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

104: Summit Season Part III
  • 22nd November 2000:
    President Try Sutrisno departed Jakarta for the ASEAN Unofficial Summit early enough that he was welcomed in a ceremony and had breakfast with President of Singapore SR Nathan before, being accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita, having a quick meeting with Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong, Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs Lee Hsien Loong, and Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

    Goh said that looking at Indonesia’s activities over the past few months ie. the Sipadan Hostage extraction, he supported Indonesia in principle if it wants to play a leadership role in ASEAN but said that if Malaysia doesn’t support Indonesia’s leadership, that puts Singapore in a difficult situation since it still relies on its water with Malaysia. Lee said that Singapore would like some more time to consider its options. Try respected this. Ginandjar noted however that the two Lees were not exactly pleased by this.

    All 10 heads of states and government from the ASEAN gathered for the unofficial summit. All made their opening speeches including Try, who commanded the entire Summit’s attention with his speech, which included the following:

    “The results of the US Presidential Elections as well as the outgoing Clinton Administration and the Primakov’s stances of supporting different sides in a conflict in Serbia and the Presidential Elections in Romania all point to the world falling back into two blocs. Southeast Asia should prevent itself from falling into one of these two blocs as it did in the Cold War nor should it be in a position where it comes into a position where it is reliant on a major power. Instead Southeast Asia should form its own bloc so that it can find its security from it and act in its own interests.”

    The Indonesian delegation loved the speech. While the other speeches were relatively dull, it was the speech of Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in which he said:

    “ASEAN already has the Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality Declaration signed in Malaysia 1971. We have that to fall back on if the world were to fall into two blocs. Let us work together through institutions which we already have and which we have already spent so much time working on painstakingly rather then commit ourselves to uncertain ventures.”

    “Is this guy really under that much pressure at home that he’s at the point of reading speeches that doesn’t represent his point of view?” muttered State Secretary Edi Sudrajat.

    Try evidently heard Edi’s muttering because he too asked about how things were going back in Indonesia though Edi would not allow him to watch television so that he could remain focused on the Summit.

    It was just as well that Edi didn’t allow Try to get news from Indonesia. Appearing on TVRI was Prabowo Subianto, confirming Feisal Tanjung’s story and repeating the question over and over again about whether or not the President “can trust Habibie now”.

    23rd November 2000:
    The key meeting of the day was between President Try (accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Edi Sudrajat, and Ambassador to ASEAN I Gede Awet Sara) with Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra (with Minister of Foreign Afairs Surakiart Sathirathai and Minister to the Office of Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisang). In among various matters, they talked about the situation in Southeast Asia.

    Thaksin said that it will be hard for Try to build his bloc without Malaysia onboard. In addition to being a big nation, Malaysia controls Singapore’s water supply and envelopes Brunei on all sides. Get Malaysia on board and it would probably be easier to get Singapore and Brunei on board. And if Singapore and Brunei is on board, then Indonesia has Southeast Asia’s two richest countries supporting him. Over in Thailand’s part of Southeast Asia, Thaksin said that Laos is struggling economically this year but this is being cushioned somewhat by Thai and Indonesian investments in the country. Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen is a very high risk of falling into Chinese orbit and bringing his country along with him. But Thaksin said he has good relations with Hun Sen and will do his best to neutralize it.

    After Thaksin left, Try asked those in the room what to make of the meetng with Thaksin, all agreed that Thaksin was offering Thailand for the role of Indonesia’s lieutenant in Southeast Asia.

    Back in Jakarta, Chairman of ICMI Habibie had avoided taking questions for 2 days on Feisal Tanjung’s revelations. This was affecting his campaign for re-election as PKPI members were no longer attending his events. Both DPR Member Hartono and ICMI Secretary Adi Sasono campaigned around the country for the ICMI Chairmanship, the former in events attended by PKPB members and the latter attended by Islamist groups on campus.

    24th November 2000:
    The Summit’s Sessions today got heated when Malaysia and Cambodia today asked that the suspension of ASEAN Free Trade Area implementation preparations agreed to at the 1998 ASEAN Summit be lifted. At that 2 summit 2 years ago, all 10 ASEAN Members had agreed to delay the coming into effect of the ASEAN Free Trade Area to allow all 10 economies to recover and provide a level playing field. No consensus was reached on what step to take but even Philippines, despite being sympathetic to Indonesia, was interested.

    Try was sufficiently upset at Malaysia’s conduct that he got up to speak to Badawi when the session was over in a corner of the convention room. Badawi said that his instincts was for better relations with Indonesia and for Malaysia to be in Indonesia’s bloc but that the pressure was overwhelming him from inside the Malaysian Government not to do so.

    “Whatever happens to him in his country’s politics, let’s just leave him be and look for another country in the region to work closely with”, said Try.

    Today was the day the ASEAN Summit became ASEAN+3 with the Presidents of China and Korea as well as the Prime Minister of Japan flying in.

    Accompanied by Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Edi Sudrajat, Try got to sit down with Prime Minister of Japan Koichi Kato, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Hiroyuki Hosoda, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshiro Mori. Try congratulated Kato on his re-election the previous month. Kato thanked him for it. But to Try’s frustration, Kato maintained that he will set Japan for a “middle way” that Japan has good relations with both the United States and China. Try was not impressed with this even as Indonesia and Japan agreed for cooperation in railways.

    “In Malaysia, internal politics is keeping Badawi from joining our bloc. In Japan, the Prime Minister is not all-powerful and has to deal with factions, their internal politics is probably what’s keeping Japan from falling into China’s camp”, said Ginandjar after the meeting.

    25th November 2000:
    It was the first meeting of the day. Try as always took Ginandjar and Edi with him. Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Tang Jiaxuan was appreciative at seeing the trio again after meeting them at the ASEM Summit. Try was most interested in President of China Jiang Zemin.

    Jiang gave a survey of world affairs saying that it was a regret tha he would “lose Clinton soon”. He all but bragged about China’s power in the world stage how it will overtake Germany and Japan and how China is growing its influence in Africa. Try sat calmly. Then Jiang moved on to Indonesia saying that he would like China to have a great bilateral relationship with Indonesia because a great relationship with Indonesia could influence China’s relationship with the entire region.

    “You are after all the leader in Southeast Asia”, said Jiang with a sly smile that said that he knew about what Try was doing and his struggles in it.

    It was not the first time Try had met Jiang. But it was the first time Try had met Jiang after he had become increasingly active in foreign affairs and Jiang did everything in the meeting to indirectly lay down the law that Indonesia does not have the ability to challenge China. Try bit his tongue through what became a one-sided conversation. He wanted Jiang to think that his message was getting through. At the end of it all, he just said “China truly is a great nation and we have much to learn.”

    The Summit drew to a close. While a communiqué was issued hailing close cooperation across various fields in Southeast Asia, Try held another meeting with Thaksin. The two agreed to form 2 teams headed respectively by Vice President JB Sumarlin and Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Barnharn Silpa-Archa to negotiate a cooperation treaty. After this was agreed to, Try flew back to Jakarta.

    26th November 2000:
    Chairman of ICMI BJ Habibie spent most of the Sunday afternoon at the Presidential Palace in a private meeting with the President. When he came out, Habibie told the reporters that he had explained ‘everything’ to the President and admitted bluntly that what Feisal Tanjung had said a few days ago was correct. Habibie added that he “wasn’t the only one who wanted to be president after President Soeharto had died, just the only one brave enough to express his ambitions openly”. He ended by saying that the President will be emerging soon to also make some comments before leaving.

    Sure enough the President emerged some minutes after Habibie had departed with Edi Sudrajat by his side. He was immediately flooded with questions about what was his reaction to Feisal Tanjung’s revelations.

    “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t angry when I first heard these revelations”, Try began “But it’s been a few days and I’ve thought things through. Mr. Habibie’s personal explanation to me also helped. I think Mr. Habibie did not attempt to avoid responsibility and he took ownership about what he said.”

    A reporter asked if the President would consider removing ministers who are ICMI members or who are close to Habibie in the cabinet as speculated by the “rumor mill”. Try laughed at this.

    “I’ve been at the ASEAN Unofficial Summit at Singapore for the last few days where the State Secretary has shielded me from following the news back home in Indonesia so I’ve been completely in the dark about news much less rumors”, Try replied while nodding and smiling at Edi “But I’ll tell you what I told Mr. Habibie in there that he’s still part of the Pancasila Coalition and ICMI members are still a part of the cabinet.”

    27th November 2000:
    At the Presidential Palace and in the presence of teachers, university lecturers, the President signed the Teachers and Lecturers’ Bill passed by the DPR while he was away on the ASEAN Unofficial Summit into law. The law guarantees the various rights and responsibilities of teachers and lecturers including the right to receive a salary above the minimum wage and various allowances and families as suits their rank. At the same time the law sets the qualification standards to become teachers and lecturers. Namely a bachelor’s degree or a diploma four for teachers and at least a masters’ degree to become a lecturer.

    Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro said that teachers will cease to be “awardless heroes” because the nation will give them an award in the form of their rights to be paid a salary that will allow them to have a living.

    28th November 2000:
    The President met with Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab. The latter reported that he met with Confucianists who spoke of their plight of not being able to register their marriages at the civil registry and the administrative consequences as a result of that because their religion was not recognized by the Government. Quraish explained that most Confucianists claim that they were of other religions on the ID cards but not all. Try handed Quraish’s report over to Edi and instructed that a study be conducted on it.

    At a fast breaking ceremony at his official residence, Chairman of DPR Harmoko had Habibie as his guest of honor. Speaking to reporters after his event was over, Harmoko said that the “revelations” last week was nothing but an attempt by those “hostile towards the President and Habibie” to break apart the Pancasila Coalition. Chairman of Muhammadiyah Amien Rais who attended the ceremony agreed with this and said that the Pancasila Coalition and ICMI must not lose out to the “other side”.

    29th November 2000:
    It was a lunchtime conference, though this being the fasting month there were no food served. The President met with Vice President JB Sumarlin, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, State Minister of National Security Soerjadi, Edi Sudrajat, and I Gede Awet Sara. On Southeast Asia, the group agreed to consolidate Indonesia’s relationship with Thailand and Try officially appointed Sumarlin as head of a delegation to negotiate a treaty of cooperation with Thailand across various areas.

    Try broke his fast that day with the State Secretariat and those who work there. There was a congratulatory mood for this was the 3rd anniversary of his rise to the presidency. When asked to make some comments, Try said the following:

    “I’ve interacted with a lot of world leaders lately, got to learn about how their nations are doing, and ended up with the conclusion that we as a nation have a lot of catching up to do. However long I will be in this office, I hope that by the time I leave it, Indonesia would have given a good chase.”

    ---
    So thus far we have the Philippines firmly in the Indonesian camp for the support Indonesia gave in the Philippines’ campaign against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Malaysia proving resistant, Singapore being cautious, and Thailand wanting to be Indonesia’s right hand in mainland Southeast Asia. This will be a long project for Try.

    The Teacher and Lecturers’ Law is one of those things that happened a lot earlier ITTL than in OTL. But it’s also something that OTL Wardiman is concerned about as can be seen in his autobiography https://books.google.co.id/books?id...AA#v=onepage&q=wardiman uu guru dosen&f=false

    The problems with Confucianist weddings not being recorded because it was not acknowledged as a religion is based on OTL https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/119151/pernikahan-pasangan-konghucu-disahkan-catatan-sipil

    Habibie’s ITTL attitude of really wanting the presidency to the point of wanting to ignore Try’s claim of succession and then changing to an attitude of accepting that Try is the President to the point of becoming an ally is a replication of Habibie’s OTL attitude to the presidency of really wanting it to the point of being aggressive when he has a shot at it and being accepting when the presidency was no longer his to hold.

    OTL, in the days leading to Soeharto’s fall from power, Soeharto tried to keep power by (publicly) saying on television his resignation won’t solve the crisis because he didn’t think “my successor” would be able to take care of the issue. Habibie, who was Vice President and realizing that he was first in line if Soeharto resigned, could not be more obvious that he wanted to become president was unhappy that this was the way Soeharto felt and told him so. This despite the fact that Soeharto had expected Habibie to resign along with him.

    Habibie became president for 17 months and when it became obvious that his presidency was drawing to a close and that he was not enjoying the support required at the 1999 MPR General Session, Habibie without much fuss announced that he was no longer willing to be nominated and threw his weight behind eventual successor Abdurrahman Wahid.
     
    105: The Intellectuals' Rebellion
  • 30th November 2000:
    Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, to great applause, opened the PKPI’s inaugural National Leadership meeting in Jakarta.

    State Minister of the Development of Eastern Indonesia and Special Development Zones Jusuf Kalla announced in a press conference that Indonesia’s special development zones would now be consolidated into Special Economic Zones (SEZ). Kalla said that investors to these SEZs will be given tax incentives, simplified export and import procedures, as well as simplified investment procedures. Kalla added that SEZs will be managed directly by his ministry with coordination and delegation to the respective provincial governments as necessary. Kalla also announced additional regions that will be designated as SEZs.

