well as Minister of Female Empowerment, Youth and Sports Khofifah Indar Parawansa attended a Youth Day event hosted by the Indonesian Youth National Committee and the Indonesian Young Businessmen Association which also included an exhibition of small businesses.

Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut lunched with members of the Hartono Caucus to get to know them as well as to learn what’s on the legislative agenda at the moment.

29th October 1998:
The President accompanied by Edi Sudrajat lunched with Chairman of DPR/MPR Harmoko. The latter has recovered from his defeat. Try told Harmoko that he would like to see the Banking Law officially passed in the DPR. Harmoko said that the best step now is to hit back at Syarwan Hamid and Abdul Gafur for openly flaunting the fact that they voted for Tutut. Harmoko also said that as Chairman of DPR, it’s difficult to work with two vice chairmen who are undermining him.

Harmoko said the mechanism’s easy:

*For Syarwan Hamid, since he’s an ABRI officer, the Chairman of the DPR in consultation with the Commander of ABRI can recall the member.

*For Abdul Gafur, the Chairman of the DPR in consultation with the Chairman of Golkar can recall the member.

“How likely are you that you can convince Tutut to consult with you about removing Gafur?” asked Try.

Harmoko produced a letter he had written in his last days as Chairman of Golkar. The letter was addressed to himself in his capacity as Chairman of the DPR asking for the removal of Gafur.

Edi smiled at Harmoko’s ingenuity but was surprised that Try was less than enthusiastic. He thanked Harmoko on the President’s behalf and said that orders will be passed along to Wiranto to begin the procedures to remove Syarwan Hamid from the DPR.

As the day himself, Edi chatted with Sugeng Subroto about how the President seems to want to pass the Banking Law rather than assert his leadership. Both agreed it looks like the President is taking the loss at the Golkar National Congress worst than Harmoko and that he should be “guided along”.

30th October 1998:
President Try met with Commander of ABRI Wiranto who came with ABRI Chief of Socio-Political Affairs Staff Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Yudhoyono wanted to meet with the President to seek permission to hold an Army Seminar. The Seminar will look at the situation in Indonesia after the death of President Soeharto in a wholistic way and present recommendations as to what step to take in the future. Yudhoyono estimates that it will be held in February. Try gave his approval and asked Yudhoyono to ask for as many input as possible from society.

Edi noted that the President did not discuss with Wiranto about Syarwan Hamid.

1st November 1998:
Benny Murdani came to the Presidential Palace today. He and the President had afternoon tea and talked about light subjects. It was the President who began to talk about the “heavy stuff”.

“Why did our side lose at the Golkar National Congress?” asked Try.

“Because the other side wanted it more, Mr. President”, said Benny “They control the governorship of Central Java and 49 seats in the DPR but all that is nothing compared to the chairmanship of Golkar. That chairmanship, that’s where they can really be the thorn in your flesh.”

Try and Benny shoot the breeze some more before a quiet lull provided Benny with the opportunity to discuss what he wanted with the President.

“Your State Secretary worries about you”, said Benny “He says you’re shying away from removing Syarwan Hamid and Abdul Gafur as Vice Chairmen of the DPR and from the DPR.”

“It’s not a productive exercise”, rebutted Try.

“It’s showing you have authority, Mr. President”, said Benny “I can assure you there’ll be plenty more than 49 members in Hartono’s caucus, there’ll be plenty of governors who’ll switch sides, and God knows what your cabinet will be thinking…”

“I’d rather get on with the Banking Law…” Try said before turning away his face.

“Mr. President…Mr. President”, said Benny but not getting a response “Try!”

“I know it’s Tutut I’m facing off with”, began Try “But I can’t help but feel her father’s shadow hanging behind her and over me.”

Benny sighed.

“Try…only 40% of my life has been about my family and myself. The other 60% has been about Soeharto. When he made me Commander of ABRI, the last unit I commanded was a battalion. After that I was in intelligence. I owe him, I admire him, and I’m loyal to him.”

“Then you know what I’m dealing with”, said Try.

“More than you know”, said Benny “But loyalty doesn’t always mean submission and I considered it loyalty when I warned Soeharto that he was losing control of his children.

It was Soeharto’s good fortune that he died when he did. If what I heard was true, he was wavering beween doing what knew was right and listening to his children. That doesn’t bode well for him or for the country.

Maybe in some other dimension he survives his stroke and leads the country into such a bad situation that he fell from power in some massive unrest and the idea that people can chant his name the way his name was chanted at that congress would be laughable at best.

But you’ve been so good at dealing with this economic crisis that we never got to see how bad things can get. Instead, you’ve got Soeharto’s children, his cronies, and that son-in-law of his looking at you with disdain for taking away from them what they think is their right.

I don’t blame you for feeling indebted to Soeharto, Mr. President. It shows that you are loyal. But those people: Tutut, Prabowo, Hartono, and God knows who else, they’re going to tear this country apart if they’re able to get to where you’re sitting now.

Don’t be afraid to get out of his shadow and do what’s best for the country, Mr. President.”

---
Wikipedia article of Benny Murdani https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardus_Benjamin_Moerdani

Try is essentially suffering from guilt of having to face off with the daughter of someone who had been his patron. In the process acknowledging Tutut's status as his most prominent political opponent.

 

[GSD310]

Recovery From Defeat
2nd November 1998:
President Try, accompanied by Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Deputy State Secretary Soedibyo Rahardjo, and Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman, were today visited by Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto who brought her entire 45-member Center Leadership Council.

It went well enough for what it was though Try got the sense that the officials who were with him were sizing up those in the audience while those who were with Tutut had a look of “slight sarcasm” on theirs. Lots of handshaking, a group photograph, and the meeting was over

“They’re pretty hostile people if you ask me”, said Harsudiono when they were finished.


3rd November 1998:
President Try met with Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro. Wardiman came to introduce Director General of Vocational, Technical, and Further Eduation Dr. Gatot Hari Priowirjanto, a new official appointed to a newly created position.

“We have to empower the future generations and we do that by giving them options”, said Try “We want to empower them so that they want to become employees, entrepreneurs, civil servants or learn a trade and vocation.”

4th November 1998:
The President today chaired a full cabinet meeting with the only item on the agenda being a report by Operational Control of Development Secretary (OCDS) Sugeng Subroto on the implementation of the Stimulus Package which includes the following:

-Roads, schools, housing, or any piece of physical infrastructure of bad quality need to be followed up. The contractors have to be put under review. The people from the departments who deal with them should also be reviewed lest there be some bribery involved in the tendering process.

-Reports are coming in of jobs in infrastructure projects being sold to the highest bidder by field managers. Again contractors need to be put under review.

-The Governments’ business crash course continue to have course providers charging money to those attending when in fact the official price for attending such a course is free.

The President instructed all ministers to follow through on the recommendations given by the OCDS.


5th November 1998:
A busy morning for Harmoko as he met with Commander of ABRI Wiranto and then chaired internal meetings with the Leader of Golkar in the DPR Irsyad Sudiro and the other leaders of Golkar in the DPR.

At 10 AM, Harmoko held a press conference in which he announced that Wiranto has written and consulted with him about the recalling of Syarwan Hamid from his DPR seat and his position as Vice Chairman of the DPR. Harmoko also pointed to a letter he wrote whilst still Chairman of Golkar asking for the recall of Abdul Gafur. Harmoko says that such requests are “well within legislation” and he will get to them.

The DPR building was a locus of activity. Syarwan Hamid said that “I’m about to leave active duty anyway” while Abdul Gafur sarcastically said this “Had nothing to do with who they supported at the Golkar National Congress”. Irsyad Sudiro meanwhile issued a statement that regardless of what happened at the National Congress, the majority of those in the DPR building still support the Presidency of Try Sutrisno and the Chairmanship of Harmoko.

Hartono went to Harmoko but did not get a sympathetic hearing from the latter who simply said that he had signed on the dotted line for both Syarwan and Abdul Gafur.

At the State Secretariat, when asked what was the government’s stance on the matter, Edi Sudrajat said “This is a matter for the DPR to solve and I believe it is being solved.”

It was afternoon when Tutut called a press conference. She said that the recalling of Syarwan and Gafur was done “subjectively and unilaterally” and said that she would like to revoke the letter which her predecessor as Chairman of Golkar had sent.

Tutut did not give up and arrived at Harmoko’s office in the evening, whereupon Harmoko made her wait for 3 hours. Harmoko only met with Tutut because he was about to head home. It was a tense scene that had security getting ready to break up a fight because Harmoko had Irsyad Sudiro the Leader of Golkar in the DPR with him while Tutut had Hartono and Ary Mardjono with her. Thankfully it never eventuated with Tutut challenging Harmoko to put Abdul Gafur’s removal to a vote the next morning on the DPR and Harmoko accepting.


6th November 1998:
Edi, Harsudiono Hartas, and Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo sat around a table as the votes for the motion “This Council Has No Confidence in Abdul Gafur as Vice Chairman of the DPR and that He Should Be Recalled as DPR Member”. The PPP, PDI, and ABRI members had abstained thinking that this was an internal Golkar matter.

The final votes were:
*325 votes in favor
*175 votes in abstention

The DPR has no confidence in Abdul Gafur as Vice Chairman of the DPR and that he should be recalled as a DPR member.

“This is a victory for us isn’t it?” asked Edi.

“Not so fast”, said Harsudiono “Either they don’t have the numbers or they don’t want to reveal how much support they have on a vote like this. Poor Abdul Gafur just became a fall guy.”

“Why bring on the vote then?”

“Maybe Tutut’s a novice and miscalculated”, Ari Sudewo said “Then she got advice that it's best not to reveal her hand and show how much support they have on a needless vote. But these things happen when Tutut's real political brains is busy being Governor of Central Java.”

7th November 1998:
Try Sutrisno, in his capacity as Chairman of Golkar’s Council of Patron, names a new 45-person Council of Patron.

8th November 1998:
The President invited his “Four Horsemen” for breakfast at the Presidential Palace: Edi Sudrajat, Harsudiono Hartas, Ari Sudewo, and Sugeng Subroto. After the four busted the President’s balls about finally recovering from the Golkar National Congress, they conducted a post-mortem about the Golkar National Congress.

It was widely agreed by all that Tutut’s picks for Golkar Secretary (ZA Maulani) and Golkar Treasurer (Akbar Tandjung) brought a lot of votes her way. ZA Maulani collected votes from the Kalimantan branches while Akbar Tandjung collected votes from branches with links to the Islamic Youth Association which the latter is a senior at.

“Based on my intel, while Tutut has her hardcore supporters within Golkar, a sizeable chunk of the votes that went her way said that they are genuinely 100% behind the President but that between Tutut and Harmoko, the choice for them is simple”, reported Ari.

“So you’re saying we should’ve backed a different candidate for Chairman?” asked Try.

“We ddidn’t have a lot of choice”, said Harsudiono “It’s either we back someone else, divide the anti-Tutut vote, and make it easy for her to win or we hold our noses, support one candidate, and have a tight contest.”

“Except it wasn’t a tight contest”, said Sugeng Subroto.

“OK, OK that’s enough”, said Edi “Let’s get on to the next question, what should the President do now?”

“This is how I read it”, began Harsudiono “There’s at least 49 DPR members in the Hartono Caucus if the vote against the Antimonopoly Law a few months back is anything to go by. There will be those wavering to join that caucus but any the moment, they’ll think twice or risk losing their DPR seat if they go ahead. That said, I think the President should protect his flank in the DPR. Time to consolidate the DPR members that are supportive of the government.

 

[GSD310]

Legislative Deadlocks, Summits, and Unsubstantiated Rumours
9th November 1998:
In a short ceremony at the Presidential Palace, President Try Sutrisno names Mrs. Fatmawati, Indonesia’s 1st First Lady as a National Hero. Accepting the award on Fatmawati’s behalf is her eldest daughter, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

In the meet and greet with the Soekarno family, Try accompanied by Edi Sudrajat, took Megawati Soekarnoputri and her husband Taufiq Kiemas aside to talk about political issues. Try asked if there was anything Megawati could do to get the PDI to support the Banking Law. Megawati joked that Try named her mother a national hero just so he could talk to her. On a more serious note, she said that the only way she can be of assistance to Try is if she’s “inside the political system” and the fact of the matter is, she’s been out of it since removed as Chairwoman of the PDI by Soeharto. Try looks grim.

On the way home, Megawati told her husband Taufiq Kiemas that she could not understand why Try cares so much about 11 PDI votes. Even without the PDI votes in the DPR and even without the 49 members of the Hartono Caucus, Golkar still has 276 votes.

“For lesser mortals like us, it doesn’t really matter because at the end of the day it’s Golkar who rules the DPR”, explained Taufiq “But for them, so used to large majorities and unanimous passing of bills, 49 votes against one of their laws from within Golkar, that has to hurt. It’s all psychological here.”


10th November 1998:
The President today led Heroes’ Day commemoration at Kalibata Heroes’ Cemetery. He laid flowers at the tomb of Captain (Posthumous) Pierre Tendean, who died at the hands of the 30th September Movement. Tendean was Try’s junior and like him, an Army Engineer.

Try invited Vice President JB Sumarlin into his car on the way back to the Presidential Palace. Try asked Sumarlin how are the markets perceiving “recent political events”.

“The Rupiah has remained stable, maybe even a bit stronger”, said Sumarlin “That’s either a vote of confidence in your continuing leadership or, as the other side may like to see it, a sign that the Chairwoman of Golkar is accepted by the markets.”


11th November 1998:
The President, accompanied by Chairman of BP-7 Soegiarto, opened a P4 Session attended by Athletes as he had promised a few months ago.

Chairman of PDI Soerjadi paid a courtesy call to Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto. The two posed for pictures. Soerjadi said that people should not forget that the PDI which he led is the one acknowledged by the government is the one that was recognized by the then-President Soeharto and then-Vice President Try Sutrisno.


13th November 1998:
Governor of BI Boediono and Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad fronted a DPR hearing today to introduce Government Regulation In Lieu of a Law Regarding Banking as a bill to be passed as a law.

“The Government has introduced the bill and obviously there’s some kind of a logjam, so the Government has issued a Regulation In Lieu of a Law”, said Mar’ie “And now it asks this honorable institution’s cooperation to pass this regulation"

It was the two ministers’ misfortune that there were members of the Hartono Caucus in the committee they fronted. They were asked whether or not it was the correct decision for the economy that the nation’s “captains of industry” be more susceptible to prosecution in the new law.

“I should hope that anyone in the banking industry, be they owners or employees, should be more susceptible to prosecution if they break the law”, said Boediono.


15th November 1998:
In a small party at the Presidential Palace and accompanied by First Lady Tuti Setiawati, Try Sutrisno celebrates his first birthday as president. The youthful looking President turns 63 today.

16th November 1998:
President Try today welcomes Prime Minister John Howard of Australia who was re-elected at an election the previous month. Try and Howard talked about cooperation in various areas. In education, cooperation was already germinating with Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro and Minister for Education David Kemp which will see two Australian university open campuses in Indonesia.

17th November 1998:
The President this morning departed for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the APEC Summit at the head of a delegation which included:

*Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas
*Minister of Trade and Investment Dorojadtun Kuntjoro-Jakti
*Minister of Industry, Research, and Technology Siswono Yudohusodo
*Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Soeyono
*State Secretary Edi Sudrajat
*Head of BKPM Mari Elka Pangestu

Try met a lot of people. He met with Vice President Al Gore from the USA. who came representing Bill Clinton. Try also sat down with President of Russia Boris Yeltsin saying that he regrets the purchase of the Sukhoi has not eventuated yet because of the crisis but that he is open to closer Indonesian-Russian ties in other areas. Try and Yeltsin commits to facilitating trade between the two countries.

Try also attended Isra Miraj commemoration hosted by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

There was some controversy when before dinner, Al Gore made a speech that drew outrage from the hosts: “"Democracy confers a stamp of legitimacy that reforms must have in order to be effective." He went on: "And so, among nations suffering economic crises, we continue to hear calls for democracy, calls for reform, in many languages - People Power, doi moi, reformasi. We hear them today - right here, right now - among the brave people of Malaysia."

18th November 1998:
Today is the photo-op session with all the other APEC economies leaders.

Today’s key meeting is with President of China Jiang Zemin where Try promoted Indonesian tourist sites as places where Chinese tourists could go to. Jiang said that he would allow Indonesia to set up tourist promotion offices in China provided China could do the same. Try agrees.

In between meetings, Ali Alatas was asked about whether or not Gore’s speech applies to Indonesia. “There have been no calls for democracy because Indonesia is a Pancasila Democracy, there have been no calls for reforms because Indonesia is conducting reforms, and while Indonesia is suffering economic crisis, Indonesia is coping with it”, said Alatas.

The news from Indonesia today is that the Banking Regulation In Lieu of a Law and the government’s request that it be upgraded to a law is still stuck in the DPR because it has tuned into a cross-examination of the Try government’s economic policy.

19th November 1998:
In the morning, the President and his delegation flew from Kuala Lumpur for Tokyo, Japan. Arriving at Tokyo after lunch, Try and his delegation were entertained by Emperor Akihito. The evening was spent dining, meeting, and greeting the members of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The last agenda for the day was preparing for tomorrow’s meetings as well as talking about developments from home with Edi.

“So the DPR passed a Consumer Protection Law?” asked Try skimming a piece of paper “Giving me the authority to go after false advertising is good but what about the banking law?”

“The Hartono Caucus passed that to make it look like they’re not obstructionist”, said Edi “But I’m hearing they’re still grilling Boediono and Mar’ie about it.”

Try told Edi to look for away for the bill to pass the DPR’s Economics and Finance Committee and into the general assembly of the DPR when they get back from Japan.


20th November 1998:
Try met with Prime Minister of Japan Keizo Obuchi. Obuchi said that the Japanese economy is struggling but that the Japanese cabinet had passed a stimulus package. Try said that Japanese economic recovery is welcome because Japan is an export market for Indonesia. Try also welcomed Japan’s continuing aid package throughout the crisis.

Just as they had wrapped up for the day, Try and Edi got a phonecall from Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman and Deputy State Secretary Soedibyo Rahardjo. They reported that a mysterious brochure is doing the rounds in Jakarta claiming that “Try Sutrisno and Edi Sudrajat Fighting Over A Widow”.


21st November 1998:
Touring a factory with their delegation in Yokohama, Try and Edi had a difficult time concentrating. Try read the fax of the mysterious brochure which had been sent to them. The brochure claims that a widow called N had become a “Lady of the Night” in Jakarta where Try Sutrisno and Edi Sudrajat, both majors general, “fought over her”. The lady chose to become Try’s paramour and their relationship only ended when Try became Vice President.

The matter spread across Indonesian newspapers and on the internet, that by the time Try met the Indonesian community in Tokyo at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, a member of the audience asked the question.

“The First Lady is here with us, I can tell her with a straight face and I can tell you all that I don’t know what the story in that brochure is talking about”, said Try “And I can speak for the State Secretary as well.”

22nd November 1998:
The President had a conference call with Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro, and Chief of Police Luthfi Dahlan. He ordered all the brochures seized and charges laid against the origins of the brochure. He also asked that newspapers be given one more day to cover the news before a government statement is released and all coverage of this matter must cease.

With his delegation, President Try then flew back home. On the flight he took the opportunity to repeat what he said to the Indonesian community living in Tokyo. The President had a meeting with his delegation to discuss the visit to Japan. The consensus was that Japan’s economic recovery is what is best for Indonesia not only because Japan is an export market but also because if Japan is forced to rely on its own exports for recovery, it will be another competitor for Indonesia in the world export market.

The President’s plane landed in the evening at Palembang, South Sumatra where he will spend the night there.

23rd November 1998:
Accompanied by Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Commander of ABRI Wiranto, Army Chief of Staff Agum Gumelar, new Governor of South Sumatra Maj. Gen. Bimo Prakoso, and Commander of the Southern Sumatra Regional Military Command Ryamizard Ryacudu, Try inaugurated a refurbished defense housing complex, the result of the stimulus package launched six months ago. The President spent the day touring Palembang and its surrounds before flying back to Jakarta in the afternoon.