    The SEZs are to comprise of the following:

    Previous special development zones that are being consolidated into an SEZ:
    *Batam, Riau
    *Bintan, Riau
    *Sabang, Aceh
    *Biak, Irian Jaya
    *Natuna, Riau

    New SEZs:
    *Tanjung Api-Api, South Sumatra
    *Bima, West Nusa Tenggara
    *Mbay, East Nusa Tenggara
    *Batulicin, South Kalimantan
    *Bitung, North Sulawesi
    *Palu, Central Sulawesi
    *Morotai, Maluku
    *Baucau, East Timor

    1st December 2000:
    Chairman of ICMI BJ Habibie was seen campaigning for the ICMI Chairmanship in Yogyakarta with Chairman of Muhammadiyah Amien Rais. DPR Member and ICMI Chairman candidate Hartono campaigned in West Sumatra today while ICMI Secretary and ICMI Chairman candidate Adi Sasono campaigned at West Nusa Tenggara. Habibie is still the favorite though the other two candidates is not to be underestimated.

    President Try Sutrisno broke his fast at Bimasena Mining Club at Dharmawangsa, Jakarta. The club was opened in late November 1997 and was supposed to have been inaugurated by President Soeharto though he passed away before he had the chance to. Try sat a table with former Minister of Mining and Energy Subroto, who was the Chairman of the club, as well as Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi.

    On his way out, the President shook hands with various owners and executives of the mining industry. There was one who shook his hand very effusively and asked someone with the camera to take his picture with the President shaking hands. Djiteng did not like this and was not included in the photo. He farewelled the President, still ignoring Djiteng.

    “Who was that?” asked Try.

    “Adrianto Machrabie, Mr. President, CEO of PT Freeport Indonesia”, said Djiteng “Our dealings with Freeport will arrive soon on your desk.”

    2nd December 2000:
    The President received a delegation from the PKPI National Leadership Meeting which finished this morning. It reported that the PKPI National Leadership Council has been formulated and included the following:

    Chairman: Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Basofi Sudirman
    Secretary: Prince Joyokusumo of Yogyakarta
    Treasurer: Rambe Kamarulzaman SH

    Joyokusumo, a brother of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, was in charge of the membership database back when the PKPI was still Operation Lifeboat. Rambe was an ex-Golkar National Leadership Council member and an ally of Harmoko. Basofi said that he intends to make a selection of who will chair the PKPI’s campaign team.

    4th December 2000:
    The President met with Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo. He asked him how the leads were in Central Sulawesi. Ari Sudewo said that he’s nearly done and that when he gets done the Government should consider taking “decisive action”. The President nodded in agreement.

    Ari Sudewo said that when investigating the USS Cole Bombings in Yemen, one name stuck out: Khalid al-Midhar. Khalid attended the Al Qaeda Summit in Kuala Lumpur in January which was also attended by Hambali. The President asked if Khalid was planning anything in Indonesia. Ari said no because Khalid’s known to be in the United States “taking aircraft flying lessons”.

    5th December 2000:
    In the morning, the President landed in West Nusa Tenggara where he was welcomed with Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Burhan Magenda and Nusa Tenggara Regional Military Commander I Made Yasa. Immediately upon landing, accompanied by Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja and Minister of Tourism Soeyono, the President inaugurated the Lombok International Airport. From there, the President went to Lembar Harbour to inaugurate the renovation of the piers there.

    “The inauguration of these two different but equally important projects represents this province’s desire to develop itself and make no mistake, I think West Nusa Tenggara should not lose out to the island next door”, Try said.

    The President and his entourage toured Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara’s capital. As he talked to tourists and hotel owners alike, Soeyono and Magenda reported that one effect of the arrival of foreign tourists since 1998 was that people wanting a “less mainstream experience” are increasingly coming to Lombok. Try told the two of them to facilitate the tourism industry in the province and remove all bureaucratic obstacles. Try broke his fast by meeting provincial and regency officials of West Nusa Tenggara where he urged them to work hard to develop the province and to facilitate the development of the Bima SEZ.

    6th December 2000:
    After spending the morning at Cakranegara Traditional Market, the President and his entourage flew from Mataram to Surabaya, East Java. After shaking hands with Governor of East Java Haris Sudarno and East Java Regional Military Commander Albert Inkiriwang, he headed for Gresik. At this industrial city he inaugurated the Gresik-Tuban and Surabaya-Gresik toll roads with Minister of Public Works Rachmat Witoelar by his side. In his speech the President said that the nation’s economy relies on East Java and that infrastructure in this province, such as toll roads, are important for East Java’s fulfilling of that function.

    Returning to Surabaya, he visited Atom Traditional Market and Tunjungan Mall. After seeing people buying goods at both places, Try gave the thumbs up to Surabaya’s economy saying that the East Javanese only need to go to Surabaya for opportunity. At the mall, he surprised more than a few people by showing up at the prayer room for maghrib prayer before breaking his fast at Tunjungan food court's Hoka Hoka Bento outlet, shaking hands with as many people as he can and as many as his bodyguards allowed him.

    7th December 2000:
    The President travelled to Malang for his main engagement of the day in the morning. This was the opening of ICMI’s 3rd National Congress doubling as the 10th anniversary of the founding of ICMI which occurred in Malang on the grounds of Brawijaya University. Accompanied by BJ Habibie, the President entered the hall to take his seat to polite, rather than overwhelming applause. After he hit the gong to open the congress, the President departed both the Congress and Malang. He was in Jakarta, by afternoon.

    Back at the congress, Habibie was heckled as he delivered his accountability address. Nurmahmudi Ismail questioned Habibie’s stance of support to the government only for Amien Rais to respond in defense of Habibie. The congress hall got tense as those who were for and against the Government battled chants with one another with the interference of Achmad Tirtosudiro as the congress’s chairman calmed things down.

    “I can’t believe it”, said Syafii Maarif who was also a Muhammadiyah member “The PPP National Congress, the Muhammadiyah National Congress, and now the ICMI National Congress; must everything in Indonesian politics be about who is for and against President Try Sutrisno or Siti Hardijanti Rukmana?”

    8th December 2000:
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita issued an official statement directed to the New Zealand Government expressing regret that the latter has now chosen to take in Jose Ramos Horta, the Chairman of the Timor Leste Government-in-Exile.

    Back at Malang, the ICMI National Congress took a turn for the worst for Habibie when Adi Sasono announced a press conference saying that he was withdrawing his ICMI Chairmanship candidacy and that he was throwing his support behind Hartono. Hartono who was at the press conference smiled broadly at this and the two shook hands.

    “I’m leaking votes left and right, Mr. President, at this stage, I’m not sure if I will be re-elected”, said Habibie over the phone to Try that evening “Though I wait further instructions from you.”

    The President facepalmed. Next to him Chairman of DPR Harmoko looked worried while State of Secretary Edi Sudrajat paced back and forth. Chairman of NU Abdurrahman Wahid, who was not a member of ICMI, twitched his nose nervously.

    “It’s not only a matter of Habibie not being re-elected”, said Harmoko “It’s a matter of ICMI falling into Tutut’s hands and ICMI joining Tutut’s coalition.”

    Presidential Secretary Ismet Hardi knocked on the door and told the President that the Minister of Home Affairs was on the phone. Try put the phone on loud speaker and asked the Minister of Home Affairs if he was still at Malang observing the ICMI National Congress.

    “I am, Mr. President”, came Harsudiono Hartas’ voice “It’s rather a fluid situation over here, Habibie’s odds of being re-elected are getting smaller every minute…”

    “We know that”, replied Try.

    “…but so are Hartono’s odds of being elected”, continued Harsudiono “Another candidate is joining the race.”

    Before he had the chance to be surprised, the President was tapped on the shoulder by Edi. Edi pointed in the direction of the television and turned up the volume. Harmoko raised his eyebrow in surprise.

    “What’s going on?” asked Wahid, not being able to see.

    “It’s Cak Nur, Gus”, said Edi.

    On the television, Cak Nur, who was none other than the Rector of Paramadina University and Member of ICMI’s Council of Experts Nurcholish Madjid sat a table flanked by intellectuals of various persuasions including Dawam Rahardjo and Syafii Ma’arif. After hoping that the reporters had broken their fast, Nurcholish began to speak about what has happened in the lead up to and the ICMI National Congress itself.

    “It is apparent to me that rather than a contest of ideas about the direction in which this organization is going, how it can best serve Islamic intellectuals, and the place of Islamic intellectuals within Indonesian society, this congress has become yet another battlefield between the two major political forces in Indonesian politics, fighting each other through the respective Chairman of ICMI candidates which they have chosen to support.

    I am not one for ambition and office-seeking but with the realization I described to you above and with the support of my fellow ICMI members, I hereby announce that I will be a candidate for the Chairman of ICMI.”

    “What do we do now?” asked Try to Harsudiono over the phone.

    “Nothing, Mr. President”, said Harsudiono “Just make sure Habibie’s still in the race so the other side can’t say that we’ve switched candidates from Habibie to Nurcholish because we knew Habibie was losing.”

    “I mean the congress, not Habibie’s candidacy”, clarified the President.

    “Like I said; nothing”, said Harsudiono “We’re not going to get our candidate as the Chairman of ICMI but they’re not going to get Hartono either.”

    The phonecall ended. There was silence in the room as everyone in the room contemplated the political consequences.

    “What else do you expect, Mr. President?” asked Wahid “These are intellectuals, smart people with independent minds. They probably won’t take it well to be reduced to nothing more than proxies in your battle with Tutut.”

    9th December 2000:
    It was a surreal day as the ICMI National Congress took a turn no one expected. All throughout the day Nurcholish Madjid was seen meeting and presenting his ideas to various ICMI members and delegations pledging their support. Then, in a voting and vote counting process that began in the afternoon and ended as prime time entertainment, Nurcholish Madjid overcame Hartono and Habibie to become the new Chairman of ICMI.

    Watching all this with Taufiq Kiemas in their living room, Megawati Soekarnoputri thought deeply about what was happening. She wondered whether she too could pull off something similar. The President and Tutut Soeharto will be fighting over the presidency and then she could…oh but there’s still so many things to do before she's in a position to make that happen.

    10th December 2000:
    The ICMI National Congress was closed by Harmoko. The closing session saw the inauguration of new Chairman of ICMI Nurcholish Madjid. Habibie had a big smile on his face as he handed over ICMI’s banner to Nurcholish.

    11th December 2000:
    The President, accompanied by Harsudiono Hartas and Edi Sudrajat, received an ICMI delegation led by Nurcholish Madjid. The meeting was cordial with the President genuinely pleased that Nurcholish had become chairman of ICMI. There was however some political business to attend.

    Not long thereafter, Nurcholish and his delegation emerged out of their meeting with the President. With a big smile, Nurcholish said that the President was “big-hearted” enough to allow ICMI to withdraw from his coalition. Nurcholish was immediately asked whether this meant that ministers who were members of ICMI would be withdrawn from the cabinet.

    “That’s for the President to decide”, said Nurcholish “Right now, as Chairman of ICMI, I’m only concerned about working constructively with the Government. If there are ICMI members in the cabinet or anywhere in the Government, that’s fine by me but they’re only there in their individual capacities but not as an official representative of the organization. The same goes if there’s ICMI members wanting to criticize or to provide opposition, that’s also fine but they do so in their individual capacities not as representatives of the organization. Our only concern as an organization is to work constructively with the Government.”

    ---
    The new SEZs are a combination of development zones Soeharto set up OTL and ones Jokowi picked in recent times.

    I made mention of Hokben not as product placement but as a sample of where Indonesia's economy is at and the opportunities available to businesses ITTL. OTL Hokben first had outlets in East Java in 2005 but ITTL, it already has outlets there in 2000.

    The Indonesian Islamic Intellectuals Association (ICMI) was formed by Soeharto as a check on the Army’s power and to provide Habibie with a power base. It’s a complex creature. It enjoyed its proximity to power under Soeharto even as it debated whether or not they should be an independent organization. I put a lot of emphasis on its 2000 congress because ITTL, this congress and Nurcholish's formulation in the last paragraph will be quite important in ITTL's political developments.

    OTL Nurcholish Madjid was an Islamic intellectual famous for being favor of Islam but not in favor of Islamic political parties (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_Yes,_Islamic_Party_No). OTL, he also tried to negotiate a 2 year transition period to be led by Soeharto but with Soeharto no longer running for president at the end of that period.
     
    106: Wrapping Up 2000
  • 12th December 2000:
    President Try Sutrisno visited Gambir Station with Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja, Governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso and CEO of PT Kai Anwar Supriyadi to inspect the station’s readiness for the upcoming Eid’l Fitr and end of year holidays season. Satisfied with what he saw, the President went on to Tanah Abang markets where he marveled at the large crowds buying clothing.

    Through it all he was followed by reporters who asked him what would happen to ministers who were ICMI members in the cabinet now that ICMI has withdrawn from the Pancasila Coalition. The President smiled and said for the moment they’re still ministers.

    13th December 2000:
    The President met with Vice President JB Sumarlin, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono, Minister of Trade Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo, Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi, Soerjadi Soedirja, Minister of Public Works Rachmat Witoelar, Minister of Manpower and Small Business Fahmi Idris, Minister of Tourism Soeyono, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, and Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu. The following were discussed:

    *Dorodjatun reported that the other side of this year’s strong economic gowth is the strong demand for goods which has caused imports to rise. Raw materials for industry as well as food imports have risen this year. The President instructed Dorodjatun, Siswono, and Sarwono to look for cheap sources of imports in their respective fields while boosting production of raw materials. Sarwono reported that he had just signed an agreement with the Argentinian government to import cattle and soybean from there. Argentina’s currency in freefall has made their items cheaper.