In Jakarta, Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunication Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman held a press conference. Hayono Isman said that the government has taken steps to seize the brochures and identify the person who originally distributed the brochures to be arrested. The two officials called for all newspapers, television channels, and various other forms of media to cease from reporting the news regarding the “brochure with the false rumor” because this will only disturb stability. The government, through the Department of Information, Post, and Telecommunication will take steps if this warning is unheeded.

---
Covered two weeks with lots of things going on from the Hartono Caucus dragging things out with the Banking Law, APEC and the visit to Japan, and a rumor about Try and Edi Sudrajat.

The spread of the rumor about Try and Edi happened in OTL around this time as well. The only thing I changed about it is the fact that the rumour was spread on an anonymous brochure that has been photocopied and spread around. In OTL, the rumour was spread by Warta Republik Magazine, a magazine that used the newfound freedom of the press after Soeharto’s fall.

In OTL, Try pressed charges on the magazine though what became of the case has never been made clear. Here, given that he is the president, he uses the might of the apparatus that’s available to him.

This is the story in question: http://arsip.gatra.com/1999-01-04/majalah/artikel.php?pil=23&id=75219 (In Indonesian)

 

[GSD310]

One Year of Try
24th November 1998:
The President breakfasted with Chairman of DPR/MPR Harmoko and talked about the latest developments in the legislature. Harmoko told Try that the Consumer Protection Law was a bone thrown to appease him while the run-around continues for the Banking Law.

The two talked about the two vacant Vice Chairman of DPR positions. Harmoko said regarding the Vice Chairman of DPR’s position from ABRI, he will leave that to the President’s discretion. Regarding the Vice Chairman of DPR’s position from Golkar, Harmoko advised to take a “consensus” candidate that is acceptable to both Try and Tutut.


25th November 1998:
President Try Sutrisno and Vice President JB Sumarlin co-chaired a social policy meeting attended by Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro, Minister of Health Broto Wasisto, Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab, Minister of Social Affairs Meutia Hatta, and Minister of Female Empowerment, Youth, and Sports Khofifah Indar Parawansa. State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman, Head of Bulog I Gede Awet Sara, Head of BKKBN Nafsiah Mboi and Head of BPS Gunawan Sumodiningrat also attended.

The meeting results are as follows:
-The general consensus is that the measures have been implemented more smoothly than the economic stimulus though I Gede Awet Sara said that Bulog will review the employees it is using to drive the rice distribution trucks because of reports that they are soliciting “tips”.

-Those deemed by BPS data to be below the poverty line will have their children’s primary school fees abolished. This is to prevent school children from dropping out as a result of their parents’ decreased financial capacity.

-Gunawan Sumodiningrat reported that 1998’s poverty level is set to be 18%. This is up from 11% in 1996 but not as bad as expected.

The day ended with minutes of Golkar’s Central Leadership Council meeting from the previous day, led by Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut, being submitted to Try. The meeting agreed that no DPR members would be removed from their seats on account of their stance at the Golkar National Congress. The meeting also nominates Theo Sambuaga to take up the vacant Vice Chairman of the DPR position left behind by Abdul Gafur.


26th November 1998:
Try, accompanied by Edi Sudrajat, met with Ginandjar Kartasasmita accompanied by CEO of TVRI Roni Sikap Sinuraya. The guests today came to report about the editorial line to be taken by the TVRI on the 29th November to commemorate the 1 year anniversaries of Soeharto’s death and Try’s accession to the Presidency. Try approved of a coverage which would highlight Soeharto’s achievements in life but would also emphasize the fact that he is Soeharto’s constitutional and legitimate successor.

In a later meeting, Presidential Secretary Soedjoko reported that Tutut had written a latter to the President saying that they could not attend prayers for Soeharto’s 1 year anniversary to be held at the Presidential Palace because they would like to have their own private event. Try and Edi agreed that it was reasonable.

27th November 1998:
Edi Sudrajat met Matori Abdul Djalil of the PPP. Matori explained that the PPP’s official stance is to wait and see until Golkar gets a consensus on the Banking Law. Edi said that the PPP will be waiting for a long time if that's what is aiming for. He asks for Matori and his PPP faction’s support should the bill be put to a vote. Matori said he will help and says he will bring as much votes with him as possible.


29th November 1998:
The one year anniversary of Soeharto’s death was marked by TVRI with special coverage but which was not the wall-to-wall coverage of the previous year which began with news trickling through that Soeharto had died and ended with his funeral. The special coverage was to be simulcast by all the private television networks.

A four hour bloc after lunch was set aside for a 2 hour documentary of Soeharto’s life, a 1 hour special report on Try Sutrisno’s 1 year presidency, and a 1 hour interview with former State Secretary Moerdiono.

What captured the attention of the nation was the interview with Moerdiono who spoke about what happened from a year ago.
On the moments after Soeharto’s death:
“The President was pronounced dead at 5.50 PM. Those of us who were present shed tears, prayed, and wondered how all this was going to play out.

Some were very much thinking about how all this was going to play out, they were the first to stop praying and began talking about “arrangements”…who was going to be what in the new government…it’s unethical for me to say who these people are but I will only say that they are very much still in public life today.

Someone slid over next to me, it was General Wiranto, who was then still Army Chief of Staff. “What do we now?” He asked.

“We’ve got to get to the Vice President, tell him what happened, and get him sworn in”, I replied “And we’ve got to do it before these vultures get to the crown.”

“Okay”, said Wiranto “I’ve got the Presidential Bodyguard and the West Java Regional Military Command on standby.”

“That will do for now”, I said standing up “We have to be quick.”

On Try:
“For me, he is this nation’s legitimate leader and I’m saying this not just as a form of lip-service. He’s legitimate in three ways:

He’s legitimate because he was President Soeharto’s last Vice President and so he is the constitutional successor of President Soeharto.

He’s legitimate because he’s put himself forward at the 1998 MPR Session and he’s been given the trust to become president once more and he has that mandate to govern the nation for a five year term.

And he’s legitimate because look at what’s happening around us as a result of the Economic Crisis and look and what’s happening to us. Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand all in recession and Indonesia surviving this crisis, though we can’t just take things for granted, of course.”
---

The nation witnessed a visual spectacle that night on television. At the Presidential Palace, Try Sutrisno and Chairman of the DPR/MPR Harmoko sat front row center and said their prayers in an event attended by ministers, state officials, and ABRI’s top officers.

At Cendana Street, Soeharto’s former residence, the six Soeharto children and their spouses (including Governor of Central Java Prabowo Subianto) presided over a prayer service attended by former ministers, longtime associates, and diehards of the deceased president.

The mistake was that all the television channels broadcasted showed live shots from both events and placed the shots side by side on the television screen showing that Try and Tutut’s events were happening separately but simultaneously.

At his house, Chairman of NU Abdurrahman Wahid nodded sagely when he was told what was happening by his daughter Yenny.

“The President has limited the damage of the financial crisis and is trying to position our nation for economic recovery and this will be his main achievement in one year of office”, said Wahid “But where has he fallen short? I would say that he has fallen short in uniting the political elite the way Soeharto had. He’s in a partnership with Harmoko but only because he has to; he has tried to buy Habibie’s support by continuing the latter’s projects but has thus far only gotten neutrality; and that Golkar National Congress, boy oh boy that showed that Tutut and the die hard Soehartoists are most definitely not on his side.”

 

[GSD310]

Just some notes regarding the situation that has developed between Try Sutrisno and Tutut Soeharto:

-One of the rumors swirling around in Jakarta in the years and months leading to Soeharto’s fall from power was that Soeharto was preparing his eldest daughter Tutut. It’s unsubstantiated but there are signs heading in that direction, most notably Soeharto’s decision to appoint Tutut as Minister of Social Affairs in 1998 and the support Tutut enjoys within elements of Golkar to the extend that these elements preferred her to be VP.

-How Tutut will eventually succeed to the presidency is also speculation. But the path there was thought to have also included the Chairwomanship of Golkar. That she will be minister and concurrently Chairwoman of Golkar is not without precedent because since 1983, the Chairman of Golkar had also been ministers, sub-cabinet officials, and Chairmen of the DPR/MPR at the same time.

-ITTL Tutut does not command enough power to become president but has more than enough to build a winning coalition to win the chairwomanship of Golkar.

-Try is uncomfortable taking on Tutut. Out of his inner circle (Try plus Edi, Harsudiono, Ari Sudewo, and Sugeng) , he’s the one that is most sympathetic to Soeharto. All the others have in some way, shape or form ran afoul of Soeharto or have not been liked by him.

 

[GSD310]

The End of 1998:
12th December 1998:
President Try Sutrisno breakfasted with Chairman of DPR Harmoko at the Bogor Presidential Palace. Harmoko agreed with the analysis of Try’s inner circle that “Tutut and co.” had just pulled the religious card on him. Try asked if Harmoko could call an emergency session of the DPR.

“The DPR’s gone into recess now and it’ll be at recess until 4th January when you’re due to introduce your draft budget”, said Harmoko “In any case most of the DPR members would’ve already jetted off for their end of year holidays by the end of the weekend. That or they wil be thinking about how they will respond to the amendments introduced by Soerjadi.”

“What are my options, Mr. Chairman?” asked Try.

“Get something that is acceptable and will pass”, said Harmoko “And pass it early in the next seating period otherwise they’ll try to get concessions out of your budget as the price for passing the banking bill.”

Meanwhile, in a press conference at Golkar Headquarters, Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut said that she has told the President that she will support the Banking Bill and that remains her stance. However the amendments introduced the previous day is a matter of “conscience” and not one of “party discipline.”

14th December 1998:
State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Minister of Finance Ma’rie Muhammad, Minister of Religious Affairs Quraish Shihab, and Governor of BI Boediono held a joint press conference after their meeting with the President.

-Mar’ie Muhammad and Boediono explained that both the existing Banking Law and the bill proposed already recognized the existence of Sharia Banking. It is just the case that Sharia Banking is acknowledged as “Profit-sharing banks”.

-Quraish Shihab said that these “Profit-sharing banks” share the characteristics of Sharia Banking and there isn’t an urgent requirement to have “Sharia Banking” explicitly acknowledged as such.

-Edi said that the President respects DPR Member Soerjadi’s rights to introduce amendments or for Golkar, PPP, and ABRI members in the DPR to revise their stance towards the bill in light of the amendments. That said, the government will prepare a response to the amendments introduced.

15th-16th December 1998:
President Try accompanied by Edi Sudrajat and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas spent these two days attending the ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. Ali Alatas looked on with a wry smile as both publicly during the sessions and in private meetings, ASEAN’s Heads of State and Governments acknowledged Try’s success in limiting the damage of the Asian Financial Crisis. Try took it all in good stead with a bashful smile. The only downer came from the Malaysian and Singaporean delegation who complained about smoke from forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra being blown in their directions.

Back in Jakarta, a small group of protesters representing the Indonesian Committee for World Islamic Solidarity (KISDI) gathered outside the Vice Presidential Palace. They demonstrated against Sumarlin’s role of as the “Architect” of the “Sharialess Banking Law”. Sumarlin was Minister of Finance when the present Banking Law was proposed nad passed.

The next day the demonstrations were larger and a combined force of Jakarta Regional Military Command and Jakarta Metropolitan Police Personnel had to disband the crowd.

17th December 1998:
En route back from Hanoi, President Try landed in Manila where he met with President Josef Estrada on a short 1 day visit. Try and Estrada discussed closer relations and pledged cooperation fighting piracy.

18th December 1998:
The President touched down in Jakarta at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. He decided to answer questions and have an impromptu press conference just as he was about to get into his car.

“I think the people demonstrating in front of the Vice Presidential Palace over the course of two days should learn about our political system”, Try said when asked what he thought of the protests in front of the Vice Presidential palace “We’ve got the channels through which those aspiratios can be expressed.”

“What about the comment of the present Banking Law being “Sharialess”?” asked a reporter

“I recognize the sentiments which the proposed amendments introduced in the DPR had given rise to and would like to reiterate that the government will have some proposals of its own just as soon as the DPR gets back into session”, said Try.

21st December 1998:
Trucks bringing quite literally a wad of money arrived at the Bank Indonesia (BI) building. Overseeing the large amount of cash being unloaded were Mar’ie Muhammad, Boediono, and Head of IBRA Bambang Subianto.

“This represents the first installment of the BLBI Repayments as agreed to in September”, announced Bambang Subianto.

22nd December 1998:
After a meeting with President Try, Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Cooperatives Sarwono Kusumaatmadja announced the deregulation of orange, cashew nuts, and vanilla trade. Farmers of these agricultural commodities are now free to sell their products to whomever they want rather than to government-selected distributors and cooperatives. This fulfills the commitment made by the government to the IMF in April 1998.

23rd December 1998:
The President had an iftar dinner with Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Abdurrahman Wahid, Chairman of Muhammadiyah Amien Rais, and Chairman of the Indonesian Clerics Association (MUI) Ali Yafie to discuss what has become known as the “Sharia Banking Amendments”. Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab sat in on the meeting.

The meeting ended in a deadlock with Wahid favoring the status quo (Sharia Banking mentioned as “profit-sharing banks”, Amien in favor of the amendment (Sharia Banking explicitly acknowledged), and Ali Yafie saying that the MUI would like to leave the decision to the discretion of the government.

24th December 1998:
President Try attended the final day of the Indonesian Furniture and Handicraft Expo at the Jakarta Convention Center accompanied by Minister of Trade and Investment Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Minister of Industry, Research, and Technology Siswono Yudohusodo, and Minister of Forestry and Environment Ardans. The furniture and handicraft sectors did well in the wake of the Asian Financial Crisis with the drop in the Rupiah’s value making Indonesian-made furnitures and handicraft prices cheaper in the world market.

Among the many furniture businessmen he met that day, Try met a Solo furniture businessman who stressed the importance of branding. This thin businessman said he nicknamed himself Jokowi to differentiate himself from the other Indonesian “Jokos” and “Widodos” on the international market.

28th December 1998:
Try met with ABRI Chief of Socio-Political Affairs Staff Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Governor of the National Defence Institute (Lemhanas) Agus Widjojo, and Assistant of Socio-Political Affairs Agus Wirahadikusumah. The three officers came to officially invite him to the Army Seminar to be held on 15th February 1999 to discuss the direction which Indonesia will be heading in the wake of Soeharto’s death. Try accepted the invitation.

30th December 1998:
Try lunched with Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas. Harsudiono reported that he had inaugurated Syarwan Hamid as Governor of Riau two days prior. He said that since Prabowo’s inauguration as Governor of Central Java, the following governors have been appointed:

*I Made Bandem as Governor of Bali
*Burhan Magenda as Governor of West Nusa Tenggara
*Hamengkubuwono X as Governor of Yogyakarta
*Bimo Prakoso as Governor of South Sumatra
*Syarwan Hamid as Governor of Riau.

In the discussion that followed, Harsudiono asked Try about whether the latter still intended to look into the provinces getting a larger share of government revenues.

“I want to”, said Try “But you’ve got Prabowo in Central Java, Syarwan Hamid in Riau and God knows who else is going to make it tough for us.”

“We’ve got to raise the issue sooner or later”, said Harsudiono “Otherwise we’ll be in a lot of trouble if more of the provinces elects governors who are not friendly to us or worse, switches over to the other side. We’ve got to be sure that when we’re in a tough situation that the provinces are going to side with us rather than with them.”

Try shrugged in agreement ordered Harsudiono to start looking at the options available for the provinces getting a larger share of the government revenue.

31st December 1998:
Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono, Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman, and Head of BPS Gunawan Sumodiningrat held a joint press conference to reveal some indicators about the economy at the end of the year.

The key indicators are as follows:
-Economic growth: 3.9%
-Unemployment Rate: 9%
-Inflation: 14% (mostly driven by the rapid drop in Rupiah value in January 1998)

On a sector per sector basis, construction was the sector hardest hit by the crisis. Manufacturing was a mixed bag with slowdown in domestic demand (Ie. Electronics and automotive) but increased demand in terms of exported manufacture (ie. clothing and shoes). Tourism is a successful sector.

“The government has been successful in halting the slowdown in our economy as a result of the crisis and will be looking to switch policymaking from damage limitation to recovery in 1999”, announced Soedradjad Djiwandono.
----
Well, we’ve arrived at the end of 1998.

Comparison with Indonesia’s OTL 1998 Economic report card:
-Economic growth: -13% (https://ekonomi.kompas.com/read/2012/10/05/11473246/indonesia.perlu.10.tahun.pulih.dari.krisis)
-Unemployment Rate: 20% (https://news.detik.com/kolom/4032343/memori-krisis-moneter-19971998)
-Inflation: 78% (https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2018/05/21/inflasi-sempat-melambung-hingga-77-pada-1998)

 

[GSD310]

Dawn of 1999
1st January 1999:
Try began the year by watching a movie together with family members at the Bogor Presidential Palace but matters of the state quickly intervened. By midday, the President was in a meeting with State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Commander of ABRI Wiranto, Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo, Army Chief of Staff Agum Gumelar, Chief of ABRI Intelligence Maj. Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, Governor of Central Sulawesi Maj. Gen. Bandjela Paliudju, and Commander of the Sulawesi Regional Military Command Suaidi Marasabessy.

Paliudju and Suaidi reported that there was unrest in the Poso region. A group of youths got into a fight with another group of youths at a mosque, there were sharp weapons involved, local Army and Police units managed to keep the peace for the time being, but the situation remains tense.

“What’s preventing you from dispatching a battalion from Palu or Ujung Pandang?” asked Try.

Tyasno explained that there were various dimensions to the potential conflict: it being a situation involving different ethnicities, it being a “locals vs. transmigrants” situation, and it being a “Muslims vs. Christian” situation. There are also questions about the local Army and Police units’ capacity to enforce order.

“Meaning what?” asked the President.

“Meaning we’re worried that they might take sides with one of the groups in the conflicts, Mr. President”, said Wiranto.

Try thought about it for a moment. He ordered Wiranto and Agum to come up with contingency plans in case the situation at Central Sulawesi becomes worse as well as more attention by ABRI, Army Headquarters, and BAKIN for Central Sulawesi.

2nd January 1999:
President Try Sutrisno holds an Iftar/New Years’ Function at the Presidential Palace. The event was attended by the nation’s highest office holders, members of the political elite, and other luminaries.

Once everyone has had their meals and broke off to socialize, Try found himself chatting at his table with former Vice President Sudharmono. They talked about various political issues including the proposed Sharia Banking Amendment introduced by the PDI. Sudharmono told Try that there was a delicate balancing act involved. The government’s “counter-amendment” will need to acknowledge Sharia Banking without explicitly endorsing it. Try nodded in agreement.

“Mr. President, I think you still don’t trust Ginandjar enough”, Sudharmono said changing the topic.

“You’re lobbying awfully hard for your protégé, Mr. Vice President” asked Try.

“I still believe you would have had a real fighting chance at the Golkar National Congress if you backed him rather than Harmoko for the chairmanship”, said Sudharmono.

“The opponent is formidable”, shrugged Try “We are all ultimately only acolytes of President Soeharto, not his daughter.”

There was silence.

“He can be useful for your government, Mr. President”, said Sudharmono.

3rd January 1999:
On a Sunday morning program on RCTI hosted by Desi Anwar, DPR Member/Chairman of the PDI Soerjadi was interviewed on the Sharia Banking Amendments he introduced the previous month in the DPR. Soerjadi said that although the PDI has nationalist roots, the PDI must also look at things from other dimensions, including the interests of the majority. When asked, Soerjadi denied that the initiative for the Sharia Banking Amendments came from outside of the PDI.

4th January 1999:
Try chaired a full cabinet meeting attended by all ministers, officials of ministerial ranks, and the heads of the non-departmental government agencies. The only agenda was a presentation on the Draft Budget to be introduced by the President the next day conducted by Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad. The cabinet resolved to approve the Draft Budget.

In an Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting, Tutut Soeharto resigned from her position as CEO of Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada. Tutut said that the time has come for her to focus fully on her duties as Chairwoman of Golkar and as a servant to the nation.