    *Sumarlin cautioned that so long that Indonesia’s exports could pay for its imports it’s ok but if it can’t, it could cause inflation. He said that one way to offset this is to decrease costs. That was cue for Rachmat Witoelar and Soerjadi Soedirja to report that there’s still plenty of toll roads, irrigation projects, airports, ports, rails etc. in the pipeline for 2001.

    *Fahmi Idris reported that what’s required now with investments from abroad coming are skilled workers to operate machineries in factory. He said that the capacity of technical schools have got to be improved so that more people could graduate out of that. The President took note of that.

    14th December 2000:
    In a ceremony attended by Chairman of DPR Harmoko and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Albert Hasibuan, the President signed the Amendments to the Judicial Authority Law. The amendments sets the Government on the road of handing over its authority over the General Courts, Commercial Courts, Religious Courts, and Military Courts to the Supreme Court. Minister of Legal Affairs Marzuki Darusman said that this means that after a transition period, the judicial branch of government will be independent from the executive branch.

    At a fast-breaking ceremony at Cendana Street, Chairwoman of PKPB Tutut Soeharto names Prabowo Subianto as Chairman of the PKPB’s Election Campaign Team.

    15th December 2000:
    Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar reported to the President about his recent trip to Moscow, Russia where he finalized the purchase of 12 units of Sukhoi jets which Soeharto had intended to purchase in 1997. Wismoyo also said that South Korea has completed conversion of an Indonesian ferry ship into a Naval Personnel Carrier.

    Try asked Wismoyo what he thought of Russia. Wismoyo said that President Yevgeny Primakov’s focus on putting a check on US dominance means he’s adopted a foreign policy oriented stance when in fact Russia’s got a lot of problems internally and economically. Primakov’s conscious of this, that’s why he’s appointed Vladimir Putin as prime minister. Wismoyo concluded that China would carry more of the weight as far as checking US dominance goes.

    16th December 2000:
    Putting in a few hours’ work on a Saturday, the President sat down with Edi Sudrajat and OCDS Sugeng Subroto. Sugeng showed a letter from the World Bank complaining about a corruptiont worth $15 million within the Department of Education relating to the procurement of books for junior high schools and that it has been occuring for about 4 years. Try asked if this was true and Sugeng handed in an investigation report he’s been working on for the last year. The President read the executive summary and then massaged his palm.

    “Just one week after Habibie lost the Chairmanship of ICMI and now his close friend the Minister of Education has something like this going on in his department”, said Try.

    “Putting aside Habibie’s friendship with Wardiman and the politics behind it, Mr. President”, began Edi “There’s the fact that this is the first big corruption case within your government and everybody will look to see if you’re strong enough to resolve this.”

    18th December 2000:
    The World Bank’s offices in Jakarta held a press conference announcing that they have written a complaint to the Indonesian government about a book procurement corruption.

    Emerging out of a meeting at the PKPB National Headquarters, Tutut looked solemn as she said that the Government should take care of this case as soon as possible because the World Bank has been a partner to Indonesian since the Soeharto Presidency. Sarwono Kusumaatmadja countered on behalf of the Government saying that certain people “shouldn’t even be speaking about how they’re above embezzlement.”

    19th December 2000:
    The President and Head of Bulog Adang Ruchiatna toured Bulog warehouses in Jakarta. While Adang guaranteed that Indonesia’s rice stock was secure, the President handled questions about Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro’s place in the Cabinet. The President says he’s looking into the matter.

    Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas met with Chairman of PDI Soerjadi and Secretary of PDI Buttu Hutapea. The two complained that Megawati Soekarnoputri’s supporters are beginning to ask PDI branches to agree to have a PDI Extraordinary National Congress where the chairmanship will be at stake. They also asked if the Government had anything to do with this.

    “We don’t support it but we’re not going to get in the way”, said Harsudiono “Only that if Megawati proves she has enough support within the PDI to bring about an Extraordinary National Congress, we’re bound to allow it to happen.”

    Soerjadi and Buttu Hutapea left the meeting dejected.

    “You know why our votes dropped really low in 1997, right? It’s because Megawati and her supporters didn’t direct their votes to us”, said Soerjadi “She has what it takes to bring about an Extraordinary National Congress and then beat me for the Chairwomanship. I hate to say it but it’s true.”

    20th December 2000:
    Junior Minister of Arts and Culture Subrata announced that the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) will be held in a few months time in March. This marks that the first time the FFI will be held since 1993.

    For the 3rd year running, trucks arrive at Bank Indonesia’s building to bring BLBI repayments.

    21st December 2000:
    The President met with Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro to discuss the situation at the Department of Education. Wardiman was cooperative, admitting that it was his lapse that he did not know what went on in his department and offering his resignation. The President accepted it on the condition that it would take effect when he named the new Minister of Education. Wardiman agreed.

    Next he met with Minister of Civil Service Reform Kuntoro Mangunsubroto and Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro. He ordered that the Department of Education civil servants involved be dishonorably discharged and for them to be prosecuted.

    22nd December 2000:
    Soedradjad Djiwandono and Head of BPS Gunawan Sumodiningrat held a joint press conference. Gunawan began by announcing the results of the 2000 Census saying that Indonesia has 202,3 million inhabitants. Thanking all citizens for their participation, Gunawan said that this data will be used as the basis for policymaking and calculations by the Government for the future.

    Soedradjad Djiwandono spoke next. Rather theatrically he asked Gunawan Sumodiningrat to speak of individual sectors of the economy first before going to the major figures. The following were reported by the two officials:

    -Tourism and exports are still Indonesia’s main earners of foreign currency. The number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia and demand for Indonesian exports are still strong though there is a slight drop-off in the last quarter owing to the slowdown in the American economy. This means that Indonesia has got to diversify its markets.

    -In terms of industries, there is strong demand in 2000 for consumer goods and electronics owing to people wanting to purchase new household products for their homes after holding on to their money. Growth rates in production for these goods have picked up and the phenomenon of factories looking for employees they have fired when the crisis was at their worst.

    -In agriculture, Indonesia has produced more rice in 2000 than in 1999 but the two main agricultural commodities that is struggling to keep up with domestic consumption, and ones which the Government want to focus on, is meat and soybeans.

    -Generally however, all sectors of the economy are now functioning as normal again.

    The important statistics were announced by Soedradjad himself.

    “Unemployment is set to be 5.8%, this is a 2% decrease in unemployment from last year as a result of increased demand for goods and services in turn leading to demand for workers and employees.

    Inflation is at 7%. We have strong demand in the economy but the Government is working hard to moderate this by building infrastructure and taking steps to reduce costs. On the side of the, private sector are also playing their part by increasing their production and expanding its activities.

    Economic growth for the year 2000 will be 11.4%...”

    The President and Edi Sudrajat watched this on a television in the President’s office. Cheers could be heard outside of the office as those working in the State Secretariat hailed the good news.

    “He looks good announcing that news out there, Mr. President”, said Edi of Soedradjad “I suppose anyone looks good announcing good news.”

    “Maybe”, said Try before pulling a letter out of his drawer “But it could also be because he’s going to wrap up his work soon.”

    “You’re kidding”, said Edi as took the letter and took its contents.

    “When I offered him the position, he told me that he accepted on the condition that he would be in the position only until the economy’s back in full recovery and now it has”, replied Try “And in recent times, he’s said that it’s become more difficult at home with him being on my side and his wife being on the “other side”.”

    Edi nodded in understanding. Everybody remembers that Wismoyo was Soeharto’s brother-in-law but not many remember that Soedradjad is Prabowo Subianto’s brother-in-law.

    “Anyways, I’m going to be needing as many CVs as possible as well as the ministers’ performance reviews for this year”, continued Try “We’re going to work on a cabinet reshuffle over the holidays.”

    ---
    The Department of Education textbook corruption is based on OTL: http://arsip.gatra.com/1998-11-16/majalah/artikel.php?pil=23&id=74617 one difference here is that in OTL, Wardiman’s successor as Minister of Education caught on to what was going on in 1998 while in ITTL, the corruption went on unnoticed until it was discovered by the Operational Control of Development Secretary. Another difference is that ITTL, the amount of money embezzled is $15 million instead of OTL’s $10 million because it’s gone on for longer. OTL it was 1996-1998. ITTL it went on until the end of 2000. The Minister’s not in the wrong here. It’s just that he’s just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

    OTL Indonesian economy actually did pretty well in 2000. It had economic growth of 5% even with the economy still not recovering fully and with the political instability at the time. I think ITTL Indonesian economy which has recovered fully and with a politically stable environment would be in a position to do even better.

    Soedradjad Djiwandono’s wife is Prabowo Subianto’s younger sister.
     
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    107: In 2001, Prepare for 2002
  • 23rd December 2000:
    President Try Sutrisno and Vice President JB Sumarlin had a meeting in the afternoon to discuss the latter’s recent visit to Bangkok, Thailand. Sumarlin said that he had had productive meetings with Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Barnharn Silpa-Archa and that Thailand is serious about a treaty with Indonesia.

    The conversation then went to the upcoming cabinet reshuffle. Sumarlin’s input concerned the Minister of Economics and National Development Planning position which he said should represent the economic direction the President wants to take for the nation.

    27th December 2000:
    It was the second day of Eid and the President held an open house at the Presidential Palace. The cameras snapped as the President wished the Vice President Merry Christmas and the Vice President wished the President a happy Eid’l Fitr. Speaking at the event, Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab said that the nation has just shown the strength of its religious harmony by celebrating Christmas and Eid’l Fitr all within days of each other without any security concerns.

    28th December 2000:
    The mountain air at Cipanas Presidential Palace provided a cool background as the President met with his Four Horsemen: State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo, and OCDS Sugeng Subroto. Sugeng was the last to arrive, braving the traffic of holidaymakers from Jakarta to Puncak.

    “Not everybody’s holidaying domestically, though”, said Ari Sudewo “Tutut Soeharto’s on holiday in Europe, including Switzerland and Austria.”

    “No doubt making sure all of her money is in order for the PKPB’s Election Campaign”, muttered Edi.

    “That’s probably not too far off the truth”, added Sugeng.

    “What do you think, Mr. President?” asked Harsudiono as he looked at Try listening quietly “I think this is the kind of preparation you should be looking into.”

    “Is it too early for this kind of thing, isn’t it?” asked Try.

    “Under ordinary circumstances it’s not and it’s even more so under these extraordinary circumstances, Mr. President”, said Ari Sudewo “The side effect of the PKPI and PKPB being new is that they only have 2001 to consolidate themselves because 2002 they’ve got an Election to participate in, ready or not. By definition that means we have to move fast.”

    “We’ve got to start thinking about fundraising”, said Harsudiono “Tutut’s going to throw every Rupiah she has at this and you being a clean guy, Mr. President, don’t exactly have a lot of money to your name so we should start thinking about that.”

    “It’s not too early at all to start thinking about the 2002 Legislative Elections, Mr. President”, added Edi “And beyond…”

    Try nodded almost absentmindedly. The discussions were interrupted by lunch and the 5 men talked about lighter matters because their wives were present. The discussions started again after lunch.

    “The PPP’s been quite enthusiastic about their campaign preparations”, began Try.

    “Yes, Mr. President”, said Ari Sudewo “The want to take advantage of the fact that they’re not a new political party like the PKPI and the PKPB.”

    “I’m surprised Matori appointed Hamzah Haz to head the PPP’s Election Campaign”, added Sugeng “What’s the logic behind that? Hamzah’s a rival of his.”

    “It’s a smart move”, said Harsudiono “He’s putting pressure on Hamzah to perform. Either Hamzah gets a good result for the PPP which is good for Matori or Hamzah gets a bad result for the PPP which is good for Matori as well because he gets to portray Hamzah as undermining the PPP.”

    “What about the PDI?” asked Edi.

    “We’ll talk about them when they get their internal situation sorted out”, replied Harsudiono.

    Try listened in as his 4 friends talked about other matters. He made a count in his head and realized that there were now 4 political parties running which will compete at the 2002 Elections.

    29th December 2000:
    In a meeting with the President at the Presidential Palace, Chairman of PKPI Basofi Sudirman submits the names of Minister of Transmigration Hendropriyono and Army Chief of Staff Luhut Panjaitan as candidates for the PKPI’s Chairman of the Election Campaign to the President. Basofi said that these are the only two people with the capacity to take on the PKPB’s Prabowo Subianto.

    The PDI Headquarters were a bustle of activity. No official announcement about what the meeting about was issued other than the fact that Chairman of PDI Soerjadi had called it at short notice.

    30th December 2000:
    Tutut Soeharto attends a gathering at the house of former Vice President Sudharmono where she finds herself sitting in the same table as Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita. Ginandjar tried to play down the encounter though Tutut said that she was glad to meet with Sudharmono and Ginandjar who she had great respect for.

    At a similar gathering at the house of BJ Habibie, the now former Chairman of ICMI received the news from Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro that the latter’s time as minister was coming to end. Habibie only commented that that’s the President’s prerogative.

    2nd January 2001:
    The President began the first day back at work in 2001 with Edi Sudrajat, Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman, Deputy State Secretary Soedibyo Rahardjo, Deputy Cabinet Secretary Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Military Secretary Sudrajat, and Presidential Secretary Ismet Herdi. Try confirmed to the meeting that a cabinet reshuffle was being formulated but that he would like deliver the Draft Budget, scheduled for 9th January 2001 first and then work on the reshuffle.

    Not far from the Presidential Palace a crowd gathered in front of the Department of Home Affairs. They were led by none other than Megawati Soekarnoputri. With the attention of the media on her, Megawati announced that she had collected signatures from 2/3 of PDI’s provincial, regency, and municipal branches all of which had agreed with her that there should be a PDI Extraordinary National Congress in which the chairmanship should be put on the line.

    “I’ve submitted my request for such a congress to the PDI Headquarters but this request has been ignored and as such, I am now submitting my request to the Department of Home Affairs”, she announced.

    Megawati had scarcely finished when the cameras picked up Soerjadi and Secretary of PDI Buttu Hutapea coming out of the building to join a crowd of their own supporters. Soerjadi announced that he had just submitted a request to the Department of Home Affairs to merge the PDI into the PKPB. Soerjadi said that he has taken this decision in the interest of the PDI’s survival and its viability in the future. He also claimed to be acting with the “Grassroots support” of the PDI.

    The shock on the part of Megawati’s supporters was quickly turned to anger. There was shouting between Megawati and Soerjadi’s supporters and rocks were beginning to be thrown when Presidential Bodyguards units arrive from the Presidential Palace (which was nearby) to keep the two mobs apart. Commander of the Jakarta Regional Military Command TB Hasanuddin sent extra security to manage the security.

    3rd January 2001:
    At the Presidential Palace, the President warmly welcomed President of Philippines Joseph Estrada. After a warm handshake and hug, the President and Estrada saluted as the national anthems played. There was an intial meeting between the President and Estrada’s two delegations to discuss various areas of cooperations between the two countries. The photo opportunity came after this meeting where with Try and Estrada watching in the background, Governor of Aceh Syamsuddin Mahmud and Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Nur Misuari signed an agreement for closer cooperation between the Special Province of Aceh and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

    There were big smiles on Try and Estrada’s faces as they held a joint press conference. They jointly announced that they would like to hold a Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) summit sometime during the year but that they had to consult with Malaysia and Brunei. Asked about his thoughts on Try, Estrada said that Indonesia, the Philippines, and indeed the region of Southeast Asia are lucky to have “President Try Sutrisno at the helm of Indonesia’s leadership”.

    Try had a trickier time at the press conference with questions about the potentially riotous situation at the Department of Home Affairs between the Megawati and Soerjadi supporters and the fact that he had not dismissed Wardiman Djonegoro as Minister of Education despite the corruption case in his department. Try said that all will be settled “in due time”.

    That night, while the President hosted Estrada at an official dinner at the Presidential Palace, Commander of ABRI Wiranto and Harsudiono Hartas fronted the press. Wiranto said that he had ordered the Army’s Regional Military Commands and the Regional Police to keep the calm and not take sides. Harsudiono Hartas said that the Government’s stance is not to take any sides and that he is looking into the matter with “a lot of thought”.

    4th January 2001:
    The President accompanied by Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Edi Sudrajat had a breakfast meeting with Estrada, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Domingo Siazon, and Executive Secretary Edgardo Angara. The meeting listened to Siazon tell the story of his December trip to Washington DC where he got to meet Vice President-Elect George W. Bush. Bush was brusque and among other things expected Southeast Asia “to fall in line” behind the United States of America and not go “banding together like it did when it tried to influence the results of the IMF Managing Director’s selection”.

    Edi and Ginandjar bristled at that. Try however asked why Siazon did not manage to get a meeting with President-elect John McCain considering the US and the Philippines’ close relationship. Siazon explained that McCain spent December flying to the UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Israel among others so he was not in Washington when Siazon came. Ginandjar then asked why didn’t McCain drop by the Philippines.

    “McCain’s priority is on containing Russia and China’s challenge on US authority”, said Estrada expressing open displeasure that his Secretary of Foreign Affairs had not gained access to McCain “Southeast Asia is probably lower on the priority list for him that’s why we got delegated to Bush.”

    At lunchtime, Megawati Soekarnoputri held a press conference calling on her supporters not to “provoke or to be provoked” and calling on the Government to respect “the opinion of the majority of the PDI’s branches in the regions.” Holding a similar press conference not long thereafter, Tutut called upon the Government to side with the “legitimate leadership of the PDI”.

    While Estrada dined with the KADIN and made his pitch for Indonesian investment in the Philippines, the President met with Harsudiono Hartas to discuss the PDI situation. Try asked if it was possible to maintain a neutral stance.

    “The situation is a bit tricky”, said Harsudiono “Soerjadi submitted his request first and since he’s at the front of the line so to speak, we’ve got to address his concerns first. On the other hand, Megawati does legitimately enjoy the support in most of the PDI branches to demand an Extraordinary National Congress.”

    Try massaged his forehead.

    “I want you to get Soerjadi and Megawati to sit down at a table”, said Try “Don’t take sides, mediate, and see what the three of you come up with.”

    5th January 2001:
    As Estrada made his farewells and Try escorted Estrada to his car, the two men talked about their two nations’ situation. Estrada said that if the US’s priorities in this “new Cold War” is elsewhere, he will operate on the basis that the Philippines’ best interests if it “Tagged along” with Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Try agreed and thanked Estrada for such comments.

    After Estrada departed, the President had a meeting with Harsudiono Hartas with Edi Sudrajat as well. Harsudiono reported to the President the results of his meeting with Soerjadi and Megawati and what the two had agreed to.

    “And both have agreed to this?” asked Try “That’s awfully quick.”

    “Well, Mr. President”, replied Harsudiono “It seemed to me that this solution was always what Megawati preferred but was impossible until after Golkar broke into two and the new Political Parties Law was passed. That and because she too feels that there’s no time to waste preparing for the 2002 Election Campaigns. After all, with the road she has chosen, she’s already 3 months behind the PKPI and PKPB as far as election preparations were concerned.”

    “So be it then”, said Try without much further thought “I approve. You can announce it, Mr. Minister of Home Affairs.”

    Harsudiono departed as Edi looked at the President.

    “Are you sure this is the way you want to go with Megawati and the PDI, Mr. President?” asked Edi “Are you sure you’re not the one that’s being awfully quick.”

    “What option do I have? She was always going to take a shot at me sooner or later”, said Try “No point wasting another 20 months maneuvering and jockeying against one another the way I did with Tutut.”

    Edi excused himself and went to his office where his staff watched Harsudiono’s announcement.

    “…the President has acted quickly and has approved of a proposed settlement which Chairman Soerjadi, Mrs. Megawati, and myself formulated earlier today. The settlement as regards the PDI situation will be as follows:

    -Based on the request of Mr. Soerjadi, acting in his capacity as Chairman of the PDI and acting on behalf of what he claims to be the grassroots support of the PDI, the Government has resolved to grant his request that the PDI be allowed to merge with the PKPB.

    -At the same time, with consideration to Mrs. Megawati’s request and the sign of support from PDI branches in the regions which she can produce, the Government has resolved that it will allow Mrs. Megawati to take advantage of provisions regarding the formation of a new political party in the Political Parties Law. Subject to her fulfilling the required criterion for a new political party, the Government will have no problems whatsoever with the formation of a political party.”

    ---
    Lots of political things happening in the aftermath of Golkar’s “death”. The PKPI and PKPB forming and then rushing to form a national leadership council and appointing people to chair their respective election campaigns, the PPP trying to take advantage that it has not broken into two and now the situation regarding the PDI…

    I’ve foreshadowed that Megawati’s preference regarding her political future being through a new political party rather than re-taking the PDI in June 1998 ITTL when Try visited Soekarno’s tomb. At the time though, her request for a new political party was rejected by Try and Harsudiono.

    6th June 1998:
    Try, Edi, and Harsudiono breakfasted with Governor of East Java Basofi Sudirman. Try apologized to Basofi for appointing a PDI minister in his cabinet after all the time Basofi spent putting a check on Megawati’s PDI. Basofi said that circumstances has changed and pledged his loyalty to Try’s government and its policies.

    Try told Basofi that the latter’s term as Governor of East Java will be finishing soon and asked how does Basofi see the future. Basofi said that he is interested in a second term as Governor of East Java. The President said he will take it under consideration.

    From Surabaya, Try and his entourage headed for the town of Blitar. There, he was welcomed by the children of Soekarno and Fatmawati as well as their families. With cameras trained on him and locals looking on, the President paid his respects to Soekarno at his tomb. Try got tingles down his spine thinking about Soekarno. He never thought he would occupy the same position as Soekarno.

    After paying his respects, the President accompanied by the Minister of Home Affairs and the State Secretary sat down with Megawati Soekarnoputri and her husband Taufiq Kiemas. After some small talk, Megawati said that she has been locked out of the political system for two years and would like to the opportunity to represent the masses again. She also asked if it would be possible to create a new political party.

    Try replied that he welcomes it if Megawati would like to participate in politics again and said that he would make sure Megawati is not harassed by the authorities. Harsudiono added that the government does not have any plans of allowing new political parties to be formed and said that Megawati’s best bet is to channel her aspirations through the PDI.

    Now in January 2001 ITTL, Megawati’s on stronger ground making her request to create a new political party. Try can’t exactly reject the formation of a new political party when he’s approved the creation of a new political party to support a new government. That and the fact that Try knew it was impossible keeping Megawati away from taking a shot at the presidency forever.
     
    108: Proceeding With Plans
  • 7th January 2001:
    “...we will take the fight to those who would give up our sovereignty in political affairs, our self-sufficiency in economic affairs and our personality in cultural affairs. We will take part on behalf of the Marhaen and the wong cilik.

    We will take part in this fight called the 2002 Elections and the means with which we will take up this fight is true a new political party. Let those who wish to merge themselves with the forces of the New Order can do so. The rest of us will carry on the fight under a banner that best represents our spirit.

    The rest of us will carry on the fight under the banner of the Partai Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National Party-PNI)!

    Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

    Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.”

    Transcript of Megawati Soekarnoputri’s special press conference to announce the formation of the PNI.

    8th January 2001:
    President Try Sutrisno, Vice President JB Sumarlin, and ministers of the Seventh Development Cabinet took part in a cabinet meeting in which Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad outlined the Draft Budget which the President will read to the DPR the next day. The President, Vice President, and the cabinet ministers did not waste time approving and ratifying the Draft Budget.

    After the budget, Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi reported to the Cabinet bringing it to the attention of the cabinet that as per the Government’s contract of work with Freeport in 1991, Freeport is due to begin divesting its shares in its Grassberg mine in Irian Jaya at a rate of 2% annually to the Indonesian Government. However, Djiteng reported, Freeport has not shown any inclination to divest these shares. In front of all the other ministers, the President instructed Djiteng to begin negotiations with Freeport so that the American mining company can begin divesting its shares and asked all ministers to render any assistance to the Minister of Mining and Energy if he requires it.

    “This year, what’s important will be implementation. There’s no use of me approving things, budgeting for things, and generally doing everything to lay the groundwork for good policies if it’s not implemented”, said the President as the Cabinet Meeting closed.

    9th January 2001:
    With Chairman of the DPR Harmoko leading proceedings, the President delivered the 2001/2002 Draft Budget which included the following:

    “The Draft Budget I am delivering to you today seeks to build upon our nation’s very successful year in 2000. It seeks to move us from surviving and then exiting the Asian Financial Crisis towards a direction where we are starting to take steps forward.”

    Budget Measures:
    Revenue:
    -Reorganization and modernization of the Directorate General of Taxation’s tax office structure. Over the coming 2 years, the Department of Finance will be introducing large tax offices to better serve wealthy individuals and large companies and their tax-paying requirements, medium tax offices to better serve businesses with their tax-paying requirements and small tax offices to serve individuals with their tax-paying requirements.

    -The Government’s aim is to increase tax ratio to at least 9% before the term was over. In 1997 the tax ratio was 8.03%, in 1998 it was 7.5% and in 1999, it was 7.9%.

    -30% increase in cigarette excise. The cigarette industry has been spared increases in excise throughout the crisis because it has helped cushion the nation against unemployment but its special privilege comes to an end. Revenue collected from the excise to go into spending on health.

    -The Government has decided to abolish the requirement that State-Owned Enterprises donate 2% of its profits to Damandiri Foundation. It has also decided to end the Government’s cooperation with Damandiri Foundation on the Left Behind Villages Program starting on 1st April 2001.

    Spending:
    -Most of the funding for the preparations and holding of the 2002 Legislative Elections will be disbursed in the 2001/2002 Financial Year. This will cover the costs for such things as ballot boxes and ballot papers as well as voter registration.

    -Funding for rural development to be prioritized for the acceleration of the electrification of villages.