5th January 1999:
In front of a DPR Session led by Chairman of the DPR Harmoko, President Try Sutrisno introduced the Draft Budget for Fiscal Year 1999/2000. Here are some excerpts of the speech:

“This budget is of vital importance. Its expenditure will reflect the priorities of the Seventh Five Year Development Plan (Repelita VII), though the Repelita VII will only be unveiled in full in March. It thus represents the next step in our nation’s journey towards a just and prosperous society based on Pancasila….

More immediately, this budget reflects a turning point in our recent journey as a nation. It marks the point where we transition from weathering the tide of the Asian Financial Crisis to getting out of crisis. From damage limitation to recovery…

The government thus adopted the following fiscal strategy. In the previous year, we had a budget and a stimulus package. This year, the budget is our stimulus package…

We will be putting our focus on physical infrastructure not only because these investments are good for their own sake but because they will boost our construction sector and create employment for those working in those sectors….

The expenditure I am proposing will be modest. Not all of the projects which have been ceased or delayed by President Soeharto has been restored and the projects by themselves will not be sufficient to address all of our needs at the present time. This is by design because the government is seeking to formulate a prudent budget; one that will stay in surplus and one where the revenue will be drawn from an economy that is still recovering….”

Budget Highlights:
The Budget continues the spending programs of the stimulus package with the following additions:
Roads:
*JORR-WI (Jakarta)
*Tangerang-Serpong Toll Road (Jakarta)
*Ulujami-Pondok Aren Toll Road (Jakarta)
*Antasari-Depok Toll Road (Jakarta)
*Cikampek-Padalarang Toll Road (West Java)
*Semarang-Demak Toll Road (Central Java)
*Gresik-Tuban Toll Road (East Java)
*Bandar Lampung-Terbanggi Toll Road (Lampung)
*Medan-Binjai Toll Road (North Sumatra)
*Medan-Kuala Namu (North Sumatra)
*Kuala Namu-Tebing Tinggi (North Sumatra)

Transportation:
*Kuala Namu International Airport (North Sumatra)
*Kumai Harbour (Central Kalimantan)

Energy:
*North Sulawesi Transmission Line and Sub-Station (North Sulawesi)

Education:
Funding will be provided towards the construction of 30 new Technical Secondary Schools and refurbishments of 150 present Technical Secondary Schools to provide more places and better facilities for those wishing to acquire skills for the workforce. At present, Indonesia has 751 technical secondary schools.

Health:
Construction of second floors will begin on 700 Community Health Centers across Indonesia to add more beds as well as to provide more space for the Community Health Centers to convey their services to members of the community. 1,000 Auxiliary Community Health Centers will be refurbished. At present, Indonesia has 7,106 Community Health Centers and 19,977 Auxiliary Community Health Centers.

Civil Service Recruitment:
Recruitment for the civil service will be focused towards recruiting front-line services such as teachers as well doctors, nurses, and paramedics to man schools and Community Health Centers.

----
On the budget, the projects I mentioned are part of Presidential Decision 39/1997 which delayed/placed government projects under review in September 1997. If you want to see one of the effects of the Asian Financial Crisis on Indonesia, I suggest looking at this list of projects. It showed that the government lost the capacity to build infrastructure for quite some time. There are projects on that list which were only completed under the present Jokowi Presidency and there are still others which have only just begun. The said Presidential Decision 39/1997 can be found here: https://peraturan.bkpm.go.id/jdih/userfiles/batang/Kepres_39_1997.pdf

I found an online version of Soeharto's 1998 Accountability Address and its accompanying appendices at https://www.bappenas.go.id/id/data-...rtanggungjawaban-presiden-tahun-1993-sd-1998/. The specific numbers of technical secondary schools and Community Health Centers are from Chapters 17 and 18 of that speech.

 

[GSD310]

The Banking Law
6th January 1999:
The Rupiah which had stabilized at the Rp. 4,600-4,605 to the dollar mark mark over the last three months reached Rp. 4,597 to the dollar in response to the Budget Speech. Interviewed by TVRI, DPR Ary Mardjono said he thought the budget was too conservative and thought that more spending was in order if the government’s aim was to stimulate the economy.

But the President had other things on his mind.

A war council was held today. President Try Sutrisno, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Deputy State Secretary Soedibyo Rahardjo attended on behalf of the executive while Chairman of DPR Harmoko, Vice Chairman of DPR Hari Sabarno, Leader of Golkar in the DPR Irsyad Sudiro, Leader of ABRI in the DPR Fachrul Rozi, and Matori Abdul Djalil of the PPP attended on behalf of the DPR.

The meeting ended Matori bluntly telling the President that there would not be unanimous support for the bill. 11 PDI members will vote against the bill while out of PPP’s 89 members, 45-50 membes will vote against the bill. Fachrul Rozi said that ABRI members in the DPR will vote the way it’s ordered to. Soedibyo Rahardjo said if the same 49 Golkar members that voted against anti-monopoly law voted against the banking bill, a total of 105-110 DPR members will be voting against the bill.

“It’s still small in the scheme of things, Mr. President”, Harmoko quipped “110 out out of 500 is not even 25% of the votes.”

“It’s still larger than the vote against the Anti-Monopoly Bill, Mr. Chairman”, said Try “And from across Golkar, PPP, and PDI to boot.”

“True. But I think Mr. Matori’s right”, retorted Harmoko “We can no longer expect unanimous support for this new banking bill and with the budget needing to be passed as well, we can’t afford to let this stalling go on for too long.”

7th January 1999:
On the television screen, President Try stood with Minister of Forestry and Environment Ardans and Governor of Aceh Syamsuddin Mahmud as he unveiled a plaque which declared Gunung Leusar National Park in Aceh, an area 2.6 million hectares in size as a conservation area.

Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Ginandjar Kartasasmita sat watching the live coverage. Sitting on the couch in front of him, also watching the television was Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto.

“As I was saying before”, said Ginandjar “The President, in his capacity as Chairman of the Council of Patrons, is asking you to support his Banking Bill.”

“And we have”, said Tutut “The bill has finally passed its DPR Committee and was due to be voted upon until the Chairman of the PDI introduced an amendment calling for the proposed bill to acknowledge Sharia Banking.”

“Yes I understand”, said Ginandjar “The President will be introducing his own amendment to the DPR next week and he would like your support and for General Hartono and his caucus to support that in the DPR chamber.”

“The stance of Golkar’s National Headquarters is that the Shari Banking Amendments is a matter of conscience”, countered Tutut “If there are members who would like to vote with Mr. Harmoko, I can’t stop them. If there are those who would like to vote with Mr. Hartono, I can’t stop them either.”

The talks soon went around in circles and it was time for Ginandjar to leave. Ginandjar and Tutut waited on the steps of the Golkar National Headquarters for his car to arrive. When it arrived and Ginandjar went to get inside the car, Tutut had some parting words for him.

“You were one of my father’s best ministers, Mr. Ginandjar”, said Tutut “What a shame to see you so misused like this.”

“I’m in charge of the nation’s media and telecommunication networks”, replied Ginandjar “And I’m also the President’s liaison with you on Golkar matters, Madam Chairwoman.”

“I know”, said Tutut “But I still think he’s holding back on what he could give to you, considering the fact that you got him over the line last March.”

8th January 1999:
The President, on the second day of his visit to Aceh, met with Governor of Aceh Syamsuddin Mahmud in the morning. The latter expressed his appreciation that the Minister of Home Affairs had come by earlier in the week to say that the President has ordered him to examine into what options are available regarding the provinces having more control over revenue.

After attending Friday Prayer at Banda Aceh’s Baitturohman Mosque, Try headed back to Jakarta.

10th January 1999:
In the afternoon, Try, accompanied by Edi Sudrajat and Minister of Religious Affairs Quraish Shihab, met with Prof. Dr. Nurcholish Madjid the Rector of Paramadina University and an esteemed intellectual. After the meeting, Nurcholish flanked by Edi and Quraish faced the press. Edi gave the introductory remarks saying that the President wanted Nurcholish’s input on recent political developments most specifically the Sharia Banking Amendments that is in front of the DPR.

“I told the President what I know that those who want to insert Sharia into the 1945 Constitution, as well as into legislations, don’t know or don’t understand Indonesian society”, said Nurcholish.

11th January 1999:
Vice President JB Sumarlin met with IMF Deputy Managing Director Stanley Fischer for the IMF’s tri-monthly consultations. After a meeting, the two held a joint press conference where Fischer spoke glowingly of the Indonesian economy.

“From an economic perspective, Indonesa has recorded impressive numbers. You compare Indonesia’s numbers with neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Philippines, and it is impressive. Of course Indonesia’s not out of the woods yet but it’s an achievement that you cannot take for granted”, said Fischer.

“What do you think of the President’s Draft Budget?” asked a reporter.

“I think it is a responsible budget and he should be commended for it”, said Fischer “But I think it could have been more prudent and with a larger surplus.”

Meanwhile, President Try met with Chairman of BP-7 Soegiarto and discussed about the “Sharia Banking Amendments”. Soegiarto said that Try has got to be strong and not take the “populist” road because from an ideological standpoint, Indonesia is not based on Sharia Law.

12th January 1999:
At the DPR building today, Edi Sudrajat and Deputy State Secretary Soedibyo Rahardjo reintroduced the government’s counter-amendment. In his speech, Edi said that while there are alternative banking arrangements, these alternative arrangements should be recognized equally without one gaining prominence over the other. The government will acknowledge that there are “religious-based banking” but that it will not acknowledge what this type of banking is specifically ie. if churches or temples would like to establish crediting or financing institutions, they can do so and be classified in this group.

From the head of the assembly room, Harmoko summed up the arguments. The new Banking Bill proposed to the DPR by the government uses the same reference to the existing Banking Law; namely, that there are “profit-sharing banks”.

The DPR now has two proposed amendments regarding this reference:

*All references to “Profit-sharing banks” be replaced with “Banks operating under the Sharia Principle”
*All references to “Profit-sharing banks” be replaced with “Profit-sharing and religious-based banks”.

13th January 1999:
The President went to inspect Pulo Gadung Bus Terminal accompanied by Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja, Minister of Population, Transmigration, and Rural Development Hendropriyono and Governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso. The four officers were checking the situation on the ground as people were beginning to leave Jakarta as part of the Eid’l Fitr migration. For one day at least, the terminal was cleared of all ticket scalpers. The President was greeted warmly though there was one challenging question:

“Mr. President, will we be allowed to return to Jakarta and work again? It seems that Mr. Hendropriyono and Governor Sutiyoso are telling us to go back to our villages and not come back”, the woman said.

“If you are employed and you’ve got the proper papers then by all means, Ma’am”, said the President “If you are working informally, then you have much better prospects in the villages than in cities like Surabaya, Medan, or Jakarta for that matter. Right now there’s a lot more people filling up our temporary shelters than there are jobs in the city.”

At the DPR, the debate over the “Sharia Banking Amendments” got underway. DPR Member Marzuki Darusman spoke vehemently in favor of the government’s amendments saying that what “the nation needed is leadership on economic matters rather than provocative and symbolic gestures.”

The day ended with Harmoko announcing that the vote on what amendments the DPR will agree to will be made tomorrow.

14th January 1999:
In a joint statement, Chairman of PPP Ismail Hasan Metareum, Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto, and Chairman of PDI Soerjadi said that DPR members from the three organizations are free to vote for whatever amendments they so choose based on conscience.

Edi Sudrajat set up a command post in the State Secretariat with Soedibyo Rahardjo keeping a close watch on events at the DPR building.

The DPR building itself had to have Army and Police personnel deployed against it for demonstrations were held by KISDI supporting the Sharia Banking Amendments.

The last of the debates were concluded in the afternoon. Votes were taken , counted, and it was 11.30 PM when Harmoko announced the results:

“The votes are as follows: 388 votes in favor of the Banking Bill with amendments as proposed by the government and 112 votes in favor of the Banking Bill with amendments as proposed by Mr. Soerjadi by the PDI. The bill with amendments as proposed by the government is therefore passed into law.”

15th January 1999:
The President had Iftar with the ABRI Retirees Association (Pepabri) and its Chairman, former Vice Chairman of the DPR/MPR Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Saiful Sulun. After dinner, Try rose in his seat and spoke to those present.

“People come and talk to me to say “At last our generation is at the helm of the nation” and I would say yes, I agree. But at the same time there isn’t much time to smell the roses. Most of us in this generation are retired officers. A few has even passed on. There’s not much time. We have to make what time we have count and make our contribution to the country.”

18th January 1999:
The President swore in a batch of ambassadors. The most notable of this batch was Hartarto, who was Soeharto’s cabinet minister for 15 years who wil now be the new Indonesian Ambassador to Japan.

President Try signed the Banking Bill passed by the DPR into law.

----
The Banking Law just passed is the same as the law passed by Habibie but minus the references to Sharia Banking.
https://www.bi.go.id/en/tentang-bi/uu-bi/Documents/act_1098e.pdf

 

[GSD310]

Cable from US Embassy in Jakarta:
Bearing in mind President Try Sutrisno’s upcoming visit to the United States in early February, we feel that this is a good time to provide the White House with a biographical sketch the 3rd President of the Republic of Indonesia.

Early Life
Try Sutrisno was born on 15th November 1935 in Surabaya, East Java. The son of an Army medical officer, Try wanted to participate in the Indonesian War of Independence but was much too young and had to settle with being a courier.

His entry into the Indonesian Army came in 1956 when he joined the Army Technical Academy, a training school which prepared him for the life of a military engineer. He graduated from the academy in 1959 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Over the next 13 years, Try was stationed in South Sumatra, Southeast Sulawesi, Jakarta, and East Java, slowly working his way up the rank in the Army’s Engineers’ Corps.

Turning Point
Try’s turning point came in 1972 when as a major, he attended the Army Staff and Command College. Not only did he acquaint himself with those who would become part of his inner circle, Try also participated in an Army Seminar concerned with the passing of the Army’s institutional values to young officers. Try, speaking on behalf of the younger generation of officers, committed his generation’s officers to preserving the Army’s non-military role. It was a speech which impressed the Army’s older and most senior officers.

From that point on, Try never received an Army Engineers related assignment. Instead, in 1974 he was selected to become President Soeharto’s aide-de-camp. It was an important assignment that brought Try within proximity of Soeharto and allowed the latter to get to know him.

After this assignment, Try’s career trajectory never faltered. In 1978, he became 2nd in command at the Nusa Tenggara Regional Military Command which had jurisdiction over East Timor. He then became Commander of the Southern Sumatra Regional Military Command in 1979 before returning to Jakarta in 1982 as Commander of the Jakarta Regional Military Command.

It was as Commander of the Jakarta Regional Military Command that Try became embroiled in an incident. In September 1984, demonstrations were held in Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok region against the alleged desecration of a mosque whereupon Try ordered his men, including an anti-aircraft artillery battalion, to crack down on demonstrators. The death toll for this crackdown, according to the government, was 24 though it has been alleged by dissidents that the death toll in the hundreds.

Despite this, Try continued to enjoy Soeharto’s favor. 1985 saw Try promoted to Deputy Army Chief of Staff and 1986 saw Try appointed Army Chief of Staff.

Commandership of ABRI
Try became Commander of ABRI in February 1988, stepping into the shoes of Gen. Benny Moerdani who had established himself as the second most powerful man in Indonesia behind Soeharto.

As Commander of ABRI, Try enforced Soeharto’s rule over Indonesia. In August 1990, Try began conducting Soeharto’s most recent campaign against Acehnese separatist, a campaign which still continues to this day. In November 1991, Try defended units which had shot at East Timorese demonstrators in East Timor’s capital of Dili. He famously said that the notion that the East Timorese demonstrators were demonstrating peacefully was “Bullshit”.

Politically, Try became Commander of ABRI at a crucial time. Soeharto’s relationship with ABRI was at a low with Soeharto losing his trust in ABRI and ABRI beginning to think that Soeharto had held power for too long. This situation resulted in the President using Minister of Research and Technology BJ Habibie and the Indonesian Islamic Intellectuals Association (ICMI) as a counter-balance to ABRI.

Try was caught in the middle. He could not stand up to Soeharto on ABRI’s behalf, failing to stop Soeharto’s from establishing Habibie and ICMI as counterbalances to ABRI. At the same time, he did little to rein in ABRI’s critical attitude towards Soeharto and protected officers in ABRI Headquarters from Soeharto when the latter called for their removal.

First In Line
ABRI’s conflict with Soeharto led to the former imposing its will on the latter. With the 1993 MPR Session on the horizon and Soeharto’s re-election to a sixth term all but certain, ABRI Chief of Socio-Political Affairs Staff Harsudiono Hartas famously nominated Try as vice president rather than wait for Soeharto to indicate his preferences. The political elite, thinking the nomination had been approved by Soeharto, fell in line and Try was elected as Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia. Try himself said that everyone should wait for Soeharto to make his choice but by that time, a momentum had built up behind his candidacy as vice president.

Soeharto’s wrath took the form of Try’s exclusion from decision making. Try’s photograph hung next to Soeharto’s and he got to sit next to the President in state events but Try had little in terms of power and influence.

Try was 102 days away from the end of his term as vice president, with little prospect of Soeharto wanting him to be re-elected, when the latter died from stroke.

Personal Life
Try is happily married to Tuti Setiawati and has 7 children with her. Try’s eldest daughter is married to Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, presently Commander of the East Java Regional Military Command. He has one son who has joined the Army and another who has joined the Police.

Career of Try Sutrisno:
*1959-1962: Platoon Commander at Southern Sumatra Regional Military Command’s Battle Engineers
*1962-1963: Platoon Commander at the Theater Command to Liberate West Irian’s Construction Engineers
*1963-1965: Company Commander at Southern Sumatra Regional Military Command’s Construction Engineers
*1965-1967: Company Commander at Jakarta Regional Military Command’s Engineering Company
*1967-1968: Deputy Headquarters Detachment Commander at the Army Engineering Corps Headquarters
*1968-1970: Deputy Battalion Commander at the West Java Regional Military Command’s 9th Battle Engineers Battalion
*1970-1971: Battalion Commander at Kostrad’s 10th Battle Engineers Battalion
*1971-1972: Attended Army Staff and Command College
*1972-1974: Bureau Chief at the Army Headquarters’ Operations Section
*1974-1978: Aide-de-Camp to the President
*1978-1979: Chief of Staff at the Nusa Tenggara Regional Military Command
*1979-1982: Commander of the Southern Sumatra Regional Military Command
*1982-1985: Commander of the Jakarta Regional Military Command
*1985-1986: Deputy Army Chief of Staff
*1986-1988: Army Chief of Staff
*1988-1993: Commander of ABRI
*1993-1997: Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia
*1997-now: President of the Republic of Indonesia

Promotions:
*1959: Second Lieutenant
*1962: First Lieutenant
*1966: Captain
*1970: Major
*1972: Lieutenant Colonel
*1976: Colonel
*1979: Brigadier General
*1982: Major General
*1985: Lieutenant General
*1987: General

---
Just a bit of a tangent considering that it is Try Sutrisno's birthday featuring a biographical sketch and a timeline of his career. Mostly to provide background and context.

 

[GSD310]

A Busy January
19th January 1999:
Eid’l Fitr Day and Try was glad that his official duties for the day had ended with his attendance of the Eid Prayers at Istiqlal Mosque. After that, it was back to the Presidential Palace for a feast with the family. It was late afternoon, Try was digging in into some lontong when his aide-de-camp Colonel Budiman came holding a mobile phone, and the First Lady sighed immediately knowing that there was something which will require the President’s attention.

When Try arrived at the State Secretariat, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat and Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo were there. As were Commander of ABRI Wiranto, Army Chief of Staff Agum Gumelar, Navy Chief of Staff Suratmin, Air Force Chief of Staff Djatmiko, Chief of Police Luthfi Dahlan, Chief of General Staff Widodo AS and Chief of ABRI Intelligence Tyasno Sudarto.

“This is something to do with Central Sulawesi?” asked Try when he saw Tyasno in the room.

“No, Mr. President. It’s Maluku”, replied Wiranto before going into his briefing.

*A few hours ago in Ambon, the Capital City of Maluku, there was an incident where two youths got into an altercation with one another. The two youths were of different faiths, one being Protestant and the other being Muslim. As of this moment is a riot is under way in the city with mobs forming along religious lines and rumors spreading and inciting the city’s inhabitants.

*There are “Locals vs. transmigrants” and “Muslims vs. Christians”dynamics at work in Ambon and that these dynamics were fuelling the riots.

*The dilemma of the situation is that Maluku falls under the jurisdiction of the Irian Jaya Regional Military Command. With the result being that during these kinds of situations, there is confusion as to how to both restore order in Maluku without sending troops from Irian Jaya.

“What about the Sulawesi Regional Military Commander?” asked Try “Could he send some men over?”

“The transmigrants in Ambon and presently being involved in the riots are ethnic groups from Sulawesi, Mr. President”, said Wiranto “We don’t know how long the rank and file soldiers can maintain discipline and enforce order without “taking sides””.

---
As the War Council met, the television networks began to report on and broadcasting images of the events in Maluku. Some tried to get a scoop by contacting those on the ground where garbled responses of “Muslims are being attacked by Christians” are heard.

---
The meeting broke up both for dinner and to allow for others to come in and join the meeting, such as Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas. The President took his dinner with Edi, Harsudiono, and Ari Sudewo. They asked Try what he intended to do.

“Is that not too drastic?” asked Harsudiono after Try told them.

“We’ve got to nip it in the bud”, said Try “Restore order there as quickly as possible. Don’t let it linger or carry on or whatever you want call it. We got control back in East Timor back in our hands because we acted quickly and this will be no different.”

---
After dinner, the President met with the officials he had met before dinner plus Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, Minister of Legal Affairs Albert Hasibuan, and Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Ginandjar Kartasasmita. Attending via telephone was Governor of Maluku Saleh Latuconsina and Commander of the Irian Jaya Regional Military Command Yudhomo Sastrosunardjo.

Governor Latuconsina reported on the situation from the ground saying that Ambonese wanting to stay out of trouble are looking for refuge in Military and Police installations around the city. Try ordered the Latuconsina to open the doors of government buildings to be used as refuge.

Try told them what his decision was. All concurred. Ali Alatas and Hasibuan, being the two civilians, added the input that the government should work towards solving underlying issues in Ambon such as the communal tensions. Ginandjar said that he has faith the communal tensions will be resolved, it was just the case that the President and the government will need to have the option of using force. Try noted the way with which Ginandjar defended the President’s position.

At 10.30 PM, with the orders finalized and cameras set out, Try addressed the nation from his office.

“Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

First of all I would like to wish all of you who are celebrating a very Happy Eid’l Fitr. Minal Aidin Walfaidzin Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin.

Fellow Indonesians, by now you would all have heard the distressing news coming out from Ambon in the Province of Maluku. A most distressing news on this most joyful of all days.

I would like to take this opportunity to state my condemnation of the events happening in Ambon and to call for a stop to all of the violence. I call upon all members of the community in Ambon regardless of ethnicity, religion, and class to remain calm and to not fall prey to any provocation. I call upon soldiers, sailors, airmen, and policemen of ABRI stationed in Ambon to maintain discipline.

Fellow Indonesians, having met with the members of the cabinet’s national security ministers and ABRI’s top brass this afternoon and evening, I have decided that immediate action must be taken to restore order in Ambon. The steps which will be taken are as follows:

There will be a State of Military Emergency in place on the Island of Ambon as of the conclusion of the statement which I have just read. This State of Military Emergency will be administered by Maj. Gen. (Marines) Sudarsono Kasdi who is presently the Commander of the Marine Corps.

At this moment, the Administrator of the State of Military Emergency is preparing for departure to Ambon with the support of the Marine Corps’ 1st Infantry Brigade and the Battalion 462 of the Air Force’s Special Forces Corps…”

20th January 1999:
In the morning Navy Chief of Staff Suratmin accompanied Sudarsono Kasdi to the Palace, the latter reporting for duty because he was about to depart for Ambon. The President wished him the best of luck.

From there, President Try held an Open House at the Presidential Palace to greet well wishers whether they be elites, members of the diplomatic corps, and members of the general public. There was a lot of camera snaps when Try shook hands with Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto after which the latter effusively expressed her support for Try’s decision to declare a State of Military Emergency in Ambon Island.

It was a quiet day considering the nation was still on holiday mode. Within the foreign correspondents circle in Jakarta, there were questions about whether Try was actually more “hardcore” than Soeharto when dealing with security issues. “14 months into his Presidency and Try had remilitarized East Timor and declared a State of Military Emergency in Maluku”, they muttered.

21st January 1999:
Wiranto reported to Try that the Marine Corps’ 1st Infantry Brigade and the Air Force’s Special Forces Corps Battalion now has full control of Ambon. A curfew has been put in place in Ambon while a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people without a legitimate reason in the city has been put in place.

Meanwhile, Air Force planes are flying over Ambon Island spreading leaflets calling for religious and ethnic harmony and that no places of worship had been burned in Ambon.

22nd January 1999:
President Try had a lunch meeting with Wiranto, Edi Sudrajat, Ari Sudewo, Agum Gumelar, Suratmin, Djatmiko, Luthfi Dahlan, and Tyasno Sudarto. Regarding Ambon, it was reported that the Marine Corps continues to consolidate their position in Ambon. Checkpoints have been established throughout and at roads leading in and out of the city.

Ari Sudewo reported that he had received intelligence that “radicals” are intending to go to Ambon to “defend” Muslims against Christians. Try immediately ordered that extra security be dispatched to Ambon’s port and airport.

Regarding the Poso region in Central Sulawesi, the President ordered Luthfi and Tyasno to keep a close surveillance on Poso and arrest immediately those engaging in suspicious activities.

23rd January 1999:
The President and First Lady were guests of honor at Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto’s 50th birthday party which was held at the Soeharto’s residence at Cendana Street in Jakarta today. Unexpectedly, Try was called upon to deliver a speech and a toast for Tutut. In his toast, Try congratulated Tutut for making the decision to focus on serving the nation and hopes that she will provide great service for the nation.

From a corner of the room, Governor of Central Java Prabowo Subianto and Tommy Soeharto watched as Tutut responded with an effusive statement of support for the President.

“I wonder how long do we have to keep up this charade?” asked Tommy.

“This is a long game, Tommy”, said Prabowo “We just have to keep on chipping away.”

25th January 1999:
Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Ginandjar Kartasasmita announced that the President has approved of allowing the TVRI to have commercials so that it can lessen the burden on state finances. This reverses a ban on commercials on TVRI put in place in 1981 by Soeharto designed to make the TVRI rely purely on the Government for its financing.

Chairman of Muhammadiyah Amien Rais calls upon the government to investigate whether or not Muslims were being attacked in Ambon.

26th January 1999:
Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Abdurrahman Wahid says that he believes the government is putting its maximum effort into restoring order at Ambon and that people should refrain from making “incendiary remarks”.

In a press conference at the Department of Health, Minister of Health Broto Wasisto said that the President has approved of health warnings on all cigarette packets starting from the new financial year. The health warnings will warn smokers and potential smokers alike against “cancer, heart conditions, and impotence”.

27th January 1999:
Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Soeyono, Operational Control of Development Secretary Sugeng Subroto and Director General of Taxation Darmin Nasution, ventured outdoors across the road to the Presidential Palace to the National Monument.

There they stuck a Tourism Site Payment Point placard at official tourist sites payment points. Soeyono said that the purpose of the payment point is so that visitors know where to pay for tickets to enter tourist sites rather than pay at “unofficial” payment points where the revenue goes into private pockets rather into the treasury. Mar’ie said that this is part of the President’s initiative to maximize revenue from the tourism sector.

28th January 1999:
TVRI’s evening news program today featured the DPR beginning to look at the budget that that had been proposed by the President. The news bulletin then transitioned to Vice President JB Sumarlin who joined for a live interview. The newsreader asked for the Vice President’s thoughts on the budget process in the DPR and the reactions to the Draft Budget from various DPR members.

“First of all, I hope the budget process will go smoothly”, said Sumarlin “Regarding the reaction to the Draft Budget, I think we’ve had all kinds of responses across the spectrum. Earlier in the month we had a DPR member said that the government could afford to be more expansive in its fiscal policy and spend more. Then Mr. Fischer from the IMF, during his visit, said that the budget could have been more prudent.”

“Is that a good sign, Mr. Vice President?” asked the newsreader.

“Well, it shows that we’ve struck a good balance. Do we want to stimulate economic growth? Of course. But always within the context of a budget surplus. If we run into a deficit then we’ll go down the road that will be more difficult to control.”

29th January 1999:
The President today welcomed Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, Governor of Lemhanas Agus Widjojo, and the latest batch of Lemhanas Leadership Course participants at the Presidential Palace. In his keynote address, Try took the opportunity to address the upcoming ABRI Seminar.

“In a little over two weeks’ time, we will be having a seminar hosted by ABRI’s Socio-Political Affairs Staff on the future direction this country is taking. This is a matter which should be a topic of discussion for the nation and it is a discussion which I welcome.

The experience of the previous three decades has shown that there has plenty that has gone right for Indonesia. Stability, economic growth, improved living standards. But I’m not going to pretend that there aren’t any flaws with the way the nation is run. We shouldn’t change everything just for the sake of it, but we shouldn’t sit on our laurels and say what we have now is perfect either.”

1st February 1999:
Starting the day from Bogor Presidential Palace today, President Try and OCDS Sugeng Subroto inspected the Bogor Land Office. People who were waiting in line were surprised to see Try and immediately crowded around him saying that it was such a hassle to get a certificate for their land. One person said that he got his land certificate but he paid a whole load of money for it. Try’s presence got the officers working hard to serve the people lining up at the land office and a refund for the person who had to pay an exorbitant amount of money.

2nd February 1999:
Try had breakfast with Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas. Harsudiono said that he had gone around to the provinces to get a sense of what the governors wanted in terms of more revenue.

“They all want to control more revenue all right but each wants something different”, said Harsudiono “Aceh wants revenue from natural gas, Irian Jaya wants more revenue going their way from the mining that goes on, Bali from the hotels being built. Essentially whatever sector is the strength of a province, they want more revenue from that.”

“I see”, replied Try.

“Central Java wants more than just more revenue, they want more authority over policy”, reported Harsudiono.

“Central Java meaning Prabowo”, said Try.

One of the day’s other meeting was with Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) Bambang Kesowo. Try said that the land certification program has gone on for 17-18 years and the process to get land certificates is still slow. Try told Bambang of his surprise inspection the day prior and says that the latter has two months to turn the direction of the BPN around.

3rd February 1999:
The President today swore in the following:
*Chairman of the National Discipline Movement: Police Gen. (Ret.) Moch. Sanoesi
*Head of the National Anti-Narcotics Office: Police Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Koesparmono Irsan
*Head of the National Disaster Management Coordinating Office: ACM. (Ret.) Rilo Pambudi
*Head of The Utilization of State-Owned Enterprises Office: Bacelius Ruru SH. LLm.
*Chairman of the National Procurement Team: R. Adm. (Ret.) Sumartono
*Chairperson of the Tariff and Fiscal Team: Halida Miljani
*Chairman of the Development of Eastern Indonesia Council: Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Warsito
*Chairman of the Development of Integrated Economic Zones: Ir. Sunaryo Danusaputro
*Head of the National AIDS Council: Dr. Titi Indrijati Soewarso
*Head of the Childrens’ Affairs Office: Dr. Seto Mulyadi

The appointees headed what the State Secretariat determined to be “Special Priorities” programs. In the past, these special appointments were held by ministers however the President had ordered that for these priorities to be attended to, appointees who will be exclusively working on these priorities were required. The first to be appointed to his assignment was Bacelius Ruru with the remaining appointees made over the course of the past 6 months.

---
Well, I decided to have TTL's version of the Ambon riots and some communal tensions in Poso though this will not be as bad as OTL's.

I'm trying to have each update cover a larger time period and am aiming for each update to cover 2 weeks.

 

[GSD310]

4th February 1999:
President Try Sutrisno breakfasted with Chairman of DPR Harmoko. The two talked about about the President’s draft budget with Harmoko commenting that it was a good budget and that it will be passed. The main outcome of the breakfast meeting was Try and Harmoko agreeing to formalize the “war council” that had met to help pass the Banking Law to ensure that future legislation are passed smoothly. This informal council will consist of the President, the State Secretary, and Deputy State Secretary from the executive and the Chairman of the DPR, the Vice Chairman of the DPR from ABRI, the Leader of Golkar in the DPR, and the Leader of ABRI in the DPR.

From this meeting Try went to Halim Perdanakusuma Airport to depart for his overseas trip. His delegation for the trip were:
*Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas
*Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar
*Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono
*Minister of Trade and Investment Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti
*State Secretary Edi Sudrajat
*Head of BKPM Mari Elka Pangestu

On the long flight, Try got through paperwork and spent most of his time being briefed by Ali Alatas and Soedradjad Djiwandono. Meanwhile, Edi sat down with Wismoyo. The two were familiar with each other, when Edi was Army Chief of Staff Wismoyo was Deputy Army Chief of Staff for the final 8 months of the former’s tenure. The two talked about various matters before beginning to talk about the Soeharto family.

“How is the family doing?” asked Edi.

“They’ve had monopolies abolished and contracts cancelled in the time the President has been in office, what do you think?” asked Wismoyo with a chuckle “They’re all over the place. Titiek’s busy being the First Lady of Central Java, Sigit is the quiet one, Mamiek doesn’t have a whole lot of business interest, Bambang still speaks in defense of the President from time to time, Tommy not at all too happy and Tutut is busy being Chairwoman of Golkar. But when they meet they generally agree that they worry about their business interests.”

“The President’s not against them having business interests”, Edi said “He’s against them having special privileges.”

“They don’t see the distinction”, countered Wismoyo “The way they see it, they’re legitimate businesspeople, they got what they have gotten legitimately, and wondering why their father’s former aide-de-camp is not an ally.”

“If the President continues down this road”, Edi began “What will they do?”

“Well, they’re already doing it to the President if you ask me”, said Wismoyo “Tutut’s doing her best to be a thorn in the President’s side in Golkar, then you’ve got Hartono in the DPR trying to hassle the Banking Law, and God knows what Prabowo is up to in Central Java. They didn’t count on the President lasting this long to be honest. They just hoped he’d be a caretaker until the MPR Session and then Tutut would beat both Habibie and Harmoko to become President.”

4th-5th February 1999:
Having crossed the international date line and “gone back in time”, Try’s plane touched down at Ottawa, Canada. He was welcomed on the tarmac by Governor General of Canada Romeo Leblanc.

The more substantive talks, with the sound of protests by pro-East Timor independence activists, were with Prime Minister Jean Chretien in which Chretien pledged more investment and aid. In the press conference after the talks, Chretien said that he is convinced that Indonesia’s stability and the importance of that stability to the Southeast Asian. Try got the tough questions about East Timor but he stonewalled it saying he’s here to build on Indonesian-Canadian ties and that he that he thanked Canda for its investment.

The day ended with a State Dinner hosted by the Governor General.

On the 5th, the President met with Opposition Leader Preston Manning, a visit to the Canadian War Memorial, and a dinner with the Canadian business community.

6th February 1999:
After a breakfast with Chretien at 24 Sussex Street (The Prime Ministerial Residence), Try and his delegation departed Ottawa for New York City. There were hort meetings with Governor of New York Pataki and Mayor of New York City Rudi Giuliani who welcomed him at the airport, the President proceeded to his main event of the day, a luncheon with the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (AICC). The President delivered a speech but was then asked to remain on stage for an impromptu interview. Here are some of the highlights:

Q: In your first few months, actually the first few weeks, you really stuck to the letter to the IMF LOI of October 1997. Famously, Mr. President, you kept a surplus of 1% of GDP but you couldn’t fix potholes in the road. Could you explain your mindset at this point?

Try: I had two advice coming at me. Both said I should commit to the IMF’s terms but for different reasons. The first was that I should carry out the IMF LOI of October 1997 because I had to restore the market’s confidence. The second was that I should carry out the IMF LOI to show the IMF that things were not so good if their terms were carried out to the letter.

Q: Which advise, or what reasoning, did you go with?

Try: I wanted to have both the markets and the people on my side but I knew I had to restore market confidence. If I didn’t get the market on my side, the drop in the currency value would not have been stopped and there would have been little I could do to lighten the burden of the crisis on the people.

Once I showed the IMF that I was committed to the terms it had set out, the IMF was kind enough to give us some leeway and we also had help from Prime Minister Howard of Australia and Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong of Singapore who convinced the IMF that we were committed to the IMF.

But this is something that has to happen constantly. It can’t be a one time deal. I cut fuel subsidies as a prerequisite to the stimulus package last May. But I ensured that the budget was still in surplus even after the stimulus package. Of course, I had to continue to fulfill the terms the IMF had given me.

Q: Some would say that trying for a policy that would cater to the market and the people is a contradiction in terms. Stimulating the economy is normally associated with going into budget deficits. How were you able to achieve such a feat?

Try: I haven’t achieved anything. We’re still not back to our pre-crisis growth rates. But if I can say something, what’s important in all of this was ensuring that our currency stop losing its value. If the Rupiah’s value falls too much then we’d be in an impossible situation of having to choose between restoing market confidence and ensuring that our people are taken care of during the crisis.

Though he had a successful meeting with IMF and AICC, Try was sufficiently exhausted enough to become bed-ridden with a cold.

7th February 1999:
News came from Jordan today that King Hussein had passed away. The delegation met around Try’s bed to decide what would happen. In addition to a condolence statement, Try said that Ali Alatas will represent him at the King’s funeral the next day to allow him some time to recover.

While Ali Alatas departed for Amman in Jordan, Try and his delegation made the short flight from New York City to Washington DC.

With a blocked nose, Try visited the Jordanian Embassy in Washington DC to sign the condolence book. After that he headed to IMF Headquarters where he and his delegation met with Michel Camdessus. Camdessus praised Try for being able to secure the first installment of the BLBI payments as well as passage of the Banking Law. Camdessus however reminds Try of the latter’s commitment to keeping the budget above balance and that the Indonesian government still has not introduced an Bankruptcy Bill as agreed to in the LOI of April 1998.

The President ended the day with a message arriving from the White House that President of the United States Bill Clinton will be out of the country attending King Hussein’s funeral. All meetings with Try will now be delegated to Vice President Al Gore.

8th February 1999:
Edi Sudrajat was jogging on a treadmill at the gym in the hotel when the television conveyed pictures from Amman, Jordan. To his surprise, the first Indonesians he saw were Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto and her husband Indra Rukmana. The two greeted King Abdullah and conveyed Indonesia’s condolences. Some minutes later, Ali Alatas looking extremely tired emerged to convey Indonesia’s condolence. After Ali Alatas, Abdullah turned to his aide and audibly said “I thought the Indonesian representation had arrived earlier. There’s 2 Indonesian delegations?”

For the moment, Edi thought he’d keep Try’s attention focused on the meetings today. The day began with a meeting in the Roosevelt Room at the White House: Try and his delegation on one side of the table, Gore and relevant Secretaries and officials on the other side.

The two delegations covered a broad range of issues. But the highlight the meeting came when Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said that Try’s rise to the presidency presented a golden opportunity. She called on Try to implement “democratic reforms in addition to economic ones and better observe human rights and democratic principles” and that this will “certainly guarantee your place among the annals of world statesmen”. Edi and Wismoyo, sitting on either side of Try, wished that Ali Alatas was at that table but the President responded in turn.

“We note and agree with you that the passing of President Soeharto presented an opportunity for our nation to review the direction it has been going and where it will be going, Madam Secretary”, said Try “But in leading a nation as large and as diverse as Indonesia during this difficult times, stability is important for our economic recovery.”

The discussions also discussed about the purchase of F-16s which Soeharto cancelled in June 1997 due to Congressional criticism of the then government. Try and Wismoyo told Gore and Secretary of Defense William Cohen that their focus is on economic recovery, not purchasing weaponry at the moment.