    -In agriculture, spending has been set aside for among other things the establishment of a Rice Research Institute, construction of irrigations and dams including construction of Ponre-Ponre Dam in South Sulawesi and completion of Batubulan Dam in West Nusa Tenggara, and training of agricultural extension officials to encourage agribusiness.

    -An export promotion budget to be allocated to trade attaches in Indonesian Embassies around the world to promote Indonesian exports through advertising and attendance in expos.

    -Defense and security budget has been increased with the ratio of operational expenses (salaries etc.) to capital expenses (new weaponry, facilities etc.) being reduced from 80:20 to 67:33.

    10th January 2001:
    In an extensive morning interview on RCTI, Chairwoman of PKPB Tutut Soeharto said that the Draft Budget was disappointing. Tutut said that there’s nothing about rice self-sufficiency and she’s disappointed that the Government will be cutting ties with the Damandiri Foundation as regards the Left Behind Villages Program. Tutut says that this shows the Government’s intention to depart from President Soeharto’s policies.

    At a special lunch with industry stakeholders, Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Oka Mahendra greeted the Telecommunications’ Law’s into effect. Oka Mahendra said that Telkom and Indosat had signed agreements to end its cross-ownership in each other and reported on investors seeking to establish telecommunication service providers or expand existing telecommunications operations.

    Megawati Soekarnoputri submits the PNI’s registration form to the Department of Home Affairs to be verified.

    11th January 2001:
    The President and his delegation landed at Palembang, South Sumatra. Welcomed by Governor of South Sumatra Bimo Prakoso and Commander of the South Sumatra Regional Military Command Syamsul Ma’arif, the President proceeded to go to Ogan Komeering Ilir Regency. There with Minister of Transmigration Hendropriyono standing next to him, the President inaugurated the Parit Rambutan, Telang, and Belitang Independent Integrated Cities (KTM) which was to function as a transmigration settlement and which were noted for its agricultural potential. Hendropriyono looked happy, joking that this shows that he hasn’t only been concerned with population control in Jakarta in his time as Minister of Transmigration.

    After the ceremony and the tour of the KTM, the President returned to Palembang. There he inaugurated the expansion of the 6th State Vocational School in Palembang. Try smiled when he was asked why the Minister of Education was not with him saying that the latter was in Jakarta. The President spent the afternoon touring Palembang noting how bustling it was over some pempek.

    Over in Jakarta, Vice President JB Sumarlin and Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro welcomed Deputy Prime Minister of Australia John Anderson and Australian Minister for Education where together they inaugurated Australian National University-Indonesia, the ANU’s campus in Jakarta and the first time a foreign university has opened its doors in Indonesia. Though it was no mean achievement, Wardiman was bombarded instead with questions about the textbook procurement corruption case in his department. Asked whether he was on his way out, Wardiman said that it was the President’s prerogative whether he stays in the cabinet or not.

    The President and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat had a dinner meeting with Bimo Prakoso and the top provincial officials of South Sumatra. Bimo reported that the city was flourishing. The effect of deregulating the airline industry has been more traffic by air from Jakarta and more businesses in Jakarta expanding in Palembang’s direction so Palembang is flourishing. He also reported that after the Eid’, South Sumatra is getting more people from Lampung than in the previous years to which the President nodded his approval, commenting that better they end up in Palembang than crowding Jakarta.

    12th January 2001:
    The President cut short his visit to Palembang in the morning with news from Jakarta that former CEO Pertamina Ibnu Sutowo had passed away and returned to the capital city. From Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Try, now in a black shirt, rushed to Ibnu Sutowo’s residence with the First Lady to pay their respects. Try shook hands with Pontjo Sutowo, the owner of Hiton Hotel among many others and Ibnu Sutowo’s son. He also met and had a chat with CEO of Pertamina M. Arifin who will preside over the funeral later in the day.

    After the President had left, the spotlight fell on Tutut Soeharto who came with her husband and siblings to give Pontjo and his family the Soeharto’s family condolences. As it were, just as Tutut was about leave, Megawati Soekarnoputri arrived to pay her respects saying to the press that she feels obliged given that she owns several gas stations. The two hugged each other and chatted with each other in the presence of the nation’s cameras. When asked about the PNI and the PKPB, Tutut said that she’s not here to talk about politics but to pay respects to Ibnu Sutowo and that she was glad to meet her “friend” Megawati.

    The President watched this as he had lunch with a frown on his face.

    “It’s nothing, Mr. President”, said Edi “It’s just a show for the cameras”.

    “I know”, replied Try, still not happy “But all the more reason to proceed with our plan.”

    The day ended at the PKPI Headquarters in Jakarta where Chairman of PKPI Basofi Sudirman formally introduced Hendropriyono as Chairman of the PKPI’s Election Campaign. When asked what this meant for his status as Minister of Transmigration, Hendropriyono lid the spark on reshuffle speculation by saying that he had just completed his last tasks as Minister and that it was up to President to name his successor.

    The reshuffle speculation was well under way when Edi Sudrajat and Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman held a joint press conference. They announced that the State Secretariat has received the resignations of Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono, and finally this evening from Minister of Transmigration Hendropriyono.

    “On the question of who will replace these ministers, that will be a matter for the President to decide and for him alone”, said Edi Sudrajat.
    ---
    A hectic week politically in ITTL’s Indonesia but we’ve got the ground continuing to shift on the political parties. There's the PKPI, PKPB and now the PNI.

    Freeport is officially on the agenda. OTL, for whatever reason, Freeport never began its divestment process in 2001 (which was 10 years after the contract it signed with the Indonesian Government in 1991).

    Tax office reorganization based on OTL’s which can be found https://www.online-pajak.com/kpp

    Tax ratio numbers for 1997 comes from https://ekonomi.kompas.com/read/201...-orde-baru-hingga-16-persen-benarkah?page=all. Tax ratio from 1998 onwards are adjusted to ITTL’s economic conditions.
     
    109: Towards A Reshuffle And Beyond
  • 13th January 2001:
    With Cabinet Reshuffle rumors swirling around in the background, the members of the Pancasila Coalition came to the Presidential Palace. Chairman of DPR Harmoko, Wahono, BJ Habibie, Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Abdurrahman Wahid, Chairman of Muhammadiyah Amien Rais, and Chairman of PPP Matori Abdul Djalil came one by one to the palace where President Try Sutrisno sat down with them.

    These were how their days turned out.

    BJ Habibie:

    Habibie came to the Palace knowing that his close friend Wardiman Djojonegoro was going to lose the Minister of Education’s position. His was not a long meeting with the President. He came out saying that the President laid down the aim of the reshuffle and that was to have a “strong two remaining years in the term”. When asked how his “guys” went, Habibie said that the reshuffle has not been finalized but said that he was no longer Chairman of ICMI so he had nowhere the influence that he had before.

    When he got home, he was surprised to find none other than Prabowo Subianto waiting for him. Prabowo told Habibie not to sell himself short and that he was certain that if Soeharto had lived and gotten re-elected at the 1998 MPR Session, Habibie would have been elected as vice president. Habibie said he doesn’t live in “what ifs”. When Prabowo said that he will make sure that Habibie has a place in “My sister-in-law’s Government”, Habibie cut him off.

    “I don’t appreciate that someone from your end convinced Gen. Feisal, a good friend of mine, to conduct that interview; I don’t appreciate that there was a movement on your end to unseat me as Chairman of ICMI”, said Habibie “Given the choice between the President and Tutut, I know who I can trust more.”

    Amien Rais:
    The conversation began well enough with Amien Rais agreeing profusely that the Government had to have a strong final 2 years. Amien proposed that Muhammadiyah, being an educational institution, should get the Minister of Education’s position. Amien even went as far as nominating Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Malik Fadjar as Minister of Education. The President countered with some names that he was considering with Amien for Minister of Education though not committing to any.

    Amien Rais too was visited by Prabowo. Prabowo said that he was trying to “make mischief” by trying to cause a distraction and get the President to either do a bad or a half-assed reshuffle. Amien chuckled at that but said that at this point in time, he’s not interested in leaving the President’s coalition. Amien said that he’s against the Soeharto family and right now the only one strong enough to take on the Soeharto family is President Try.

    “I’m part of that family too, Mas Amien”, said Prabowo “But I too think that their business activities can be excessive and ought to be curbed.”

    “I know that, Mas Bowo”, replied Amien “Which is why my condition for joining your side is the same as it was in 1998 and 1999 when you approached me: have someone more credible that you intend to pur forward as a presidential candidate.”

    “We both know that’s not possible”, said Prabowo “My sister-in-law must have her opportunity.”

    “She already has nearly 3 years ago and she lost”, replied Amien.

    “From a standing start, Mas Amien, and with nowhere the power and support she has now and she will continue to build”, countered Prabowo.

    Amien and Habibie refused to budge in the face of Prabowo’s offer. The difference between Amien and Habibie was that Amien took the effort to step outside his house and see Prabowo off. With cameras on him, Amien said that he was just observing courtesy by seeing off. Deep inside, however, Amien hoped he could be successful in pressuring the President into appointing a Minister of Education who was to Amien’s liking.

    Abdurrahman Wahid:
    Wahid’s nose twitched mischievously and he had a wry smile on his face when the President told him about the meeting with Amien, commenting only that Amien loves his “intrigues”. He said NU members will be happy wherever the President places them though he advised that he thinks State Minister of Female Empowerment and Childrens’ Welfare Khofifah Indar Parawansa should get a full term in her present position.

    “I wanted Megawati to be in our coalition, Mr. President, I really did. But I was wrong. People might say that she didn’t because you didn’t approve of her withdrawing her minister from your cabinet but I look at it differently. But I didn’t get a sense that if things were different, if she had a choice,that she would’ve joined our coalition.

    Mbak Mega’s path was always set. It was why Soeharto was afraid of her and had to remove her. Her path was always set. That Soeharto died does not matter. Whether it is you or Habibie or Harmoko or Tutut, she was always going to come for the presidency.

    Tutut’s path is unfinished. Her father prepared it for her and now she’s trying her hardest to finish laying down that path in time so that she can take the chair you’re sitting now. Soeharto’s death came at a crucial time. Financial Crisis aside, if he was alive, he would have picked Habibie as Vice President and installed Tutut as Chairwoman of Golkar. And then he would unseat Habibie as Vice President, make Tutut his Vice President and that’s it…that’s the succession as Soeharto would have wanted it set in stone.

    But your path…yours is the path that I want to know. Do you merely want to have a strong “two remaining years” in the term or do you want to go beyond that? This nation does not need the second coming of Soekarno or Soeharto.”

    Wahono:
    Wahono, whose supporters held the Minister of Legal Affairs, Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications, and Minister of Public Works’ positions, was predictably content with what he had though he had some words other members of the Pancasila Coalition.

    *Harmoko is expecting his “guys” to do well in he reshuffle. He believes that since Habibie’s not the Chairman of ICMI anymore and because ICMI’s withdrawn from the coalition, all of Habibie’s supporters in the cabinet ought to be removed.

    *Habibie’s power is waning and while Harmoko is right that his supporters should lose ministerial seats, the President should show appreciation to Habibie in one way shape or form.

    *NU and Muhammadiyah will keep an eye out for how much each other’s getting so giving one a ministerial seat means the other has to get one as well.

    *Don’t add to the amount of PPP seats in the cabinet in case they do well in the next election and ask for more.

    *Sudharmono’s supporters don’t deserve an additional seat owing to the neutral stance that Sudharmono has taken since late last year.

    Matori Abdul Djalil:
    Matori opened the meeting by letting the President know that Prabowo has been meeting with Habibie and meeting with Amien Rais. The President’s eyes narrowed at that. Matori told the President that he tended to follow Abdurrahman Wahid’s lead that there be no changes to existing arrangements as far as the NU, Muhammadiyah, and the PPP were concerned. The President agreed with him.

    When he came out, Matori said that everything was the prerogative of the President and, when asked about how much the NU and Muhammadiyah are getting, announced that the President envisions no additional ministerial positions for NU and Muhammadiyah.

    Harmoko:
    Though their conversation began pleasantly enough, Wahono’s information proved correct. Harmoko wanted all of Habibie’s supporters to be removed from the cabinet because Habibie “does not have anything to contribute” to the Coalition anymore. Harmoko said he wanted another supporter in the cabinet. To the Chairman of DPR’s surprise, the President revealed that he wanted to remove one of Harmoko’s supporters because this supporter is underperforming. Harmoko said that he wanted “compensation” in the form of another Harmoko supporter.

    Over Harmoko’s protests, the President said that he can’t guarantee “compensation” but that if there is space to accommodate another Harmoko supporter, he would give it. Harmoko nodded though he still looked dissatisfied though he calmed himself down. The meeting did not last long after that.

    At the conclusion of the meeting, Harmoko was escorted by State Secretary Edi Sudrajat to his car. On the walk there, Harmoko told Edi about his discussion with the President.

    “If there is a longer term purpose to what the President is doing now, I’ll be happy with whatever arrangements he has for me and my supporters in the reshuffle”, said Harmoko.

    “What do you mean by that, Mr. Chairman?” asked Edi.

    “A longer term purpose”, said Harmoko “I intend to run in the 2002 Legislative Elections next year, I intend to get re-elected to a DPR seat, and I intend to get re-elected as Chairman of DPR. What about the President’s longer term purpose? He needs to know that and then make his final choice for the reshuffle.”

    As Harmoko disappeared into his car, Edi said to himself that hell must have frozen over because he just found himself strongly agreeing with Harmoko.

    The final guest of the day was Basofi Sudirman. Basofi brought with him polling data. Though it contained numbers about how the PKPI would fare against the PKPB, PPP, and PDI, Try was most interested in the PKPI’s head-to-head figures with the PKPB across the province.

    Basofi reported that the PKPB was strong in Kalimantan, owing to Secretary of Golkar turned Secretary of PKPB ZA Maulani’s influence. Try nodded even as one figure that caught his eye.

    “Why is the PKPI and PKPB neck and neck at Yogyakarta?” asked Try “I can understand Central Java, but the Sultan’s one of our own.”

    “He is, Mr. President”, replied Basofi “But Yogyakarta is also President Soeharto’s home province and the man still has some popularity despite the fact that he’s deceased.”

    14th January 2001:
    That Sunday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita got some face time with the President who was accompanied by Edi Sudrajat. Ginandjar reported that President Yevgeny Primakov will visit Beijing this upcoming week and sign the Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship with President of China Jiang Zemin. Yet Ginandjar knew that the President had something more local in mind. From the Presidential Palace, Ginandjar went immediately to his patron, former Vice President Sudharmono.

    “He’s not going to replace me or Kuntoro”, said Ginandjar mentioning the Minister of Civil Service Reform Kuntoro Mangkusubroto “But he’s not going to add anymore of our group either because you’ve decided to be neutral in what’s going on between him and Tutut.”

    “That’s fine, knowing that he can’t move against you is good enough for me and you both are doing a good job anyway”, said Sudharmono “We’ll do what Habibie can’t and be a neutral party. I’ll commit the two of you to being his ministers but I won’t be seen as attacking Tutut. We’ll stick to this course until and when the time is right, we’ll have everyone asking us for their support.”

    ---
    The Four Horsemen gathered at Edi Sudrajat’s house. Their minds and their discussions fixed on their friend who lives in the Presidential Palace.

    “Has he made up his mind yet?” asked Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas.

    “The First Lady has told me that the President’s spending more time going over ministerial candidates’ CVs than with her”, said Edi.

    “Who sits in the reshuffled cabinet won’t matter if he can’t make up his mind on the bigger question here”, countered Harsudiono.

    “Be patient, I’m sure he’s thinking hard about things”, said OCDS Sugeng Subroto.

    “In a way, the need to have this reshuffle is fortunate”, added Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo “He’s been forced to think about his future. Who he chooses will reveal not only what he would do next but also how he thinks about his prospects.”

    ---
    Mas Try, are you playing with your grandchildren or are you thinking about who’s going to be Minister of Education again?” asked First Lady Tuti Setiawati.

    The President seemed to snap out of his trance and began to play badminton with his grandchildren again. Tuti watched with a smile though a lot of things also floated through her mind.

    “You’ve been President for just over 3 years. I know both the good things that you can do for this nation but also the burden that comes with your responsibilities. I couldn’t be more proud of you and yet, I couldn’t be more aware that your work is far from over…

    It’s all right, Mas Try. I give you my permission. I give you my permission to continue your work. I give you my permission to prepare for your re-election.


    ---
    That one was more of a character development chapter than anything though I have some notes to give.

    Amien Rais has for lack of better word, a strong opportunist streak in him. OTL, He was for Reformasi in 1998 but was willing to consider a coalition with Habibie for the latter’s re-election in 1999 before finally throwing his support behind Abdurrahman Wahid for the presidency and then ending up standing against and hitting the gavel on Wahid’s dismissal from office in 2001. So I’m basing him trying to pressure Try to give one of his guys the Minister of Education’s position and considering an anti-Try coalition if the conditions are right on his OTL characteristics.

    Wahid's prediction on how Soeharto plans to eventually hand over the presidency to Tutut is based on https://books.google.co.id/books?id...CxUQ6AEILTAA#v=onepage&q=wahid sobary&f=false (3rd paragraph down)

    ITTL Harmoko is doing better than his OTL counterpart. First because he’s still the Chairman of DPR (OTL, it ended in October 1999) and second because his OTL abandonment of Soeharto (he asked for Soeharto’s resignation in May 1998 after pushing for his nomination in January 1998) has been butterflied away. Try and his inner circle has come to accept him as a reliable ally in their struggles against Tutut.

    Up next is the Reshuffle.
     
    110: The January 2001 Cabinet Reshuffle
  • 15th January 2001:
    President Try Sutrisno had a breakfast meeting with Vice President JB Sumarlin that morning. Almost immediately he pulled out a list of ministers’ name from his pocket. Sumarlin looked through them and said that everything was in order. Try said the only thing left to do now is to get through the day.

    The first item on the agenda was a four-way meeting between the President, the Vice President, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono, Minister of Trade Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti. After the meeting, Sumarlin, Soedradjad, and Dorodjatun held a joint press conference where the 3 of them talked about the importance of continuity in economic policy. Soedradjad said simply that his time was ending and that he was glad to be handing over to good hands while Dorodjatun said that it’s important for Indonesia to build on the strong economic performance of 2000. All said that who the next Minister of Economics and National Development Planning will be was a matter for the President to announce though Dorodjatun’s smile made it clear who that new minister will be.

    The effect of this exercise Jakarta Stock Exchange remained stable and operated as usual instead of speculating who the new Minister of Economics and National Development Planning would be and worrying about the direction of economic policy.

    The next meeting was Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar who brought him the Department of Defense and Security’s top officials. When he came out, Wismoyo was asked by the press about his fate.

    “I’m ready to be retained but I’m also ready if the President has found a worthy replacement”, said Wismoyo before getting in his car.

    “He’s not on his way out, right?” asked DPR Member Hartono at the PKPB National Headquarters where Chairwoman of PKPB Tutut Soeharto watched developments “Though after Soedradjad’s resignation, he might as well go after Pak Harto’s brother-in-law. Get rid of any links with the former First Family.”

    “It doesn’t make sense”, said Treasurer of PKPB Akbar Tandjung “He needs Wismoyo. It gives him the sense that some part of the Soeharto Family supports his presidency.”

    With the news buzzing about who the new Minister of Economics and National Development Planning likely was and Wismoyo’s diplomatic answer fuelling rumors that the President was moving against his predecessor’s brother-in-law, the President could work under cover.

    Meanwhile, some trucks arrived at the Department of Home Affairs to pick up what looked like personal items. Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas when arriving at his office only smiled mysteriously when asked what this was leading to speculation that he was on his way out. At the Presidential Palace’s more discreet entrances, ministerial candidates were welcomed by Presidential Secretary Ismet Herdi.

    In the meantime, present ministers were coming in through the front door. One of these was Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro. He came out not long after to announce that the President had approved of changing the nation’s Teaching and Pedagogic Sciences Institutes (IKIP) to universities. IKIP had functioned as teachers’ colleges but this status change to universities will allow IKIP institutes around Indonesia to hold courses for degrees other than teaching.

    “I hope that all ministers serving under President Try both in the present and the future would hold themselves and their subordinates to the highest standards because I truly regret the circumstances of my departure. I wish my successor as the Minister of Education, my colleagues above all else President Try and Vice President Sumarlin all the best for the future”, said Wardiman.

    After lunch, Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo arrived at the Presidential Palace. He was immediately summoned by the President with State Secretary Edi Sudrajat sitting in. Siswono had heard the news about the new Minister of Economics and National Development Planning and that this meant a new Minister of Trade was required. Siswono was about to try to persuade the President against moving him to the Minister of Trade position when…

    “You’re staying put as Minister of Industry”, said the President “The one who’s going to be Minister of Trade has already been decided. I will need you to provide political cover for him.”

    “If I may ask, who is the new Minister of Trade?” asked Siswono.

    The President said the name and Siswono immediately knew what was being asked of him.

    “He will be responsible for increasing the nation’s exports just as the world economy is showing signs of slowing down, if he’s successful it’ll be to the benefit of the nation”, said the President “Under no circumstances is he to be attacked in the business community for his race. I hope I can rely on you and your network in the Indonesian Young Businessmen Association (HIPMI) for this.”

    Siswono could not reject the request. The President after all had allowed the Department of Industry to absorb Habibie’s BPIS and made him more powerful.

    There was a meeting with Minister of Civil Service Reform Kuntoro Mangkusubroto. Kuntoro announced that the President will be creating an additional State Ministry. When asked if it will be an additional burden to the National Budget, Kuntoro said that it’s a State Ministry and not a new Governmental Department with offices in the regions.

    In mid-afternoon, Commander of ABRI Wiranto arrived at the Presidential Palace. He came out of his meeting saying that ABRI will support the President regardless of the results of the reshuffle and that the President remains the constitutional Supreme Commander of ABRI.

    It was after Maghrib prayers that the President emerged accompanied by the Vice President to announce the Cabinet Reshuffle.

    ---
    Memo to Security and Intelligence Division Director in Singapore

    Brief Profiles of Those Leaving and Joining the Cabinet in the Reshuffle

    President Try Sutrisno has this evening announced a Cabinet Reshuffle to replace the outgoing ministers of economics and national development planning, transmigration, and education as well as to take the opportunity to “position the Government to carry on the task of economic development by building upon the nation’s great economic year in 2000.” The reshuffle is as follows:

    Leaving the Cabinet:
    Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Soedradjad Djiwandono: Resigning for personal reasons. Officially because Soedradjad claimed he accepted his appointment on the condition that he could resign once the economy had recovered; unofficially because it has become difficult for his wife (who is Prabowo Subianto’s sister) and himself to be on “different sides” of a political rivalry.

    Minister of Transmigration Hendropriyono: Resigning to focus in his new role as Chairman of the PKPI’s 2002 Legislative Election campaign.

    Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro: Resigning officially to take responsibility of his non-awareness of the junior high school textbook procurement embezzlement. On the surface, it is a first instance in Indonesia of a minister having had to resign due to a corruption case in his department. Our sources at the Presidential Palace suggests that Wardiman being a Habibie supporter (and that Habibie is no longer Chairman of ICMI) “made it easier” for the President to ask for his resignation. Performance-wise, the President said that Wardiman has been “been good but not great”.

    State Minister of Rural Development Agung Laksono: The removal that reportedly had the President and Harmoko arguing with each other when they met on Saturday. Harmoko wanted to retain someone who was a supporter but the President though Agung’s performance as minister had been sub-par. Agung’s removal also served a symbolic purpose. The President had appointed Agung because the latter, despite being a Harmoko supporter, had gotten along well with Tutut and because the President wanted to broaden his appeal among those in Golkar who found themselves “stuck in the middle” between Tutut and himself. As far as the President was concerned, now was the time to stop being “stuck in the middle” and pick a side.

    Junior Minister of Housing Enggartiasto Lukita: Not the best but not the worst in terms of his performance. It was just the case that the President had to remove him for “ethnic balance”

    Junior Minister of Cooperatives Muslimin Nasution: Appointed in the 1999 Cabinet Reshuffle with Agung Laksono, Muslimin has had a mediocre time as minister. His removal was partly a move against Habibie’s supporters and partly to please Harmoko after Agung Laksono’s removal. Only State Minister of Urban Development Giri Suseno can now be grouped as a Habibie supporter in the President's Cabinet. He has been spared as a result of both his good performance and the President wanting to acknowledge that Habibie has been loyal.

    Promoted and/or New Ministers:

    Minister of Economics and National Development Planning: Prof. Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti

    Dorodjatun’s appointment as Minister of Economic and National Development Planning had been hinted since the morning and received a positive reaction. A familiar face by the President’s side as he inspected markets and went overseas to promote Indonesian exports as Minister of Trade (1998-now), Dorodjatun has built good profile for himself. He is seen not only a capable figure but is also seen as a person who was respected by markets, businesses, and organizations both domestically and internationally.

    Minister of Trade: Anthony Salim BA
    In all the excitement in response to Dorodjatun’s appointment was the question of who would succeed him as Minister of Trade. There were audible gasps when the President announced Anthony Salim’s name. The son of Liem Sioe Liong, Anthony had guided Salim Group through the Asian Financial Crisis as its CEO. He favors a more professional rather than a relationship-based approach to business and if he wasn’t an open Try Sutrisno supporter, he was at the very least trying to distance Salim Group from the Soeharto Family with the IPO of Salim Group’s BCA diluting the shares that Tutut and Sigit Soeharto has in the bank. From a policy standpoint, the President will be hoping that Anthony will be able to enlarge Indonesia’s export market the way he had done for Indomie in such markets as Nigeria and Papua New Guinea. From a political standpoint, it was a symbol that the President enjoyed support amongst the nation’s Chinese business community. Anthony had resigned from all his business positions prior to the President’s announcement but his resignation was too late for the nation was already gearing up for coverage of the President’s announcement.