Holding a joint press conference together, Try and Gore lost control of the situation. Try fielded questions from Indonesian journalists about Tutut’s presence at King Hussein’s funeral at Jordan to which he could only reply that Tutut has the right to go where she wants as a private citizen. He glanced at Edi each time a Tutut-related question was asked and Edi could only shrug. Gore meanwhile was asked about President Clinton’s upcoming impeachment vote in the Senate.

There was a break in the schedule which Try used to pay respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery. Dinner was a private affair with Gore and Second Lady Tipper Gore at the Vice Presidential Residence at Number One Observatory Circle. While Tipper gave First Lady Tuti Setiawati a tour of the house, Try chatted with Gore at the table.

There was an awkward moment when Try criticized Gore for his comments at the APEC Summit in Kuala Lumpur a few months back but fielding awkward and tough questions at their joint press conference together helped break the ice. Then Gore began talking about other issues.

“You were a vice president too weren’t you, Mr. President”, asked Gore.

“I was”, replied Try “3 months from the end of my term when I got elevated to my position.”

“Your wife must really hate that” joked Gore before looking serious “How do you relate to your predecessor?”

“How do you mean by that?” asked Try.

“I mean do you play up the fact that you were once President Soeharto’s vice president or do you distance yourself from him?” asked Gore.

“It’s not an either or, Mr. Vice President”, said Try “I name my cabinet the Seventh Development Cabinet, my economic plan the Seventh Five Year Development Plan, and retained my ministers of foreign affairs and finance to make an appeal to continuity. Because there’s no point for me trying to distance myself from my predecessor when my photograph hung on all the walls next to his. And if my predecessor has done some good, why should I distance myself from these positive contributions?”

“But say you don’t agree with something that President Soeharto has done, what then?” asked Gore.

Try thought for a moment.

“If I may I would like to ask your discretion, Mr. Vice President”, said Try “This is a response that I’ve only knocked around in my head.”

“Of course, Mr. President”, replied Gore “And I’m sure what I’m asking you will remain between the two of us.”

Try nodded.

“I’ve abolished two monopolies belonging to my predecessor’s son”, began Try “ and I’ve done it so quietly that whatever fuss came out, it didn’t come from me. I didn’t go and make speeches that I’m unlike President Soeharto. I just went ahead and dismantled the monopolies.

My predecessor is still a respected man in my country. Three decades, saving the nation from communism, and better living standards will give him that. But people are not blind to his shortcomings. Most Indonesians acknowledge the good my predecessor has done, but they haven’t exactly stood in my way or complained when I abolished monopolies belong to his son have they? And those who stood, and are still standing, in my way? Well you’re bound to make a few enemies in this line of business.”

“It’s a fine line, Mr. President”, said Gore “To on the one hand not distance yourself from your predecessor but on the other take a different path from some of the things that he has done.”

9th February 1999:
President Try today visited the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and called on President Bill Clinton briefly at the White House, the latter having arrived from Jordan. Clinton endorsed what Gore and his officials had discussed with Try.

Ali Alatas also arrived from Jordan. But he fainted from the exhaustion of his Jakarta-Ottawa-Washington DC-Amman-Washington DC trip. He was taken to the hospital and had to be left behind in Washington DC.

In the afternoon, Try and his delegation flew out of Washington DC to Montego Bay, Jamaica to attend the G-15 Summit.

Back in Jakarta, Tutut brushes off the notion that she has “upstaged” the government at King Hussein’s funeral and says that she was merely acting out of her own accord as a private citizen to pay her final respects to someone who had been a friend to Indonesia. In the DPR, Hartono said that Tutut has shown “Real leadership” by personally attending the funeral of King Hussein rather than delegating it to someone else.

10th-12th February 1999:
President Try and his delegation attended the G-15 Summit. With Ali Alatas not attending, Wismoyo Arismunandar and Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti stepped in to jointly play the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Summit.

In between meetings, Try met with Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who looked stressed out, clearly with the Malaysian economy (-9 economic growth in 1998) in his mind and a political situation which had not improved.

Try’s concern was how to handle Tutut. He and Edi talked on the phone with Harsudiono Hartas, Ari Sudewo, and Sugeng Subroto. All of Try’s inner circle agreed that the President should return to Jakarta via Amman.

Meanwhile Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Ginandjar Kartasasmita appeared on TV and when asked regarding this matter said that while he respects Tutut’s initiative, he feels that Tutut should have coordinated his visit to Jordan with the Department of Foreign Affairs to avoid “misunderstanding”.

13th February 1999:
President Try and First Lady Tuti Setiawati along with their delegation paid an unofficial visit to Amman, Jordan. They met with the new King Abdullah and Queen Rania and also paid their respects at the tomb of King Hussein.

Try noted that Hussein, who seemingly was a lot older, was only just one day older than he was; the King’s birthday falling on 14th November 1935.

---
A busy update with Tutut upstaging Try, Ali Alatas falling ill due to the hectic travel schedule, and Try outlining his approach Soeharto to Gore.

 

[GSD310]

14th February 1999:
Having landed in Jakarta, the first order of business was calling a meeting with the “Four Horsemen”. Harsudiono Hartas was livid at Tutut showing up at King Hussein’s funeral without telling anyone and despite Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas being the official representative of the government. Harsudiono said that they need to “take the fight to Tutut”.

“When you say that, what do you mean?” asked Try sounding annoyed “It’s all well and good to say take the fight to them, take the fight to them, but what do you mean by “taking the fight to her”?”

Harsudiono sighed in frustration, silently admitting he was just angry.

“I’ve got the authority to call a Golkar Extraordinary Congress into session but that’s not exactly the best option given that she just beat us there a few months ago, is it?” asked Try sarcastically.

15th February 1999:
On the grounds of the Army Staff and Command College at Bandung, West Java the 1999 ABRI Seminar was opened. The introductory address was delivered by ABRI Chief of Socio-Political Affairs Staff Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who was effusive of President Try for "Graciously allowing this seminar to occur". Yudhoyono unveiled that the title of the seminar was “Indonesia in the Renewal Order” and said that the Renewal Order was a term which the President had introduced in his State Address back in August.

In his own address, Try wished all the speakers all the best of luck and said that he will be watching and paying attention to what the seminar came up with. He then declared the ABRI Seminar Open while hitting a gong.

A team of State Secretariat staffers will stay throughout the seminar to record what was being discussed there.

16th February 1999:
The President held a meeting with Vice President JB Sumarlin, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Governor of BI Boediono, Edi Sudrajat, and Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman. Try discussed his trip to Washington DC, specifically his meeting at the IMF with Camdessus.

The meeting agreed that the government has been distracted by other matters such as the lengthy passage of the Banking Law, Ramadan Holidays, and the situation at Ambon. As such, the President ordered for an economic policy package to be formulated and put in place before the Repelita VII is due to start on 1st April 1999. The President added that this policy package should both give the economy a boost going into the Repelita VII and but should also be something in line with what the IMF may prescribe as well.

Try and First Lady Tuti Setiawati made a surprise visit to the home of Head of BKPM Mari Elka Pangestu. Try wished Mari and her family a very Happy Chinese New Year.

17th February 1999:
President Try met with Minister of Mines and Energy Djiteng Marsudi. The minister came to report that the Exor I Oil Refinery at Balongan has had to shut down for maintenance. Try orders that the Department of Mines and Energy facilitate repairs so that the refinery can get back on line as quickly as possible.

The President said that the practices for Exor I must not be repeated with Exor II. He asks that all communications between the contractors for Exor II and the government be conducted directly instead of through intermediaries as in the case of Exor I.

The ABRI Seminar on the Renewal Order In Indonesia comes to an end today and was closed by Sumarlin. Though it talked about a broad range of topics that would not have been discussed when Soeharto was still president, the seminar was widely seen as the “coming-out” party of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who in the process of organizing the event became acquainted with all who contributed to the seminar.

18th February 1999:
Minister of Social Affairs Meutia Hatta came out of a meeting with the President. She announced that the President has approved of the formation of a National Committee for the Elderly to be attached to the Department of Social Affairs. Meutia said this represents the government fulfilling the provisions of the Senior Citizens Law passed last August.

19th February 1999:
Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Ginandjar Kartasasmita issues a one week ban on the Far Eastern Economic Review due to their upcoming publication containing “news item that threatens to provoke national division in Indonesia”. He warns that sanctions will be put in place if the magazine is published next week.

21st February 1999:
The President and Edi Sudrajat paid a visit to the ministerial residence of Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas. The minister was still recovering after his collapse in the United States and was told to take a total bed rest. There was a photo-op with Try, Edi, Ali Alatas, and the latter’s family. But the Minister of Foreign Affairs asked for some private time with the President.

Try came out of the private chat with a grievous expression on his face.

“What was that about?” asked Edi.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs said he could no longer handle the travel and that he has asked to resign”, said Try.

“What did you tell him?” Edi asked looking concerned.

“I told him to rethink and that he has the freedom to do this paperwork from home for as long as he wished”, the President said.

22nd February 1999:
Cable TV Subscribers in Indonesia were treated to a Ginandjar Kartasasmita interview on CNN’s World News where he came under questioning for his decision to ban the FEER for one week. Ginandjar gave a firm but polite answer that this was done so that people in Indonesia are not stirred up.

Indonesians living overseas in Asia were able to get their hands on the banned FEER issue. The FEER featured Try and Tutut on the cover with the Headline: Keeping Score: Soeharto’s Constitutional and Biological Successors Go at it In Indonesia. Inside there was an article outlining the way in which Try and Tutut were “one-upping” another, culminating with Tutut going to King Hussein’s funeral without consulting with the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Try and OCDS Sugeng Subroto watched this on television while they were meeting in Jakarta. Sugeng said that Ginandjar is not the most trustworthy person but that he is doing a good job defending Try.

23rd February 1999:
At Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, Try accompanied by Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Cooperatives Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Governor of South Sulawesi Zainal Basri Palaguna, and Commander of the Sulawesi Regional Military Command Suaidy Marasabessy participated in the beginning of the annual harvest. Using a sickle, Try collected the harvest and waved it for all to see.

Sarwono gave a report to the President that for 1998, agriculture production slowed down with some crops showing negative growth as a result of El Nino. The good news was that production began to enter positive territory again in the final quarter of 1998.

Later on, Try went to visit the nearly 30-year old Tonasa Cement Factory also in South Sulawesi. This time his most prominent companion was Minister of Industry, Research, and Technology Siswono Yudohusodo. The two were faced with the sight of the factory not operating at full capacity. The factory manager said that demand for cement had lessened because the construction sector had fallen to a stand still and that he hadn’t laid off staff but that he had had to cut their shifts. Try praised the factory manager for not laying off staff and told his delegation that this was a reminder that they had not made full economic recovery yet.

24th February 1999:
At Ujung Pandang, Try spent the morning with Commander of ABRI Wiranto and Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar who had just completed a visit at Ambon. Wismoyo said the situation at Ambon was still quiet tense though the troops sent in are doing well. Wiranto proposed that a Maluku Regional Military Command be formed so that Maluku did not have to rely on the Irian Jaya Regional Military Command for security. Try said he’ll think about it.

The President ended his visit by inaugurating a Provincial Small Business Incubator to provide guidance for gestating small businesses in South Sulawesi. In his address, Minister of Employment and Small Business Oetojo Oesman said that it was the intention of the government to mobilize and facilitate small businesses. In his own address, the President said that in the present economic times, one had to “create” rather than “look” for employment.

25th February 1999:
Governor of Central Java Prabowo Subianto today submitted Central Java’s Draft Budget to the Central Java DPRD. The budget is expected to go into a larger deficit than previous year’s because Prabowo is proposing extensive road and irrigations development to stimulate the Central Javanese economy. Prabowo took a shot at Try by saying that this was the real “stimulus package”.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta the President met with the newly re-elected Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) Aburizal Bakrie. Bakrie pledged his support to Try’s government. The two agreed that during these difficult economic times, bureaucrats should not ask for kickbacks and businesses should not ask for special favors.

26th February 1999:
President Try chaired a meeting attended by Vice President Sumarlin and the entire cabinet. The main presentation in the meeting was conducted by Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono. Soedradjad presented the Seventh Five Year Development Plan (Repelita VII) to the cabinet. Soedradjad said that the Repelita VII will seek to bring into reality the President’s vision for the nation which included:

-Industrial sector growth at 10%, Agriculture at 3%
-5% Economic growth per annum
-Life expectancy to be at 71 years old by the end of Repelita VII
-More infrastructure development to be directed to Eastern Indonesia
-9 Year Education Program to be achieved by the end of Repelita VII

The cabinet approved of the Repelita VII. Try also expressed his approval and said that he would like all members of the cabinet to communicate about the Repelita VII in whatever events they are attending.

After the cabinet, it fell to Soedradjad, Ginandjar, and Edi Sudrajat to explain the Repelita VII and began promoting its contents. When asked what is the essence of Repelita VII, Soedradjad replied:

“The essence of Repelita VII is that we are starting to put emphasis on qualitative in addition to quantitative results as well. It’s all well and good to achieve the economic growth targets but how much of that is the contribution of Eastern Indonesia? How much of that is the contribution of small businesses? How much of that economic growth lifting the poor out of poverty? These things are what the government will address in Repelita VII”.

Meanwhile, back in the cabinet room Try was deep in discussion with Harsudiono.

“What the hell’s Prabowo up to, proposing a budget like that?” asked Try.

“He’s picking a fight”, said Harsudiono “All the other governors, even the other ones in deficit, are trying to balance their own budgets but he’s going for a bigger deficit.”

“I don’t like it”, said Try before remembering something “Especially after you told me that he wants more control over policymaking, not just revenue.”

The two sat in silence.

“This is going to become a conversation on how much authority a governor should have instead of just about about how much revenue they should control”, said Try “That’s beyond the scope I’ve set for you.”

“I understand that, Sir, and I know this was going to be tough”, said Harsudiono “But last year the governors of Aceh, Riau, East Kalimantan, and Irian Jaya brought over votes to you at the MPR, all with the hope that you would give them a fair hearing about how much revenue they ought to control. The fact that they’ve been silent for a year and it’s Prabowo who’s trying to pick a fight shows that they’re not hostile to you.

It won’t be seen as weak if you have this conversation about the central government’s fiscal relations with the provinces and how much authority a provincial government can have. It’ll be seen as you giving the provinces a hearing that Soeharto won’t.”

Try thought about it for a second.

“I want you to come up with options that the government can use about both how much revenues the governors can control and how much authority the central government can give them”, ordered Try “I also want you to identify the governors who will side with us. Let’s give them a solution that they’re satisfied with but let’s make sure that we’re going to be satisfied with as well, we’ll be needing friends for that.”

----
The Exor I Refinery is a refinery built by the Soeharto government to specialize in refining oil for the purposes of export. Indeed Exor stands for Export Oriented. The costs of building the refinery had ballooned because a Soeharto son (Sigit) and nephew was involved. Rather embarassingly, this refinery is known for constantly breaking down and needing to be repaired.

The results of the ABRI Seminar will be posted in a separate post.

In the coming months, we'll be exploring this TL's dealings with Regional Autonomy. Soeharto ran a government with a strong central government and with the purse strings controlled from the center.

 

[GSD310]

28th February 1999:
In a conference at Cornell University entitled “Post-Soeharto Indonesia”, noted Indonesianist and scholar Benedict Anderson argued that Try Sutrisno is just “Diet Soeharto”. Just like Diet Coke is supposed to just be a healthier version of Coke but is still Coke and is some ways worst than original coke, Try is much the same; supposedly better than Soeharto but cut out of the same cloth as Soeharto and is some ways worst.

1st March 1999:
At a Department of Home Affairs event, Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas found himself crowded by reporters asking about the draft Central Java Budget.

“I think the Central Javanese DPRD should pass a fiscally responsible Central Java Budget, that will be in the best interest of that province”, said Harsudiono “If a Central Javanese Budget with a deficit is passed, as the Minister of Home Affairs, I have the right to veto the budget.”

Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut today handed out donations in Yogyakarta accompanied by Secretary of Golkar ZA Maulani and Treasurer of Golkar Akbar Tanjung. Tutut said that she’s handing out donations to commemorate the 50th Annivesary of the 1st March Offensive against the Dutch led by then Lt. Col. Soeharto in 1949. Tutut said that she wants to keep Soeharto’s memory alive in the minds of Indonesians.

On the Central Javanese Draft Budget situation, Tutut hoped that both the Central and Central Javanese Governments would reach the best solution for the people of Central Java.

2nd March 1999:
Governor of Central Java Prabowo Subianto insisted that he will not withdraw the Draft Budget he proposed to the DPRD because he felt that the Draft Budget would be in the best interest of the Central Javanese people.

In a meeting with Vice President JB Sumarlin, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Minister of Economics and National Development Soedradjad Djiwandono, President Try Sutrisno has been advised that it would not be economically beneficial for Central Java to have a larger budget deficit than in the previous year.

3rd March 1999:
The President had a three-way meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and Minister of Employment and Small Business Oetojo Oesman. The three discussed Malaysia’s decision to put a moratorium on Indonesian workers coming into the country because of Malaysia’s being in a state of economic recession. It was agreed that they will make approaches to Brunei Darussalam to increase their intake of Indonesian workers.

After Oetojo left, Try had afternoon tea with Ali Alatas and after the latter had left, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat walked in.

“He’s not budging”, said Try to Edi “He says it's up to me when I do it, but at the end of the day he wants to resign.”

4th March 1999:
The President today received the participants of the ABRI Leadership meeting. Flanked by Edi Sudrajat and Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, Try heard Commander of ABRI Wiranto pledge his support for Repelita VII. In a veiled warning to Prabowo, Wiranto also said that governors should remember the governmental “chain of command”; that governors are accountable to the central government.

The highlight of the event was ABRI Socio-Political Affairs Chief of Staff Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reading of the results of the ABRI Seminar and then officially handing it over to Try.

As the event came to a close, Try found himself chatting with Wiranto, Edi, and Wismoyo.

“Please excuse, Lt. Gen. Yudhoyono, I told him that the State Secretariat would probably have conducted their own review of the seminar”, said Wiranto in a tone that betrayed dislike "He can be overenthusiastic sometimes."

5th March 1999:
Governor of Riau Syarwan Hamid threw in his support behind Prabowo Subianto saying that while provinces should heed the central government, it should also take care of its own people. Syarwan said that regarding the Province of Riau, the province does not have control of Batam and Bintan Islands because these are controlled directly by the central government and that none of the revenues go to the people of Riau. Thus, Syarwan called for the central government to resolve the matter of revenues with the provincial governments.

6th March 1999:
President Try’s morning tea guest this Saturday morning was his old compatriot Alip Pandoyo who now holds the dual position of Chairman of the Central Java DPRD and Chairman of Golkar’s Central Javanese Branch. The President was accompanied by Edi Sudrajat and Harsudiono Hartas during the talk.

“I think what’s preferable here is if you can prevent that budget from being passed”, instructed Try to Alip Pandoyo “So that the Minister of Home Affairs does not have to use his veto and we can argue that this budget was not what the people wanted.”

The real conversation occurred as Edi and Harsudiono escorted Alip to his car.

“Tutut’s forces are really working on Golkar’s Central Javanese Branch”, said Alip “I don’t know how much stroke I’ve got anymore in the province.”

“Right now, let’s get as much votes as possible to block this budget”, said Edi “I’ll get Matori to work on the PPP in Central Java.”

“Thank you, Mr. State Secretary”, said Alip.

There was silence as they walked.

“I didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news to the President”, interrupted Alip “But as someone who is closer to the grassroots, I think there’s something bigger going on here.”

“Tell us”, said Harsudiono.

“There are increasing numbers of DPRD members loyal to me and saying that they are being threatened by those loyal to Tutut” said Alip “They say that if they don’t support this proposed Central Javanese budget that they will have no chance at re-election.”

“Not a chance”, said Edi “All Golkar legislative candidates, whether nationally or in the provinces, must get the final approval of the President in his capacity as Chairman of Golkar’s Council of Patrons. Whatever threats Tutut is giving you, she has to sit down with the President and they have to discuss who will be the legislative candidates.”