    Minister of Transmigration: Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Rusmadi Sidik
    The boisterous figure of Hendropriyono was replaced by the low-key figure of Rusmadi Sidik. A graduate of the AMN’s class of 1961, Rusmadi was an officer known to the President; Rusmadi having served as Assistant of Territorial Affairs to Gen. Try when the latter was Army Chief of Staff. The President however was interested in Rusmadi’s tenures as Commander of the Sulawesi Military Region (1988-1991) and Commander of the Kalimantan Military Region (1991-1992) which gave him familiarity with two islands where he would now be sending transmigrants. After these 2 tenures, Rusmadi served as Assistant of Personnel to Army Chief of Staff Edi Sudrajat (1992-1993) and is presently Director General of Personnel, Manpower, and Veterans at the Department of Defense and Security (1993-2001) where between 1993 to 1998 he also served under Edi Sudrajat as Minister of Defense and Security. Rusmadi is of Banjarese ethnicity and Kalimantan origin, he is expected to provide geographical balance to the cabinet and broaden the President’s appeal in Kalimantan where Secretary of PKPB ZA Maulani enjoys strong support.

    Minister of Education: Prof. Dr. Mohammad Fakkry Gaffar M.Ed
    Ignoring Amien Rais’ pressure and after going through various candidates, the President’s pick for Minister of Education fell on Fakkry Gaffar. Fakkry has been serving as the Rector of IKIP Bandung (1995-now) and is presently in his second term. His background is in educational administration and has been consulted on for advice in the past by the Department which his now leads. His only condition for assuming the office of Minister of Education is the immediate change in status for IKIP across the country from institute to university (the preparation had gone on for years and only waited Wardiman’s final approval) because he did not want to be seen as using his new position to effect this change.

    State Minister of Rural Development: Dr. H. Feisal Tamin SSEP
    Part of why Agung Laksono had to go was also because he was not doing well enough in a policy area the PKPB identified as a weakness of the Government. The man the President now turned to for this position was none other than Feisal Tamin. A bureaucrat, Feisal had been with the Department of Home Affairs in 1968 and had worked his way up the ranks. Most recently, Feisal is Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs (1998-now) and doubles as Chairman of KORPRI (1998-now) making him one of, if not the, the most senior civil servant in Indonesia right now. His ability to get things done and seniority as civil servant, not to mention Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas’ recommendation, now got him this appointment as minister.

    Junior Minister of Cooperatives: Ir. Cacuk Sudarijanto
    Stepping into the vacancy left behind by Muslimin Nasution will be Cacuk Sudarijanto. A professional whose career had taken him to IBM Indonesia and Indosat, Cacuk reached the peak of his career, or so he thought at the time, when he became CEO of Telkom (1988-1992). His time in this role ended prematurely when he was removed for failing to approve a tender submitted by Soeharto’s son Bambang Trihatmodjo. Cacuk was the CEO of Chairul Tanjung’s Bank Mega when he was appointed as an Inspector General of Development (1998-now), a position which he now has to vacate.

    Junior Minister of Housing: Bobby Suhardiman
    Anthony Salim’s appointment as Minister of Trade meant that Enggartiasto Lukita had to go so that the Indonesian-Chinese are not “overrepresented” in the cabinet. The President used the vacancy to gather support for his Government. The man he has now turned to is Bobby Suhardiman. The son of Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Suhardiman, a contemporary of Soeharto who was critical enough to call for Soeharto to prepare his succession, Bobby is presently serving his third term as a DPR member and has had a stint as Chair of Golkar’s Arts and Culture Department when Harmoko was Chairman (1993-1998). Bobby is a friend of Tutut’s, voting for her in the first two rounds of the Presidential Vote at the 1998 MPR Session before switching to the President after Tutut’s elimination. Bobby shared his father’s belief that the question of who Soeharto’s successor was had been settled with the President’s election to a full term in 1998. When Golkar broke into two, Bobby chose to side with the PKPI. Bobby’s appointment is seen as the President’s appeal for wavering Tutut supporters to side with him as well as compensation for Harmoko for Agung Laksono’s removal.

    The President also announced the creation of the position of State Minister of Poverty Alleviation. The position will be responsible for working across the various Government Departments and Agencies for the purposes of formulating and implementing the government’s poverty alleviation policies as well as implementing the Government’s commitments to the Millenium Development Goals.

    State Minister of Poverty Alleviation: GKR Hemas
    The second audible gasps of the night as the President announced the reshuffle belonged to GKR Hemas. Born Tatiek Drajad Supriastuti, she married the then Crown Prince of Yogyakarta and when the latter took up the Yogyakarta throne as Hamengkubuwono X, she became the Queen of Yogyakarta. Hamengkubuwono had been a quiet but persistent supporter of the President since the days of the 1998 MPR Session and informally had functioned as the spokesperson of the nation’s governors. The target here for the President is to improve the PKPI’s prospects in Yogyakarta at the 2002 Legislative Elections, a province where he could count on the support of the Sultan but which has a sizeable pro-Soeharto vote which Tutut will be looking to exploit considering that it was Soeharto’s home province.

    ---
    “Final question…let’s give it to a foreign correspondent, they always ask the most interesting questions”, said Try “Yes, Al Jazeera.”

    “Mr. President”, began Step Vaessen “You’ve named 8 very different people here: an economist, the CEO and heir of the nation’s largest conglomerate, an ABRI officer, an education administrator, the nation’s most senior bureaucrat, a professional executive, a member of the political elite, and the Queen of Yogyakarta. What does that say towards what you’re aiming for in the 2002 Legislative Elections and for that matter the 2003 MPR General Session? After all you have Siti Hardijanti Rukmana and Megawati Soekarnoputri aiming for your spot. They’re probably hoping to have a chance to announce a cabinet of their own some time in the future.

    “Well it means that I want the best people to achieve the best possible outcome in the remaining 26 months that’s left in this term”, replied Try “And I need the best people because the present is the only thing I’m concerned with. I’m the son of an ambulance driver. My father didn’t proclaim independence or save the nation from communism. My father doesn’t have a past achievement that I can constantly go around reminding people about. So the only thing I can do is to make the most of the present and throw everything I have into the next 26 months.”

    ---
    Chairman of NU Abdurrahman Wahid chuckled when he heard the President’s “My father didn’t…” comments.

    Tutut…Mega…you may think that it’s your spot he’s standing in and that’s up to you. But I hope you realize that this guy won’t give up your “spot” without a fight.
     
    111: Against The Extreme Right Part I
  • 16th January 2001:
    President Try Sutrisno swore in the 4 ministers, 2 state ministers, and 2 junior ministers which he named the previous day in the Cabinet Reshuffle.

    Appearing at Liputan 6 Siang on SCTV, Chairwoman of PKPB Tutut gave her response to the reshuffle.

    “It’s not about what my father has or has not done, it’s about the fact that we are not self-sufficient in food and still importing rice; it’s about the fact that we’re stagnating in our progress regarding Family Planning and it’s about the fact that our cities are progressing faster than our villages”, said Tutut.

    17th January 2001:
    At Beijing today, President of China Jiang Zemin and President of Russia Yevgeny Primakov signed a Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. The President immediately convened a meeting attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita, State Minister of National Security Soerjadi, Ambassador to ASEAN I Gede Awet Sara, and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat. All agreed that this was China and Russia’s way of “welcoming” the new US Administration. The President then asked what this would mean for Indonesia.

    Ginandjar said that if McCain was not considering Southeast Asia to be a priority before this treaty was signed, Southeast Asia would be even less of a priority now. Soerjadi agreed and said that Indonesia must use the opportunity to strengthen its hold on Southeast Asia while McCain is busy elsewhere.

    When the discussion turned to how they should react, Soerjadi put forward the idea that Indonesia should not respond to the treaty and let others in Southeast Asia formulate their own responses to gauge what the mood is like in the region. The President approved of this.

    “In the mean time, we’ll work on negotiations with Thailand and make preparations to secure our Eastern and Southern Flanks”, said Try “It’s just as well that we got those trips set in stone at the end of last year.”

    Later in the day, the President met with Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi. The latter brought a letter from CEO of PT Freeport Indonesia Adrianto Machrabie saying that Freeport is under no obligation to disburse of its shares in its Timika Mine to the Indonesian Government. The President told Edi Sudrajat to conduct a study of whether or not this was true.

    18th January 2001:
    State Minister of Rural Development Feisal Tamin emerged out of a meeting with the President saying that the President has instructed for rural electrification to be accelerated for the rest of the term. He also informed the press that he had stepped down from his position as Chairman of KORPRI to focus on his ministerial responsibilities.

    Megawati Soekarnoputri, accompanied by her followers, paid a visit to the PDI National Headquarters. The occasion was her handing back of her PDI member since the PDI will “die” soon. She did not have anything to say about the President’s “My father never…” comments. She only said that she would leave the “squabbling to the President and Mbak Tutut.”

    19th January 2001:
    The President landed in the morning at Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. Governor of South Kalimantan Syamsul Mu’arif, Governor of Central Kalimantan Zainuri Hasyim and Commander of the Kalimantan Regional Military Command Sumarsono greeted the President and his delegation.

    The President took a helicopter ride to Asam Asam Steam Electricity Generator. There, accompanied by Djiteng, Syamsul, and Zainuri the President inaugurated Units 1 and 2 of the Asam Asam Steam Electricity Generator which will generate electricity for both South and Central Kalimantan. The President toured the electricity generator, instructing the generator manager to employ local people.

    After Friday prayer at the electricity generator’s Mosque, the President joined Minister of Education Fakry Gaffar at a local primary school. The two talked to teachers, parents, and students alike. The President then hopped in his car and went by land to the city of Banjarbaru, a journey of some 3 hours. The President visited a vocational school and toured its facilities, asking questions about its electrician program. He frowned when the principal said that he had asked the management at Electricity Generator at Asam Asam if he could send students for work experience but had not received an answer. Djiteng and Fakry said they’ll follow this up. The local officials said that there was another vocational school being constructed to which the President said that he would like it finished the next time he visited Banjarbaru.

    From Banjarbaru, the President returned to Banjarmasin and immediately headed back to Jakarta.

    21st January 2001:
    It was Sunday evening as the President held a meeting with Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo accompanied Edi Sudrajat. Ari gave him a report:

    *His investigation in Central Sulawesi revealed the existence of a militia by the name of Laskar Penegak Sharia (Sharia Enforcement Militia), a paramilitary of about 100 or so looking to “Establish Sharia Law in Indonesia and overthrow secular-Christian Government of Try Sutrisno”. Its founder is Agus Dwikarna, a member of the Indonesian Islamic Proselytization Council (DDII). Agus is not a member of Jemaah Islamiyah though has an affiliation with Abu Bakar Bashir. What is more certain is his links to Al Qaeda.

    *Agus is linked to Al Qaeda to a man named Parlindungan Siregar who is in turn linked to Al Qaeda’s operatives in Spain. Siregar is trying to get Abu Dahdah, the leader of the Al Qaeda cell in Spain to come and visit Indonesia to look at the situation “on the ground”.

    “What’s their game?” asked Try.

    “BAKIN agents on the ground have reported that they’re intention is to try to get money from Al Qaeda to build a terrorist training camp in Poso”, said Ari Sudewo “They want to try to recruit from those who aren’t happy with the steps we’ve taken at Poso and also at Ambon.”

    Try expressed his desire to move against Agus and Parlindungan. Edi said what would be better if they moved against Agus and Parlindungan but also catch Abu Dahdah. Ari agreed with this and said that he could create the impression that BAKIN is loosening up its operations to catch them unawares. The President did not seem to be satisfied with Edi and Ari’s advice but asked Ari to keep up with intelligence from abroad to see what else Al Qaeda might be planning for Indonesia.

    “So much for Al Qaeda for now, what about Jemaah Islamiyah?” asked Try.

    “Well, they’re paying lip service about how proud they are of Amrozi for assassinating Soegiarto but they’re not too happy about the fact that they’re now showing up on our radar. They’re keeping real low but we’ve got some leads on them and following them up”, replied Ari.

    Ari concluded by reporting about Jafar Umar Thalib. Thalib fought with the mujahedeen against the Soviet Union in 1987 and had met with Osama Bin Laden but disagreed with his violent means. Thalib has an Islamic school in Yogyakarta which teaches a Salafist approach to Islam. He also has a publication called the Salafi Magazine in which he is critical of the Government’s policies in Ambon and Poso and saying that the Government is not friendly towards Muslims.

    23rd January 2001:
    Tutut Soeharto and Chairman of PDI Soerjadi today signed an agreement which will see the PDI formally merge as of 1st March 2001. Attending on behalf of the Government were Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas and Minister of Legal Affairs Marzuki Darusman.

    All ASEAN Nations but Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines have issued statements on China and Russia’s treaty. Today Ginandjar released a statement on behalf of the Indonesian Government saying that Indonesia’s only wish is that the treaty would not effect Southeast Asia negatively. Later in the day, Thailand and Philippines’ Foreign Ministries also issued statements which echoed Indonesia’s sentiments.

    24th January 2001:
    Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab signed an official letter to the Indonesian Confucianism High Council (Matakin) wishing them a Happy Chinese New Year. Quraish had been instructed by the President to write this letter and could only see this as the President still being confused on where the Government should stand on Chinese New Year though Quraish remembered that the President had visited the house of the Head of BKPM in 1999.

    It was not that Quraish did not know the President’s predicament. A change of policy on Chinese New Year meant a change of policy on Confucianism which meant a change of policy on the Chinese-Indonesians. Each is linked to the other.