“My fear is that between now and that meeting, the President would’ve lost his ability to approve who gets to run for office from Golkar and that all the strings will be in Tutut’s hands”, said Alip “What’s happening in the Central Javanese DPRD; what’s happening in the DPR with the Banking Law not long ago, that’s not just DPR members showing their independence; they’re the President’s enemies showing themselves.”

“What do you propose that we do?” asked Harsudiono.

“The President’s supporters need to be protected”, said Alip “All those who are and truly loyal to the President should be protected in an organization within Golkar where they can safely support the President and strategize against the other side.”

“You’re proposing to create a splinter organization within Golkar”, said Edi.

“That’s not as bad as the other side”, countered Alip Pandoyo “One could argue they’ve already created a splinter organization not just within Golkar, but within the government.”

8th March 1999:
The President arrived at Ambon from Jakarta this morning at the head of a delegation which also included:
*Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas
*State Secretary Edi Sudrajat
*Commander of ABRI Wiranto
*Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo
*Chairman of BP-7 Soegiarto
*Chief of ABRI Intelligence Tyasno Sudarto

And as a special guest on the trip, Chairman of ICMI BJ Habibie.

Try met with Martial Law Administrator Sudarsono Kasdi who reported on recent developments at Ambon. Try listened with approval when Kasdi said that special permits are now required for those wanting to enter or leave Ambon. Sudarsono Kasdi reported that his forces has confiscated weapons, mostly machetes and sharp objects but occasionally firearms has been found.

The President also had the chance to speak to Governor Saleh Latuconsina. The Governor said that he has been cooperating with the central government regarding the martial law in place in Ambon but says that economic recovery in Maluku will be the surest way for order to be restored. Habibie piped in and requested for the governor to consistently give full support to President Try’s government. It was for this reason that Try had brought Habibie along. He wanted Habibie to be there calling for Latuconsina’s support because the latter was an ICMI member.

Try used dinner to discuss the security situation in Ambon with his delegation. He also asked for updates about the situation in Central Sulawesi. The response was given by Tyasno who spoke fluently and masterfully about how things were going at Poso. Ari Sudewo watched on with a frown on his face, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Try.

When the meeting was over, the President asked Edi what was wrong with Ari.

“The Chief of BAKIN is not all too pleased that the Chief of ABRI Intelligence has taken the lead on surveillance in Central Sulawesi and that the latter hasn’t shared intelligence with him on that matter”, said Edi “This is an intelligence turf war in other words.”

9th March 1999:
The President began the day by opening a P4 Training held at Ambon and attended by the city’s community figures. Try called on Ambon to remember and rediscover Pancasila especially since the riots in January were religious-based.

From there, Try boarded the Presidential Airplane to Irian Jaya. Try arrived at Jayapura where he, now joined by Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja, Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Sutjipto, and Governor of Irian Jaya Jacob Pattipi, inaugurated the Jayapura-Wamena Road which will link the two cities of Jayapura and Wamena. Try said to all those present that there will be more development in Eastern Indonesia.

At lunch, Try sat with Governor Pattipi who asked him to remember that the Irian Jaya Regional Delegates helped Try win re-election at the MPR the previous year and to “do something about the National Government’s relationship with the Provincial Governments.”

10th March 1999:
Vice President JB Sumarlin, accompanied by Minister of Economics and National Development Soedradjad Djiwandono, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Minister of Industries, Research, and Technology Siswono Yudohusodo, Minister of Energy and Mining Djiteng Marsudi, Minister of Public Works, Urban Development, and Housing Sutjipto, Chairman of BPIS Sintong Panjaitan, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, and Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman held a joint press conference after meeting with the President.

The ministers announced the 10th March Policy Package which included the following policies to be implemented over the coming weeks and months:

-Begin to phase out off-budget funds across all government departments and agencies.
-Place a moratorium on the import of luxury cars.
-Lower tariffs on imports of spare parts for bus and other public transports as well as fisherman boats.
-Begin to minimize if not phase out government subsidies to strategic industries. Subsidies to be reduced from fiscal year 2000/2001
-Make the national petroleum supply chain more efficient.
-Establish a regulatory framework for public-private partnership in infrastructure.

11th March 1999:
Chairman of DPR Harmoko presided over a DPR Session which unanimously passed the government’s 1999/2000 Budget.

The market welcomed the 10th March Policy Package and the passing of the budget. The IMF was effusive of the contents of the policy package saying that the policies to be enacted in it were “prudent”.

The Central Java DPRD had set Monday, 15th March 1999 to be the date of the DPRD Session where a vote to pass or not to pass the Central Java Budget will be taken.

12th March 1999:
At Friday prayer in Semarang, Central Java, Commander of the Central Java Regional Military Command Syahrir MS says that he will stand with Governor Prabowo Subianto regarding the Central Java Budget.

That night President Try Sutrisno and First Lady Tuti Setiawati welcomed Vice President JB Sumarlin and Second Lady Yostiana Soediarma to dinner. The dinner was celebratory to celebrate Sumarlin’s one year mark as Vice President. As the two ladies explored the Palace grounds, the men discussed issues.

“In this coming year, at least after we get Repelita VII, I’m going to need you as my eyes and ears regarding the economy, Mr. Vice President”, said Try “We’re doing well, but we can’t be slack.”

“Very well, Sir”, said Sumarlin.

“I’ll be focusing on more on the politics of things, as crummy as that sounds”, continued Try “This situation with the Chairwoman of Golkar…”

“I know, Mr. President”, assured Sumarlin “Your predecessor would not have tolerated an alternative source of power much less have that alternative source of power harass him.”

“I’m not sure how I should handle it”, said Try “Her father protects her even after his death.”

“You have to remember something Mr. President”, began Sumarlin “You are the President now, not President Soeharto. It is you she should fear. You have to strike back at her.”

“That’s what the State Secretary, the Minister of Home Affairs, all my close friends keep telling me”, said Try “But they never tell me how.”

“I don’t presume to tell you how as well, Mr. President”, replied Sumarlin “I assume that you being a general, strategies and tactics are more your forte.”

15th March 1999:
President Try breakfasted with Edi Sudrajat and Harsudiono Hartas. He ordered Harsudiono to call Alip Pandoyo and instruct for the vote on the Central Java Budget not to go ahead. He also instructed Harsudiono to talk to Prabowo and ask the latter what will it take for him to amend his draft budget.

“I can’t take the risk that his budget is going to win the vote and that you’ll have to use your veto”, Try told Harsudiono “If he gets sympathy on his side from the provinces

From Semarang and once the vote on the draft budget was cancelled, Prabowo praised the President and the Minister of Home Affairs for willing to negotiate with him. Harsudiono preferred to present the situation as an exchange of opinions rather than negotiations.

16th March 1999:
Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman and OCDS Sugeng Subroto held a joint press conference to show a book which will be circulated outlining what had been achieved by the Seventh Development Cabinet in the year since its formation.

The press conference turned awkward when Hayono struggled to explain why Ali Alatas had not been travelling abroad even though official statements suggest that Ali Alatas has made a full recovery.

The President met with Governor of West Kalimantan Aspar Aswin and Commander of the Kalimantan Regional Military Command Zainuri Hasyim. Over the last two months there’s been some horizontal violence in West Kalimantan as well though the provincial government and the military command had coped well with it enough to not require assistance on the level of Maluku. The President nevertheless ordered for 10 companies from the West Java Regional Military Command to reinforce West Kalimantan.

17th March 1999:
Try met with Harsudiono who said that Prabowo said he will back down if the government will hold a conference between the Central Government and Provincial Governments to discuss about a larger share of the revenues and autonomy. Try accepts and tells Harsudiono to prepare a conference within 60 days.

After Harsudiono left, Edi took advantage of the fact that it was just the two of them to talk.

“What’s your game, Mr. President?” asked Edi “You seemed to be against talking with Prabowo a few weeks ago because you thought that he would try to take over the dialogue between the central and provincial governments and expand the scope from revenues to regional autonomy but now you seem quite calm.”

“It was a conversation that the central government needed to have with the provincial governments”, said Try “It was bound to happen sooner or later.”

“And…” prodded Edi not satisfied with the answer.

“Two weeks until the Repelita VII gets under way”, said Try “I’m not about to waste my time focusing on whether or not the Central Javanese Budget gets passed.”

“And…” prodded Edi again.

“I want to lull the other side into a false sense of security”, said Try “You want to send in the next appointment?”

The next appointment was a motley crew of Head of Bulog I Gede Awet Sara, Minister of Legal Affairs Albert Hasibuan, and Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro.

Try told I Gede Awet Sara to explain to Hasibuan and Soedjono the report he wanted to give to the President. I Gede Awet Sara proceeded to talk about a matter of interest he wanted to chase up on in Bulog. When he was finished, Hasibuan and Soedjono C. Atmonegoro were astonished.

“Can a case be established and can that person be prosecuted for it, Mr. Attorney General?” asked Try.

“It can”, said Soedjono “Especially if it can be proven that the state has suffered losses from it.”

“We will need your backing, though Mr. President”, said Hasibuan “We’re talking about taking one of President Soeharto’s children to court, here.”

“You have it”, said Try “Make sure you give me written updates.”

----
Lots of things happening, culminating with Try thinking about taking one of the Soeharto children to court. Which one will it be? Well, it happened in OTL as well and it is Bulog-related, let's put it that way. This will be this TL's version of that legal case.

 

[GSD310]

19th March 1999:
President Try Sutrisno and Minister of Trade and Investment Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti attended a conference held by the Indonesian Export Businessmen Association (GPEI). Dorodjatun reported to the conference that Indonesia’s non-oil and exports were worth $38.1 billion in 1996, $41.8 in 1997, before growing by 17% to $47.9 in 1998. This means that the slowdown in exports in 1997 as a result of the currency crisis has been overcome.

“This sector has done well and should be proud of itself but I do hope that all of you here have also paid your taxes. And not only paid your taxes but also not understated your income from exports so that you have to pay less tax”, said Try half-jokingly.

22nd March 1999:
In a meeting with Minister of Population, Transmigration, and Rural Development Hendropriyono, the President has ordered Hendropriyono to conduct a review of transmigration policy and recommend amendments to it.

“The situation in Maluku and West Kalimantan, the tension in Central Sulawesi, all this have happened because there are significant transmigrant populations in the area”, said Try “We can’t abort transmigration but we can’t pretend there’s nothing wrong.”

Governor of Central Java Prabowo Subianto withdraws his original Draft Budget and submits a new one. This new draft budget is more financially responsible.

In a television interview DPR Member Ary Mardjono said that the government’s 10th March Deregulation Package could not be considered as such. It’s more of a proposal for the IMF to approve rather than steps the government has already taken; a sure sign that the government has given up its sovereignty.

23rd March 1999:
The President met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas. They discussed about the latest happenings in international affairs. Both Try and Ali knew that such international matters was not the issue they came to discuss that day.

“Would you continue as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ali?” asked Try.

“I only hope that I have served my country well, Mr. President”, said Ali as he handed Try an envelope. Try read it and nodded his head.

“Very well, I’ve asked three times and you’ve said no each time”, said Try “I hope you will be patient enough to wait until after the Repelita VII gets under way for me to find your successor and let you go.”

24th March 1999:
Try Sutrisno, accompanied by Minister of Public Works, Urban Development, and Housing Sutjipto, Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, OCDS Sugeng Subroto, Governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso, and Governor of West Java Muzani Syukur to inspect the construction of Tangerang-Jakarta Toll Road. Try told all those present that what’s more important than the toll road itself are the people that it is employing.

Upon returning to the Palace, Try met with Minister of Civil Service Rachmat Witoelar. The minister said that the reorganization of the departments has been completed and that all directorate generals and agencies which has been slated to move departments as part of the reorganization has now done so.

25th March 1999:
The President accompanied by Minister of Workforce and Small Business Oetojo Oesman met Chairman of the All-Indonesian Workers’ Union (SPSI) Bomer Pasaribu. Try thanked the SPSI for its efforts at limiting labor disputes. Bomer said that the economy is at at a crucial time. There are signs that some workplaces are beginning to re-employ some of the workers they had previously laid off. At the same time, Bomer reminds the government that there were no rises in minimum wage last year. Bomer said it might help the economic recovery if workers have more money to spend.

Later in the day Try and Oetojo met Chairman of Kadin Aburizal Bakrie, Chairman of APKINDO Sofjan Wanandi, and Chairman of the Indonesian Young Businessmen Association (HIPMI) Hariyadi Sukamdani to discuss a minimum wage raise. There was initial reluctance as this will add to business costs when the economy had not fully recovered but a consensus was reached that the costs should be minimized and that the government should conduct further debureaucratization to clamp down on “unofficial costs”.

26th March 1999:
The President’s Friday Prayer and lunch companion for the day was Commander of ABRI Wiranto. This set reporters abuzz with the prospect that a command rotation was in the offing. Sure enough when Wiranto emerged, they announced a rotation, the highlights of which were as follows:

-Maj. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, a Wiranto ally and presently Commander of the Jakarta Regional Military Command, will be transferred to ABRI Headquarters to be the Planning Assistant at ABRI Headquarters.

-Djamari’s old position as Commander of the Jakarta Regional Military Command will be occupied by Brig. Gen. TB Hasanuddin who will be promoted to the rank of Major General.

-Endriartono Sutarto will be transferred from his post as Commander of the Presidential Bodyguards to become Commander of the Central Java Regional Military Command to replace the lenient towards Prabowo Syahrir MS.

-Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman Gaffar becomes the new Commander of the Presidential Bodyguards

Observers of the Indonesian military saw the rotation as Try consolidating his position of ABRI. Particularly because the 4 regional military commands in Java will now be held by 2 former aide-de-camps (Jakarta and West Java), a son-in-law (East Java), and a former bodyguard (Central Java).

28th March 1999:
After attending Idul Adha prayers and handing over a sacrificial cow as part of the day’s events, President Try retreated to the Presidential Palace to be with his Four Horsemen.

The consensus reaction to Try’s plan to prosecute the Bulog case was one of excitement with Harsudiono saying that this was the way to “strike back.”

The group gently made fun of Ari Sudewo for getting involved with intrigue, referring to his developing rivalry with the Chief of ABRI Intelligence Agency Tyasno Sudarto. But they then seriously considered that there’s a dualism in the status of Indonesia’ intelligence agency between BAKIN and the ABRI Intelligence Agency.

The meeting became more subdued when Try talked about Ali Alatas’ still as yet unannounced resignation.

“11 years as Minister of Foreign Affairs, many more years in the foreign service, and all he wants is to rest and spend time with his family after that collapse last month”, began Try “How much longer do I try to reject and delay before I look like a prick?”

“So Ali Alatas is on his way out”, stated Sugeng Subroto “We’ve got to start thinking about a reshuffle.”

“And who would be best as minister of foreign affairs”, said Edi Sudrajat before turning to the President “You’ve got anyone in mind, Mr. President?”

“Ali Alatas is still the best we’ve got”, said Try “I asked him to join the cabinet last year because it would boost my foreign affairs credibility.”

“Things are different now, Mr. President” explained Harsudiono “Now you’ve got credibility on your own right because you’re the man who’s guiding Indonesia on the road to recovery… and doing a pretty good job at it too.”

“I’d agree with that, Mr. President”, chimed in Ari Sudewo “It might not be such a bad thing to lose Ali Alatas. As good as Ali Alatas was, our needs are different now.”

Everyone else listened intently.

“We’ve got Tutut, Prabowo, Hartono and all those other characters on the other side harassing you every step of the way. This reshuffle has got to serve the purpose of strengthening our position.”

29th March 1999:
In the presence of Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, the Central Java DPRD passes Prabowo’s budget. Prabowo shook hands effusively with both Alip Pandoyo and Harsudiono. Surprisingly Prabowo gave Harsudiono a hug. While embracing, Prabowo was also asking Harsudiono to remember the latter’s part of the deal.

30th March 1999:
The President chaired a full cabinet meeting attended by the Vice President and ministers. What was discussed was as follows:
-Minister of Workforce and Small Business Oetojo Oesman proposed and the President and the Cabinet approved of a minimum wage raise of 12%. Sumarlin chimed in that this is a justified raise because the government didn’t raise minimum wage last year out of fear of fuelling inflation. Try asks Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad and Minister of Civil Service Reform Rachmat Witoelar to study there is any room in the budget for a raise for civil servants.

-Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman reports only a small minority of governments and agencies have declared their off-budget funds and submitted it for audit. The President asked why the rest have not declared their off-budget funds considering it was something which he instructed at the first cabinet meeting last year. Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja spoke out saying that for his part, there is bureaucratic resistance and that part of that bureaucratic resistance is wanting to see the President and the State Secretariat do the same thing with its own off-budget funds. Try nodded and said he’ll get to work on that.

-The President closed his remarks with a pep-talk calling on the cabinet to make Repelita VII a success.

-Just as the meeting was about to be closed, Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Cooperatives Sarwono Kusumaatmadja asked if the rumors are true that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has not been overseas since his illness last month because he was resigning. Try said that ministers serve at the pleasure of the president and that he will let the cabinet and the people know if there are changes. In any case Ali Alatas will be flying to Cambodia in a few days time to discuss Cambodia’s preparation to join ASEAN next month.

31st March 1999:
In a ceremony broadcasted live on television at prime time, President Try signed the 1999/2000 Budget into law. All of the nation’s top officials were there, including the heads of the nation’s highest institution Vice President JB Sumarlin, Chairman of the DPR/MPR Harmoko, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Sarwata, Chairman of the BPK Kunarto, and Chairman of the DPA Rudini. After the signing, the President read out a speech.

“Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh…

Fellow Indonesians,

The budget which I have just signed not only marks the beginning of a new fiscal year. It also ushers in the beginning of Repelita VII.

Since 1969, the nation has committed itself to the path of achieving a just and prosperous society based on Pancasila; the path of Development. And to that end we have shown our commitment, for we have completed six five year development plans…

As we go into Repelita VII, the challenges we face today are different than the ones faced in 1969 but they are no less difficult and we are no less committed to overcoming them…

In my first address to the nation, I said that this nation must face the financial crisis together, that we’re all in this together. Now I say that we must be all in this together for the economic recovery and the challenges of development that we will face in the coming five years. Because it is only together that we can achieve a just and prosperous society based on Pancasila.

With a Bismillahirohmanirohim, I hereby declare the beginning of Repelita VII.

Thank you very much,

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh”.

Try hits a gong to signal the begininning of Repelita VII.

---
Trade figures quoted for 19th March 1999 can be seen at http://www.kemendag.go.id/id/economic-profile/economic-indicators/indonesia-export-import

Probably not as well known (it doesn't even have its own Wikipedia article) as the USSR, China, India's, or even Malaysia's is Indonesia's own series of Five Year Development Plans (Repelita). Five Repelita constitute one Long Term Development Plan (PJP) and Soeharto hoped that after two PJP, Indonesia would have reached its goal of a "Just and Prosperous Society Based on Pancasila."

 

[GSD310]

1st April 1999:
The President met with Vice President JB Sumarlin, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Governor of BI Boediono, Head of IBRA Bambang Subianto, and CEO of Bank Mandiri Robby Djohan.

Robby Djohan said that the merger of the 4 banks has been completed and that Bank Mandiri is ready to launch. Regarding personnel, Robby Djohan reports that not all of the staff could be accommodated.

Try instructs that any staff that could be utilized should be transferred over to IBRA to improve that agency’s capability to regulate the banking sector. Try also approved of the severance packages for staff to be laid off as part of the merger and asked that it be paid immediately.

3rd April 1999:
In a meeting at her residence, Megawati Soekarnoputri discussed her political future with her husband Taufiq Kiemas and her supporters most notably Minister of Public Works, Urban Development, and Housing Sutjipto, Laksamana Sukardi, and Kwik Kian Gie.

The meeting agreed that the best plan for Megawati and her supporters, given that the Minister of Home Affairs had signaled that there won’t be any additional political parties, the focus should be to gain control of the PDI at its 2001 Congress and that preparations should begin now to re-energize Megawati supporters across the country.

Sutjipto was an enthusiastic attendee of the meeting but becomes silent when asked about what will happen to his duties as minister.


5th April 1999:
Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi and CEO of Pertamina M. Arifin holds a joint press conference after their meeting with the President. They announce that Pertamina will be purchasing Perta shares and Permindo Oil Trading shares. These are two companies which are responsible for exporting and importing petroleum out of Indonesia on Pertamina’s behalf. Pertamina has shares in both but there are also others, Bambang and Tommy Soeharto in the case of Perta, Bambang, Sudwikatmono, and Nirwan Bakrie in Permindo.

“We’re essentially paying others to do something that could and should be done by Pertamina and the government wants to change that”, said Djiteng.

Demonstrations were held outside of the Presidential Palace as laid off Bank Mandiri workers protested the decision made regarding their employment.

6th April 1999:
The DPR gave the laid off Bank Mandiri workers a hearing. After hearing stories about how they will struggle economically, they heard two different responses from Golkar members.

“I’m not making light of the fact that you’ve all lost for livelihood in less than ideal economic circumstance, not at all. But the government has paid full severance and without delay to your bank accounts and it has even written references to be shown to prospective future employers. Surely that has got to count for something”, said Marzuki Darusman.

“I’m just wondering what good economic circumstances the government is talking about when the first significant decision it has made during Repelita VII is to lay people off and leave them jobless”, said Hartono.

Minister of Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Sutjipto requested a meeting with the President today. Edi Sudrajat had a bad feeling because Sutjipto said that the meeting will be quick. Sure enough, Sutjipto emerged only mere minutes later. Edi walked in to see Try shaking his head with a piece of paper in front of him.

“He’s just asked for his resignation”, said Try “He wants to help Megawati prepare for a run at the Chairwomanship in two years time. I told him that I want to speak to Megawati Soekarnoputri first before I agree to anything.”


7th April 1999:
Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro announced that there are indications that the state has incurred losses in a landswap deal between Bulog and PT. Goro Batara Sakti in 1995. He adds that the Attorney General’s Office has begun investigating the matter and will begin to gather evidence.

At Phnom Penh, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas receives an award from King Norodom Sihanouk and Prime Minister Hun Sen for his role in the peace process in Cambodia. Hun Sen said he wanted to give the award to Ali Alatas when they meet at Hanoi later this month as part of Cambodia’s official joining of ASEAN but since Ali Alatas has come earlier, then the award is given early as well.

“I’ll be around”, Ali Alatas said when asks if this dispels rumors that he’s resigning.


8th April 1999:
The President, accompanied by State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, breakfasted with Megawati Soekarnoputri and her husband Taufiq Kiemas at the Presidential Palace.

Megawati said that she’s thankful one of “her own” had been picked in the cabinet. But right now, because the Minister of Home Affairs has said she cannot form her own political party, her best bet for a a political future is the next PDI Congress, scheduled for 2001. Megawati said she needs her best men around as she prepares her bid for the Chairwomanship.

Try tried his best to persuade Megawati to persuade Sutjipto to continue but Megawati said she can’t prevent Sutjipto from resigning if he wants to concentrate on party affairs.

“Very well then, Mbak Mega, you may have Mr. Sutjipto”, said the President at last.

After Edi had escorted Megawati and Taufiq out, he returned to find Try massaging his head.

“That's two vacancies to be filled", said Try.

"Theoretically more if you fill those from within the cabinet", corrected Edi.


9th April 1999:
Try met with Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Ginandjar Kartasasmita who brought with him Parni Hadi and Surya Paloh, who both will run Indonesia’s two new television channels: Republika TV and Metro TV. Both men report that preparations are running well and that the two new television channels will start running before the year is out. Try asked them to observe broadcasting regulations and societal norms when their TV networks are ready.

Ginandjar also reports that he has given a license for a Kompas Gramedia to begin establishing its own television channel.

The week ended with the Department of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development cancelling its work conference scheduled for Monday and the sight of trucks moving Minister Sutjipto’s personal effects from the office.

10th April 1999:
President Try sat down with Vice President JB Sumarlin to have a conference call with Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono who was in Washington DC to meet with the IMF.

Soedradjad reports that Director of IMF Michel Camdessus is happy to accept the items of the 10th March Deregulation Package as the government’s next LOI. But he requests that a Bankruptcy Law is passed because that item of reform remains to be implemented from the the government’s LOI of April 1998. The IMF said that they are requesting another round of fuel subsidies cut.

The President agrees but asks Soedradjad to insist that the implementation of the fuel subsidies will be subject to the timing of the government.

After the conference call, Try asks Sumarlin to stick around for lunch. Sumarlin said that rumor is swirling around Jakarta that it is in fact Sutjipto, not Ali Alatas, who will be resigning from cabinet. Try admits to a shocked Sumarlin that it would actually be both men who will be resigning from the cabinet.

“Any inputs or suggestions you might have, Mr. Vice President?” asked Try as Sumarlin thought of an answer.

“If there’s any minister or any other official who hasn’t been performing, Mr. President, here’s your chance to remove them and say that it’s part of the reshuffle”, said Sumarlin.


12th April 1999:
Try’s first meeting on a Monday morning was always with State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Deputy State Secretary Soedibyo Rahardjo, Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman, Military Secretary Mardiyanto, and Presidential Secretary Soedjoko. Normally it’s a routine meeting with his “secretaries”, but this week’s meeting is anything but routine given that the matter being discussed is the reshuffle.

Soedibyo reported that the visible signs that Sutjipto will be leaving the cabinet and Ali Alatas’ recent visit to Cambodia have “distracted all but the most astute” from the fact that Ali Alatas will be resigning as well.

Try noted this fact. He then also for Hayono to provide him with a summary of the ministers and heads of agencies' performance review.

On his way to the DPR building, Chairman of the PDI Soerjadi said he sympathized with the President having to put up with Sutjipto wanting to leave the cabinet because that goes to show how reliable the people from “Megawati’s PDI” is. Soerjadi said if the President wanted a real PDI cadre to serve in the cabinet, they can pick from the PDI cadres in the DPR.


13th April 1999:
Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut Soeharto and Chairman of ICMI BJ Habibie had lunch together at Hotel Indonesia. They were unaccompanied.

“I heard that the President has approved of phasing out subsidies to your old projects”, said Tutut casually when the menus have been taken away.

“He’ll try to minimize the subsidies, Madam Chairwoman, and then if it is possible, he’ll phase it out”, corrected Habibie “Those projects will still be there. They just have to be more efficient.”

“Strategic industries was important to my father, he’d give it all the funding it needs, Mr. Habibie”, Tutut paused before adding “I would give it all the funding it needs.”

Habibie laughed and asked Tutut why the lunch. Tutut said she would like for the two of them to propose to the President a new Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development; one that the President could accept and one that would give Habibie and Tutut a stake in the cabinet.

“I already have a stake in cabinet, the Minister of Education happens to be a friend of mine and a former Secretary of ICMI”, said Habibie “You can nominate a new minister yourself but I’d doubt he’d take something seriously that has your fingerprints on it.”

“Why would that be? I’m the Chairwoman of Golkar”, stated Tutut.

“Yes you are”, affirmed Habibie “And for the last 6 months, you’ve stood by as your followers in the DPR tried to block the Banking Law from passing, you’ve formed a 45-member Golkar National Leadership Council without including even one of his supporters, and you’ve broken protocol and overshadowed his government when the King of Jordan died. How do you think your suggestion would look like in front of him? This isn’t a venture I want to be part of.”

“Careful now, I can remove Maulani if I want”, said Tutut.

“But you won’t”, said Habibie “You won’t because you’re afraid that if you’ll do, I’ll go over to the President. The President sees this dynamic better than you do, that’s why he keeps giving me sweeteners, he’s afraid that if I’m not happy, I’ll go over to you.”

Tutut sighed in frustration.

“And for what it’s worth, my dear”, began Habibie “The real price in this reshuffle is the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ position, the President just sent Ali Alatas on a visit to Cambodia to throw people of their scent.”

When the two appeared out of the restaurant to face the press, Habibie and Tutut both said that they were speaking about the present situation and that they both wish the President the best of luck in finding a new minister.

President Try and First Lady Tuti Setiawati today paid their respects to Mrs. Rahmi Hatta who passed away today at the age of 73. Mrs. Rahmi Hatta was the wife of Indonesia’s first Vice President Mohammad Hatta and mother of Minister of Social Affairs Meutia Hatta.

14th April 1999:
President Try presided over the funeral of Mrs. Rahmi Hatta today at Tanah Kusir Cemetery, Jakarta.

As they were about to depart, Try invited Chairman of DPR Harmoko to join him in the Presidential Car and for Mrs. Harmoko to join the First Lady in the First Lady’s car. There were some small talk about Mrs. Hatta but both men knew what they wanted to talk about.

When Harmoko asked how was the selection for Ali Alatas and Sutjipto’s replacements going, Try asked Harmoko for his input.

“Promote someone from inside the cabinet both for Foreign Affairs and Public Works, Housing and Urban Development”, suggested Harmoko before saying wrily “And then maybe I’d like to recommend some of my people for what has been left behind.”

That night, RCTI broadcasted on its news program that the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ position was still in play.


15th April 1999:
Morning newspapers carried headlines along the lines of “2 Ministers to Leave Cabinet” with the source of the news that Ali Alatas will still be resigning to be “Officials within the government”.

Ginandjar Kartasasmita held a press conference that morning. Demanding to know which officials spoke to RCTI and the newspapers, Ginandjar said if RCTI could not name the source then it should not carry the news.

Reading the newspaper with the First Lady besides him that morning, Try sighed.

“So much for people thinking Ali Alatas isn’t resigning”, he muttered.

President Try today welcomed Prime Minister of Thailand Chuan Leekpai. In a meeting accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Soeyono, and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Try and Chuan agree on closer tourism and cultural exchanges between Indonesia and Thailand.

The two held a joint press conference where they praised each oher for the conduct of the policies they have adopted to conduct economic recovery. The toughest question was directed at Try from a Thai journalist.

“President Try, what do you think of the challenges faced Prime Minister Chuan in implementing his policies of economic recovery and by that I mean the Thai Rak Thai? Do you see any parallels with the challenge you are facing from within your own Golkar party?”

Chuan laughed awkwardly and Try smiled.

“I don’t propose to comment about the internal politics of Thailand for that matter air the dirty laundry of Indonesian politics”, Try began “I do however want to comment about Prime Minister Chuan and myself.

I think both Prime Minister Chuan and myself are both here because we’ve both received a mandate from our peoples and we’ve both done so because we have been entrusted with the task of economic recovery and hopefully we are doing something good with the task that has been given to us.

As far as I know the Indonesian economy is on the right track and that’s a good in of itself. The Thai economy is also on the right track and that’s good for the region.

I hope those who have a problem with our policies would consider this and what’s good for the nation and the region before they start to mindlessly get in the way.”


16th April 1999:
Prime Minister Chuan’s visit came to an end today. He breakfasted with and was seen off at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport by Sumarlin who was accompanied by Ali Alatas. After Chuan’s airplane departed, Sumarlin and Ali Alatas walked to their cars accompanied by a media throng that crowded around them.

“Mr. Vice President, will there be a cabinet reshuffle?” the one reporter asked.

“Are these your last days as Minister of Foreign Affairs?” asked another.

“These people seem to know more than we do, Minister”, joked Sumarlin to Ali Alatas who laughed along.

Back at the Presidential Palace, Try watched what was happening on TV and shook his head. This was becoming a train wreck.

In the hours after the press mob had gathered around Vice President JB Sumarlin and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, the government maintained radio silence.

It was after 5 PM when Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman came out and read an official statement:

“President Try Sutrisno has today officially accepted the resignations of Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Sutjipto. President Try will be looking to choose replacements for these two ministers and assemble the best cabinet possible to conduct economic recovery and development as is his constitutional right.”

---
When I thought about this TL, I'd always envisioned that there would be a reshuffle in early to mid 1999 and that Ali Alatas would be the most prominent minister leaving given that he is the oldest but also the most well-travelled cabinet members. ITTL Ali Alatas will be ending his time as Minister of Foreign Affairs a good 6 months before his OTL counterpart.

Sutjipto wanting to leave crept up on me during the process. I wanted him in the cabinet to show that Try was not hostile to Megawati's PDI but each time I thought about him I became less and less convinced that being a minister was what he would've wanted. The guy was very much Megawati's enforcer when Soeharto was repressing her and when it came time for the PDI-P's formation, he became PDI-P's first Secretary.

Habibie and Tutut's relationship was a hostile one OTL. Tutut resented the fact that Habibie was close to Soeharto (https://books.google.co.id/books?id=L-HA_EPLiswC&pg=PA172&dq=habibie+and+tutut&hl=id&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk96TNyJTgAhXZinAKHT83DDIQ6AEIODAC#v=onepage&q=habibie and tutut&f=false).

The other Soeharto children also resented Habibie. So much so that leading up to the OTL 1998 MPR Session they preferred it if Soeharto chose Try for a 2nd term as Vice President.

 

[GSD310]

16th April 1999:
The President ended his day by with dinner with Chairman of DPA Rudini. He asked Rudini for his advice on various issues. He saved the issue of the reshuffle till last.

“I know you’re considering the politics already, Mr. President, so I won’t bother you there”, began Rudini “I would like to point out that you’ve got a fair few ministers on the wrong side of 1940. Yes you want experience but you want your ministers to have the energy too. This reshuffle is happening because Ali Alatas ran out of energy, after all.”

“But suppose, I ask you to give me political advice, what would you say as a former Army Chief of Staff to a former Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Chairman?” asked Try.

“Do the political calculations but don’t get caught up in it because there’s work to be done”, said Rudini “Yours is a once in a lifetime opportunity, Mr. President, get the people you appoint right, not just the politics.”

17th April 1999:
Try Sutrisno attended prayers at Istiqlal Mosque, this Saturday being the Islamic New Year. During the prayers, Try noticed the camera trained on him. During these occasions, the seat immediately to the president’s right normally belonged to the vice president. But JB Sumarlin being Catholic, that seat went to the next in line in the order of precedence, this being Chairman of DPR Harmoko. On this particular day with all the political speculation, Harmoko seemed to enjoy his seat on Try’s right hand side.

When the ceremony was over, Try was crowded by the press on the way out of the mosque to the Presidential car.

“Mr. President, it’s been a twisting and winding road but now we are at a point where we will be having a cabinet reshuffle?”

“First of all, I would like to wish Indonesians all around the country a happy Islamic New Year. Secondly, I don’t know what twisting and winding road you’re speaking about, so far as I know I’ve only approved Minister Ali Alatas and Minister Sutjipto’s resignations yesterday”, explained Try “What speculation and excitement there has been is entirely of your own doing.”

“Who will be appointed to these two positions, Mr. President?”

“We’re getting ahead of ourselves don’t you think?” asked the President.

At Megawati Soekarnoputri’s house in South Jakarta, Megawati celebrated the Islamic New Year with her supporters making special mention that Outgoing Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Sutjipto will be returning “to the fold”. When asked by the media throng outside who should be his successor, Sutjipto said that that is for the President to decide but that he would recommend a minister who could devote his full attention to the nation’s infrastructure, housing, and cities.

At the Presidential Palace, Try met consecutively with the leaders of the three political parties. He first met with Chairman of the PDI Soerjadi who all but offered himself to be a minister. He then met with Chairman of PPP Ismail Hasan Metareum who said that the PPP was happy having one slot as minister held by Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

Lastly, there was Chairwoman of Golkar Tutut. Tutut recommended Hartono as the new minister of foreign affairs. In listing all Hartono’s talents, Tutut also made specific mention of the fact that Hartono was an ICMI member and that Habibie would be pleased to have another ICMI member in the cabinet, especially as minister of foreign affairs. Try politely told Tutut that he will take it under consideration.

By afternoon, the President and the First Lady had departed for the Presidential Palace at Bogor to get some distance from Jakarta. Try took State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Deputy State Secretary Soedibyo Rahardjo, Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman, and OCDS Sugeng Subroto. As a concession to the fact that this was a public holiday, Try allowed the families of the aforementioned officials’ families to come along and stay at the Presidential Palace.

Try and his senior staff members went to work immediately when they arrived and finished quite late. There was no formal division of roles in terms of discussing the ministerial candidates but broadly speaking, Edi looked at credibility, Soedibyo focused on the political impact, Hayono related the candidate as to the policies that remained to be done in the term, with Sugeng Subroto playing devil’s advocate whenever there’s a disagreement to a candidate.

18th April 1999:
Try began the day at Puncak accompanied by the First Lady and some of his children enjoying the mountainside views of the tea plantations and interacting with tourists and locals alike. By the time he returned to Bogor Presidential Palace, the President was ready to make a call.

“…hope everything’s well with you and your wife and of course you’ll understand why we can’t meet directly”, said Try.

“Of course, Mr. President. Your enemies will have a field day if they knew you consulted me”, replied the voice of Benny Moerdani.

The two began talking about the present reshuffle.

“If I was to ask you for input, what it would it be, General?” asked Try.

“What you don’t want to do is throw another bone Harmoko or Habibie’s way” replied Benny.

The old general explained it in detail. Giving another cabinet spot to a Harmoko supporter meant rewarding him for losing the chairmanship of Golkar. Harmoko was not as powerful as he was when he was both Chairman of the DPR/MPR and Chairman of Golkar. In actuality, there’s little reason for Harmoko to benefit from the reshuffle.

Benny told Try that he has done enough to court Habibie’s support. Benny said that if Try wants another Habibie “guy” in the cabinet in a way that asserts the President’s authority.

“The big winner in the cabinet can’t be them”, said Benny “Think someone else. Someone who’s already on your side but still thinks their guys are not getting their due.”

“Like who?” asked Try.

“Think, Mr. President”, encouraged Benny “You probably didn’t even realize it yourself but you inadvertently broke this person’s power base. His guys has still got some government posts but compared to the old days, it’s nothing because he doesn’t control the administrative center of the government anymore.”

“The old State Secretariat…Vice President Sudharmono”, said Try.

“Correct”, agreed Benny “If you want anybody to throw a bone at, and a big one at that, it should be at Sudharmono or one of his proteges.”

After lunch, Try was visited by Chairman of ICMI BJ Habibie. Try was getting familiar with Habibie’s routine: all charm, all friendliness, but no commitment. Try offered him a position in the cabinet just to see how he would react and as expected Habibie shrunk from the offer. To be a minister meant abandoning his neutrality and giving full backing to Try. Habibie made a request instead.

“If I may, Mr. President, I would like you give the Head of the BPPT’s position to an ICMI cadre”, asked Habibie “Maybe I’m sentimental but that was the first agency I was put in charge of and I would like to see it in the hands of someone familiar to me.”

The meeting ended with Try and Habibie shaking hands with each other in front of the cameras.

After Habibie, the President was joined by Vice President JB Sumarlin. They met for 30 minutes. Sumarlin came out with the news that the President was still finalizing the reshuffle but assures the markets that the Minister of Economics and National Development Planning, the Minister of Finance, and the Governor of BI will remain.

After his meetings, Try had another session with his senior staff members. They stopped just before dinner with a short list of names at which point Hayono Isman and Soedibyo Rahardjo, along with their families returned to Jakarta.
---

After dinner, Try met with his Four Horsemen, with Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas and Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo now having joined at the Presidential Palace. They thankfully didn’t pester Try about who will be in or out, preferring to let the President reveal his course of action.

“I will be naming two ministers from within the cabinet to fill the two vacancies”, said Try.

“That means you’ll have to appoint someone to the posts they’ve left behind”, said Edi.

“I sure do”, said Try “I’ll be doing that and slightly more.”

“What of Habibie and Harmoko?” asked Harsudiono “Will they be increasing their share in the cabinet?”

Try spoke of his conversation with Benny Moerdani. The room was quiet as the Four Horsemen took in Benny’s advice.

“If I may disagree”, began Ari Sudewo “The purpose of supporting Harmoko now is to show that yes, he does enjoy the President’s support and that he has enough of the President’s ear to be represented in the cabinet. Otherwise, we better start praying that Tutut doesn’t move against him in the DPR.”

“I tend to agree with the Chief of BAKIN on whether or not there’s a place for one of Harmoko’s”, said Try quietly “And I tend to agree with General Benny on whether or not there’s a place for another one of Habibie’s in the cabinet.”

“As far as Sudharmono’s boys go…”, began Edi before not knowing how to put a complicated thought into words.

“There’s a lot to be considered here”, said Harsudiono “If Harmoko is unhappy with you, the odds of him going over to Tutut are small because he can’t handle the defeat at Tutut’s hand, the same with Habibie, he too can’t stand Tutut. Sudharmono and his bunch on the other hand, they’ve still got some power. If they get angry, they can do some damage.”

19th April 1999:
Try, accompanied by Edi Sudrajat and Commander of Presidential Bodyguard Abdul Rahman Gaffar, took the opportunity of being in Bogor to drop in to the Bogor Land Office where he had conducted a spot check two and a half months ago just after opening hour. To his surprise, things had not changed. One member of the public that had seen Try on that spot check said that things only got better for a week after Try’s inspection but then got worse again. Try thanked the people present at the office for their report and then returned to the Bogor Presidential Palace.

Cameramen and news reporters had gathered at the Presidential Palace in Bogor to record the happenings. The President’s first meeting of the day was with Minister of Civil Service Reform Rachmat Witoelar. This one lasted 40 minutes before Rachmat Witoelar emerged out of the meeting.

“The President has asked me to conduct minor amendments to the existing organizational charts of government departments that policy areas that had not been paid attention to thus far will be accommodated after the reshuffle”, said Rachmat Witoelar before disappearing inside his ministerial car and heading back to Jakarta.

Next, Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Ginandjar Kartasasmita went in for a meeting with Try. This one was longer, lasting a good 90 minutes. The gathered media throng was surprised when it was Try and Edi who emerged out of the meeting first, when asked for details, Edi referred the press to Ginandjar before getting inside the presidential car with Try and heading back to Jakarta.

“The President has asked me to inform you that the cabinet reshuffle will be announced tonight and that he is now on his back to Jakarta to contact those he wishes to join his cabinet and his government”, announced Ginandjar.
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Jakarta meanwhile was anticipating any news and development about the reshuffle.

Sutjipto had already said his farewells at the Department of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development by mid-morning. Meanwhile, Ali Alatas had a special luncheon held in his honor by the diplomatic corps in Jakarta before bidding a tearful farewell to colleagues and staff at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

All throughout the day, government ministers were bombarded with questions over their fates by the press as they appeared at events or walked from one meeting to another. Most said something about such decisions “being a matter for President Try” or that they were just “going about their jobs as usual”.

Harsudiono Hartas quipped that as a general rule, the people who are staying put are those who have not been summoned by the President. It’s those who are changing positions, for better or for worse, who will be finding themselves summoned by the President.

JB Sumarlin kept indoors for most of the day but made the mistake of appearing at the Vice Presidential Palace’s cafeteria and was mobbed by the correspondents stationed ther. He was forced to hold an impromptu press conference.

“Is it true that the President will be prioritizing political considerations in this reshuffle?” asked a reporter.

“I can give you an emphatic no to that question”, said Sumarlin “And I can say that because he’s told me about some names that he has chosen and I can assure you, these names reflect the President’s commitment to the mandate which he had secured March last year.”
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From hour to hour, from minute to minute, stories spread through Jakarta about who President Try was calling on the phone or summoning to the Presidential Palace.

Those who were not part of the intrigue but who were technologically savvy took to message boards and mailing lists to make their guesses as to who will be safe, who will be promoted, and who will leave the cabinet.

At the end of the day all had to wait for the official announcement.
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Memo to the Security and Intelligence Division Director at Singapore​

President Try Sutrisno has tonight (19th April 1999) announced his much anticipated (at least among the politically conscious and the diplomatic corps) cabinet reshuffle. After rumors that Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas’ retirement had been resurrected and with Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Sutjipto also looking to resign so that he could focus on being Megawati Soekarnoputri’s enforces, Try has moved fast, not wanting to let the matter drag on.

For the purposes of this memo and because Try has included them as part of the reshuffle, we will be mentioning the heads of the agencies who are affected by the reshuffle though they are not strictly speaking ministers.

The following are the cabinet changes:

Leaving the Cabinet:
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas- Retirement
Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Sutjipto- To become a political assistant to Megawati Soekarnoputri
Minister of Forestry and Environment Ardans- Appointed Vice Chairman of the DPA
Minister of Workforce and Small Business Oetojo Oesman- Appointed Ambassador to Australia
Minister of Health Broto Wasisto- Appointed President’s Envoy to the UN for Millenium Development Goals Affairs
Head of BPN Bambang Kesowo- Appointed Secretary of DPA


Promoted From Within the Cabinet:
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Prof. Dr. Ir. Vice Mshl. (Ret.) Ginandjar Kartasasmita
Our sources at the Palace indicates that there was a consensus that Ali Alatas’ successor ought to be a career diplomat. But such was the political nature of this reshuffle that Try had promoted Ginandjar Kartasasmita to this position. Ginandjar was thought to have been unhappy at being Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunication and unhappy when Try ordered him to not to put his name forward for the chairmanship of Golkar. Ginandjar has the talent, intellect, and exprience to be successful in this role. This appointment will further cement Try and Ginandjar’s alliance, forged when Ginandjar brought over a bloc of around 80 votes to Try at the 1998 MPR Session.

Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development: Ir. Rachmat Witoelar
Given that he has a degree in civil engineering, Rachmat Witoelar was the logical choice. Try reportedly told him to focus solely on his role as minister and not “look twice” at Golkar matters when giving him the appointment.

New Faces in the Cabinet:
Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications: Anak Agung Oka Mahendra SH:
Oka Mahendra was a five term DPR member prior to his not being re-elected to the DPR in 1997 and was in fact the youngest DPR member when he was first elected in 1971. He has also been Deputy Secretary of Golkar from 1983-1988. He was part of that vocal DPR batch serving between 1987-1992 which called for the DPR to have more power. He will take over this role from Ginandjar Kartasasmita. This appointment is a nod towards Wahono, the former Chairman of Golkar that sympathized with criticisms towards Soeharto from within the regime. Adds to geographic balance by virtue of his being Balinese.

Minister of Forestry and Environment: Barnabas Suebu SH
Barnabas Suebu is a career provincial politician in Irian Jaya but is best known as a former Governor of Irian Jaya (1988-1993). A policy concern of his during this time as governor has been forest and environmental degradation in his home province, to the point that he ceased issuing logging licenses. He is presently a member of the National Education Advisory Council. Our sources in the palace said that Try noted Barnabas’ dissatisfaction the way forests and the environment are being treated in Indonesia during their phone interview and said afterwards “We need people who are dissatisfied with the way our natural resources are still underutilized in charge of said natural resources”. Adds massive geographical balance through his Irian Jaya background.

Minister of Workforce and Small Business: Fahmi Idris SE:
Fahmi Idris is at present a Golkar member of nearly 15 years and a successful businessman. His membership is rather passive because he has only been appointed an MPR delegate during that time. Has strong New Order credentials because he was a student demonstrator participating in anti-Soekarno protests in 1966. Though a Harmoko supporter in the 1998 MPR Session and succeeds another Harmoko supporter in Oetojo Oesman, he could not be classified as an unambiguous pro-Harmoko figure. As an ICMI member he would be acceptable to Habibie and as being someone who is pro-indigenous Indonesia businessman, he would share an affinity with Ginandjar. He is in Try’s own words someone who is “Acceptable to all and ticks all the boxes.”

Minister of Health: Prof. Dr. dr. Azrul Azwar MPH
Azrul Azwar is an academic turned Department of Health bureaucrat. He is a graduate of the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Medicine where he is a professor of community medicine and Dean at the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Indonesia. He has high stature within the community of health practitioners both at home and abroad, having served as Chairman of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) (1988-1991, 1994-1997) and Vice President of the Medical Association of ASEAN. He presently serves as Director General of Community Health (1998-now). The President turned to Dr. Azrul on account of the latter’s more ambitious policy goals and because he will add further geographic balance in the cabinet, the new Minister of Health being of Acehnese origin.

Minister of Civil Service Reform: Dr. Ir. Kuntoro Mangunsubroto:
Kuntoro is a career bureaucrat and has had a broad bureaucratic experience ranging from the State Secretariat (1983-1988), the Department of Mining and Energy (1993-1997), the BKPM (1997-1998), and most recently as the Head of the BPPT (1998-now). He has also been the CEO of Indonesia’s state-owned coal company PT Bukit Asam (1988-1989) where he increased productivity and the CEO of Indonesia’s state owned tin company PT Timah (1989-1993). Kuntoro is a respected bureaucrat within Indonesia and also an ally of Ginandjar, having been the latter’s staffer in the 1980s. Kuntoro will succeed Rachmat Witoelar.

Head of the BPN: Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Yusuf Kartanegara
The only ABRI appointment in this reshuffle falls to Yusuf Kartanegara. Yusuf had only retired from his military career in November 1998 and had been serving as a director general in the Department of Defense and Security since March 1998. His appointment as the Head of BPN is an attempt to bring the National Military Academy (AMN) Class of 1966 into the fold. Yusuf himself was an officer in intelligence, having reached the peak of his career as the Head of the ABRI Intelligence Agency.


Junior Ministers:
The reshuffle also saw Try resurrect the positions of junior ministers. In his speech Try said that given the reorganization of departments had taken place last year, some departments’ responsibilities have become so large that there are aspects of those departments’ responsibilities that had not been adequately addressed yet. Junior ministers will belong in a government department and have responsibility over specific policy areas, they are as follows:

Junior Minister of Finance: Drs. Marzuki Usman MA
Marzuki Usman is a career bureaucrat at the Department of Finance, most famous for his stint as Head of Indonesia’s Stock Market Supervisory Agency (Bapepam) (1988-1992). He will be put in charge of coordinating IBRA and Bapepam as well as other matters regarding the financial sector; in other words, those parts of the Minister of Finance’s job that does not have anything to do with fiscal policy.

Junior Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Utilization: Bacelius Ruru SH, LL.M
Much as Marzuki Usman, Bacelius Ruru traces the beginnings of his career to the Department of Finance. Since 1995, his focus had always been state-owned enterprises first as Director General of State Owned Enterprises (1995-1998) at the Department of Finance, then Head of the State-Owned Enterprises Utilization Office at the State Secretariat (1998-now). This appointment to junior minister status reflects Try’s increasing priority in improving the state-owned enterprises’ performance.

Junior Minister of Research and Technology: Ir. Indra Bambang Utoyo
Indra Bambang Utoyo is the son of former Army Chief of Staff Bambang Utoyo presently serving as a DPR member. An exports-imports businessman, Indra served two terms as Chairman of the Children of Retired ABRI Members Communications Forum (FKPPI), an organization whose memberships are restricted to children of retired ABRI soldiers. His present role will absorb the Head of BPPT’s role. His appointment is very much political; he is seen as Try’s attempt to gain a foothold in a constituent that would perhaps be friendly towards Tutut.

Junior Minister of Cooperatives: Dr. Ir. Muslimin Nasution
The joke going around Jakarta at the news of his possible elevation was that he would be the “oldest junior minister”, Muslimin Nasution being 60 years old. Much as most of his junior minister colleagues, Muslimin is a career bureaucrat with assignments in cooperatives policy. Presently he is the Head of Research and Development at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Cooperatives (1987-present). Is an ICMI member though characterized as liberal.

Junior Minister of Urban Development: Ir. Giri Suseno Hadihardjono
Giri Suseno is a career bureaucrat from the Department of Transportation, reaching the peak of his career there as Director General of Land Transportation (1984-1991). After that he was recruited by Habibie and became the latter’s right hand man at BPIS as its Vice Chairman. When Habibie resigned after he was defeated for the presidency, Giri became the Acting Chairman of the BPIS until Sintong was appointed Chairman of the BPIS. Giri was appointed to this position on account of his advocacy for a public transport system in Jakarta though this position will entail him looking at urban development as a whole.

Junior Minister of Rural Development: Agung Laksono
Though a businessman by trade, Agung Laksono is better known for his organizational experience first as Chairman of Indonesia’s Young Generation (1984-1989) which is Golkar’s Youth Organization, then Chairman of the Indonesian Young Businessmen’s Association (1983-1986), and most recently as a Vice Chairman of Golkar (1993-1998). Our source at the Palace said that Agung will fulfil two purposes: first will be to accelerate rural development and identify that rural development with the government and second, he will be looking to draw those still undecided in Try’s “cold war” with Tutut to Try’s cause. A Harmoko supporter at the 1998 MPR Session but ended up voting for Try. He will leave his DPR seat to join the cabinet.


Some Remarks:
-Those who were removed from the cabinet rather than resigned were removed for reasons of regeneration. Try wanted to remove some of the older members of the cabinet to have more energy around the table with him and also to avoid another scenario like that of Ali Alatas’ resignation and avoid the cabinet reshuffle that comes with it. Our sources say he removed Oetojo, Ardans, and Broto Wasisto but avoided removing Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro and Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi because those two are “getting some interesting work done”.

-Only Bambang Kesowo at the BPN was removed for poor performance, having not improved a land office in Bogor after Try had visited it.

-Ginandjar’s elevation to minister of foreign affairs is the big promotion in the cabinet. His position is further strengthened by the elevation of Kuntoro Mangkusubroto into the cabinet in addition to former National Development Planning Agency subordinate Gunawan Sumodiningrat holding the Head of BPS’ post. Though considered a protégé of former Vice President Sudharmono, this elevation as well as that of his allies has meant that Ginandjar has become a political force in his own right.

-The other winners in the reshuffle are the civilian “soft-liners” (The Ministers of Legal Affairs; Agriculture, Food, and Cooperatives; Industry, Research, and Technology; and Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development) who now add the new Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications as an ally.

-How Harmoko’s supporters fared: Retained the Minister of Workforce and Small Business’ position. Added the Junior Minister of Rural Development’s position.

-How Habibie’s supporters fared: Retained the Minister of Education and the Chairman of the BPIS position. Added the Junior Minister of Cooperatives’ position.

-The Vice President is a quiet winner in the reshuffle. Two of the junior ministers are career bureaucrats who reached prominence when he served as Minister of Finance (1988-1993).

-The appointments of Agung Laksono and Indra Bambang Utoyo are interesting for the fact that it represents an effort to gather support from constituents that naturally would have an inclination to support Tutut. These constituents being undecideds in the Try/Tutut conflict in Golkar and the children of ABRI reitrees.

 

[GSD310]

An Evening with the Priyatnos

The following is a transcript (translated from Indonesian) of a little video I recorded of my host family the Priyatnos, which I think is a typical Indonesian upper middle class family living here in Jakarta. They were aware that I was recording this conversation. The Priyatno family consists of the following:

Pak Priyatno (P): The Head of the Family, works as a interiors contractor, 56 years old

Ibu Ria (R): The working mother turned housewife/entrepreneur, 53 years old

Andi (A): The oldest son, an assistant manager at a 5-star hotel in Jakarta, 25 years old

Lia (L): The second child, architecture graduate, unemployed, 23 years old

Wibi (W): The youngest child, economics major, student, 21 years old

John (J): exchange student from Australia, political science major, 22 years old

[Camera switches on]

Scene: The family sitting in couches in the living room watching TV.

J: Okay, welcome to the Priyatno household where everyone’s sitting around the TV. Say hi, guys!

[Everybody either turns to the camera to say hi or waves while still watching the TV]

J: What are we watching, guys?

P: We’re waiting for the special live broadcast right now. The President is due to announce the cabinet reshuffle any minute now.

J: How big of an event is that?

R: Maybe for the Habibies and the Harmokos it’s a big thing because they want their followers to make it to the cabinet. For people like us, we just want the present work of the cabinet to continue so that the nation can get out of this economic crisis.

J: For those in Australia who’s unenlightened about the crisis, could you explain what it is?

R: I’ll leave it to the economist in the family to answer…

W: Well, pretty much it began as a currency crisis in Thailand which spread all across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. And then much as elsewhere, it became an economic crisis with unemployment and whatnot.

J: How would you say Indonesia has fared in the crisis?

P: We got hit. We definitely got hit. But for sure, things are not as bad as say in Malaysia. They changed prime ministers because of this crisis. Even Singapore got into a recession late last year. We got into a crisis, we’re still in a crisis but we’re doing as well as we could be.

R: That’s the big picture. On a smaller scale, I’m concerned that Lia has not been able to get employment yet.

L: Yeah, I’m an architecture graduate. It’s pretty difficult to find jobs in the private sector with the construction sector doing so well. I tried applying for some of the jobs in the public sector for example building housing and apartment blocks as part of the stimulus package. I got an offer but I have to relocate to Ujung Pandang…

P: And there’s no way I’m letting that happen (turns to Mrs. Ria)…actually I’m concerned about you as well, my dear.

R: Bapak’s concerned about me because I got laid off 16 months ago.

J: What did you work as before, if you don’t mind me asking, Bu?

R: I was a Admin Manager at a family-owned steak restaurant. It’s been in business for say, 15 years. We use imported steak and because of the crisis, the price shot up and the owners could not handle it. The drop of value in Rupiah was just too much.

[Silence as all the family members give a sympathetic look to their mother]

R: But that’s okay, since then I’ve attended a Business Crash Course that the government put in place in the stimulus last year and I’ve gotten into making cakes. I’m getting a lot of orders that I’m considering opening a small cake shop. You’ve got to make do, I suppose.

W: We’re in a situation where some sectors are doing bad and some sectors are doing great. If you’re in construction or in manufacturing…if you’ve still got a job in those sectors then you should consider yourself lucky. Other sectors like tourism on the other hand...

J: You’re in the tourism sector aren’t you, Andi?

A: Sure am. That sector is really booming. From the point of view of foreigners, purely on the basis of the currency losing its value, Indonesia just got really cheap to travel to. So the hotel where I’m working, it’s never empty.

P: I think exporters are also doing well. My brother Yudi exports children’s clothing to the United States and he’s managed to take his family on an end-of-year holiday to Europe last Christmas.

J: So you’ve got different situation in different sectors. I want to move on to something else. Ibu Ria you attended a Business Crash Course that the government set up and then you, Lia, got an offer to work on a government project. How important do you think is the government’s role in the nation’s economic recovery?

A: I think it’s very important. We can be very cheap to travel to but if there’s no stability or a sense that everything is in order, people aren’t going to want to come here.

P: You should also mention trust as well. President Try he’s got trust. The IMF trusts him, the businesses –except the crooks- trusts him, and more importantly the people trusts him.

J: You sound like a fan of President Try.

R: Well, our family’s never been particularly political but we started paying attention to things just as the MPR Session was about to start last year

P: By mid-late February, the currency’s been stabilized if I remembered correctly. But then here we have the MPR Session, he’s got 3 others going for his job, and all of a sudden we’re worried that the policies he’s implemented might not be carried on or might in fact be dismantled by Harmoko or Habibie or God knows Tutut. We don’t vote for the president, of course, the MPR does. So at the time we’re just sitting there saying “Make the right choice, make the right choice.”

L: And it was a roller coaster ride too. Try Sutrisno 503-Habibie 497…

R: 200 million people on the line…we shouldn’t treat it as sport.

J: What do you all think of Try now? He’s got a five years term.

W: I’m amazed he managed to get all those fat cats to pay back the BLBI. That and the other steps he’s taking to guide the nation to economic recovery. Of course, now we’re hoping that Tutut doesn’t get the better of him…
L: He’s a breath of fresh air, I suppose.

A: After three decades, a fresh face is a breath of fresh air. Let’s just hope he’s not going to be another Soeharto.

L: He won’t.

P: [turns up TV volume] OK Kids, I think it’s about to start...

[John focuses the camera on the TV which now shows a live broadcast from the Presidential Palace. President Try Sutrisno takes his position at a lectern with Vice President JB Sumarlin standing next to him]

Try: Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Fellow Indonesians wherever you may be.

As you may have heard I have approved of the resignations of Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Sutjipto. Accordingly this means that there will be some changes in the composition of the cabinet…

[Camera Switches Off]

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Something I scribbled but which I didn't know where to put. But as Pilatypus said above, a refresher from all the politics.