    Minister of Civil Service Reform Kuntoro Mangkusubroto and Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman came out of a meeting with the President to announce that the Department of Civil Service Reform’s Head Office and Cabinet Secretariat will be trying out an integrated salary system at the start of the next financial year in April. Kuntoro said this will change the present salary system of having a basic salary and multiple types of allowances at least two departments involved.

    25th January 2001:
    The President and his entourage touched down at Lhokseumawe, Aceh where Governor of Aceh Syamsuddin Mahmud welcomed him on the tarmac. Immediately upon arrival, he was off to the recently completed Lhokseumawe Multi-Purpose Terminal where he inaugurated 3 projects, 2 of which were located in Lhokseumawe and 1 in Banda Aceh with Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja and Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo beside him. These were:

    *The Lhokseumawe Multi-Purpose Terminal
    *The 2nd Unit of the Iskandar Muda Cement Factory
    *The lengthening of the Runway and the Construction of a New Terminal Building at Banda Aceh’s Iskandar Muda Airport

    In his speech, the President took special care to mention that the new terminal building was funded largely by the Provincial Government, taking advantage of the increased shares in LNG revenues that the province now has.

    “Aceh takes part in economic development, Aceh benefits from economic development. Let those who still have doubts about the Government’s commitment to Aceh or still want to separate themselves from our country see this and make up their mind about it”, said the President almost triumphantly.

    Having made the speech, the President was in a good mood. He had a broad grin as he toured the Iskandar Muda Cement Factory and waved to the workers. His mood was dampened when he had lunch with Syamsuddin Mahmud. Among all the things Syamsuddin talked about, he told the President that there was still “sentiment asking for amendments to the present Aceh Special Region Law to accommodate Sharia Law as the legal system in Aceh amongst cultural elders”.

    “If I accommodate them on Sharia Law can they guarantee that other provinces would not request the same, Mr. Governor?” asked the President before going on to give his answer “Muslims adhere to Sharia Law that much I agree with but Sharia Law is part of the private sphere. Beyond the private sphere, as far as I’m concerned, everyone has to adhere to Pancasila.”

    Edi Sudrajat, sitting besides Try, tried to change the topic about how GAM has gone dormant and can only become more dormant if more economic development was brought to Aceh. The President’s expression remained grim.

    By mid-afternoon, Try and his entourage was back on the Presidential Plane to Jakarta. He still looked grim and Edi picked up on this. He was about to speak when Try beat him to the punch.

    “So we’ve got terrorists and people still clamoring for Sharia Law”, muttered Try “Whatever their purposes they’re all people using religion as a shield.”

    “What do you intend to do, Mr. President?” asked Edi.

    “A show of force just to show them that I’m not going to stand idly by”, replied Try.

    ---
    Information on Agus Dwikarna and Parlindungan Siregar as well as their Al Qaeda and JI links are from Joseph H. Daves’ The Indonesian Army From Revolusi to Reformasi Volume 3: Soeharto’s Fall and the Reformasi Era. This is a book written by the US Embassy in Jakarta’s military attaché which I have. I highly recommend it. https://www.amazon.com/Indonesian-Army-Revolusi-Reformasi-Soehartos/dp/1492932434

    The lack of an economic and social crisis of the scale of May 1998 has removed the impetus for Try to move decisively on Chinese-Indonesians. No Chinese-Indonesians being targeted and suffering to such an extent (read: raped and killed) for the Government to think “OK maybe this ethnicity deserves not to be discriminated against” as the Habibie, Wahid, and Megawati Governments did in OTL.

    The choice of Lhokseumawe for Try to inaugurate the Acehnese projects mentioned is significant. Lhokseumawe is the largest city in the part of Aceh where the Free Aceh Movement is strongest.

    Try’s comments re: Sharia Law and Pancasila is based on OTL comments he made last year. https://nasional.tempo.co/read/1235073/try-sutrisno-patahkan-nkri-bersyariah-versi-pa-212

    Try’s itch to act against radicals and those in favor of Sharia Law is not without precedent. Though everybody remembers Soeharto’s regime for its anti-communism, they tend to forget that second on their list of public enemies are those using religion (Read: Islam) for political purposes. Try, together with Benny Moerdani, infamously cracked down on Islamist demonstrators in North Jakarta in 1984 with bloody results https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanjung_Priok_massacre (No spoilers on how this incident will impact on Try ITTL).

    China and Russia's treaty comes 6 months earlier than OTL and also under different circumstances (they're more confrontational towards the US) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Sino-Russian_Treaty_of_Friendship.
     
    Tidbits of Try's Indonesia: Television, Media, and Press
  • Tidbits of Try’s Indonesia: Television, Media, and Press

    Television Networks:
    By November 2000, Indonesians have access to 8 free-to-air television networks: TVRI, RCTI, SCTV, TPI, Anteve, Indosiar, Metro TV, and Republika TV.

    As a continuation of a practice put in place since the days of President Soeharto, all privately owned television networks are required to relay the TVRI’s Dunia Dalam Berita 9 PM news. Despite this however, it has been admitted by those in the media industry that in the 3 years of Try Sutrisno’s presidency that restrictions has been somewhat loosened to the point where it was possible to determine the editorial stances of the news of the various television networks. The most critical of the television networks were the TPI (owned by Tutut Soeharto) and SCTV (in which Soeharto cousin Sudwikatmono and Soeharto daughter Titiek had shares). The SCTV’s Liputan 6 news was the news channel to go to for those who wish to watch the Government’s “shortcomings” being exposed.

    A favorite of the Indonesian populace, as far as news coverage was concerned, was Indosiar’s Fokus which not only provided news updates throughout the day but also live coverage of unfolding events. Indosiar’s coming out party as far live news coverage goes came during the 1999 Cabinet Reshuffle when it covered all the day’s events from ministers and officials coming in to be summoned by the President right up to the Cabinet Reshuffle announcement itself. All this occurred while the TVRI meekly waited for “official word” to begin covering the news.

    The coverage of the 1999 Cabinet Reshuffle was only surpassed by the coverage of the Golkar Crisis in 2000. Such was the extent of Indosiar’s success in covering such events that when President Try issued his statement in Tokyo, Japan as he was about to fly back to Jakarta, the microphone immediately in front of him was an Indosiar rather than a TVRI microphone. Credit for Indosiar’s success in covering news items belonged to its production manager Wishnutama Kusubadio who said that though it was not perfect, “the present regime in its own way has given fresh air to the media industry”. Wishnutama scored a big win for Indosiar when it managed to contract Wimar Witoelar and his current affairs talkshow host Perspektif.

    This was not to say that the TVRI was not trying to improve itself. Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunication Ginandjar Kartasasmita’s decision to reverse the Soeharto Administration’s decision of banning commercials on TVRI served to provide TVRI with much needed revenue. CEO of TVRI Roni Sikap Sinuraya is presently using this to make investments to improve TVRI, including plans for TVRI’s 2nd Channel’s broadcasting hours to be expanded.

    In the short time that it has been in existence, Metro TV had quickly established a reputation as the “Rich People’s Channel”. The documentaries which it sought to broadcast to supplement its news programs were in practice English-language programs about news, life, culture, and even fashion in western countries. Those who aspire to such sometimes luxurious lifestyles to not say anything about Indonesia’s expatriate community became Metro TV’s demography. The flipside of this is that Metro has regular run-ins with the Department of Information, Post, and Telecommunications about the amount of foreign programming they put on their television.

    Republika TV, affiliated with ICMI, tended to have programs focusing on religion, religious life as well as technology, engineering, and the like. Though Habibie was no longer Chairman of ICMI, new Chairman of ICMI Nurcholish Madjid has signaled that he would not tinker around with the formula of the television channel though he asked the network to tone down on its pro-government stance.

    Sinetron (Soap Operas):
    One television series that became popular as the Asian Financial Crisis made its impact in Indonesia was the Keluarga Cemara (Pinetree Family). The show tells the story of a well-off family who falls into poverty because their life-savings was borrowed by a relative who blew the money all away in a bad business venture and in their bitter experience realized that “the most precious treasure is family”. Culture observers said that the show helped Indonesians cope with the Asian Financial Crisis with the notion that if the worst happened, they still had their families. Though as most observers noted, as bad as the crisis got, for most Indonesians things never got quite as bad as the Pinetree Family.

    The Pinetree Family began to lose popularity just as the nation got out of the crisis in early 2000. It was once again time to spend spend spend on various household goods and electrical appliances. The most precious treasure is family but for most Indonesians, by the end of 2000, the best way to appreciate family was to give them a material gift rather than love and companionship. Consumerism, it was said, became this Sinetron’s downfall.

    Another favorite with Indonesian TV watchers was Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (Doel the Schoolboy) which tells the story of Doel, an engineer graduate who overcame his low social circumstances to become an engineer but is still struggling to find employment. The series provided the nation with an example of art imitating life. In addition to his various struggles, Doel found himself becoming the head of the family after his father, a personality with a dominating presence in the family, had died. Whether coincidentally or not, just as Try Sutrisno grew into his role as president and became the pre-eminent figure in Indonesian politics, Doel too became a decisive and authoritative head of the family, as dominant as his father but in his own unique way.

    One Sinetron which the Government became interested in, in a negative way was Tersanjung (Flattered), which began broadcasting in April 1998 on Indosiar. It was not long before Tersanjung’s storyline in which the female protagonist is seduced and becomes pregnant, earned it a warning from the Department of Information, Post, and Telecommunications for going against “family values”.

    Tersanjung however was broadly popular and many wrote to newspapers and magazines asking for the Department of Information, Post, and Telecommunications not to intervene with “Crisis-time entertainment”. Wanting to pick its battles, the Department compromised by agreeing not to take any action but getting its producers to agree to move its broadcast time from 19.30 to 21.30 so that children won't be awake to watch such "inappropriate programming".

    Freedom of the Press:
    Much as with television, there has been a loosening of restrictions in terms of how critical one could get of the Government in print media. As Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications, Ginandjar Kartasasmita (1998-1999) was keen to show that the Government was taking a fresh stance. His successor, Oka Mahendra, was even less inclined to take tough action against media critical of the Government.

    Still this did not mean that Indonesia has become a “Freedom of the Press Heaven”. The Indonesian press has found themselves adjusting from self-censoring on topics that would be displeasing to Soeharto to topics that would be displeasing to Try. No print media would dare talk about the Tanjung Priok Incident in 1984, a crackdown on demonstrators which involved the then Commander of the Jakarta Regional Military Command Try Sutrisno.

    Soeharto was also off-limits. In May 1999, Time Magazine published “Suharto Inc” an article about the wealth of the Soeharto children. As much of a stir that this caused, it was said that the original draft of the article included mentions of Soeharto and Mrs. Tien Soeharto but that there was a request to remove mentions of them as a condition for publication. Still, the article was still controversial enough for the two Indonesian journalists who took part in the investigations to move and live in Hong Kong to avoid retribution from Soeharto’s supporters.

    The basic rule of thumb when it comes to criticism of the Government seems to be that criticisms of policies were most acceptable. The Government, for example, did not try to curb news about the Junior High School Textbooks Embezzlement Case which led to Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro’s removal from the Cabinet.

    Political maneuverings were acceptable provided there are quotes from both sides of the story. Sensitive political matters on the other hand were another story. When Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER) published an article in February 1999 about the budding rivalry between Try Sutrisno and Tutut Soeharto, the Government banned the publication for a week in Indonesia. It was not until the very public split between Try and Tutut in June 2000 and the destruction of Golkar as a result that Try and Tutut’s rivalry became something that was openly covered and something which the press could not get enough of covering.

    The only time the Government has had a real problem with something put out in print media has been in November 1998 when a mysterious brochure doing the rounds in Jakarta claimed that that President Try Sutrisno and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat had once fought over a widow. This has been chalked off by the Indonesian press as something that was understandable rather than censorship. The Government’s response was to allow the press to cover the news until such time as an official statement was released, at which time coverage has ceased.

    Though Try’s Government has not gone on a large crackdown on the press nor has it closed down newspapers and magazines the way Soeharto’s did in 1974, 1978, and 1994, no one’s taking anything for granted. While the likes of Jakob Oetama (Kompas) and Surya Paloh (Media Indonesia) try to play it safe and settle for less press restrictions under the President, the more activist-minded of the nation’s journalists are wary of the Government’s stance. Andreas Harsono of the Independent Journalists Association (AJI) an organization of journalists unrecognized by the Government, had this to say:

    “Ginandjar and the current Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Oka Mahendra are fond of saying that the Government has not closed down tempo.co.id or detik.com and that this is prove that the Government is in favor of the Freedom of the Press. But if they want to be consistent, why don’t they reverse the ban on the print editions of Tempo and Detik. Don’t mistake the Try Regime’s not adding anything to the Soeharto Regime’s policy towards the press for them loosening controls of it. And we should also remember that a prominent member of the President’s coalition is none other than Harmoko, who is definitely not a friend of Freedom of the Press”.

    ---
    I've had this in the pipeline for a while and have a few more editions of "Tidbits" in production just to freshen things up.
     
    112: Against The Extreme Right Part II
  • 26th January 2001:
    Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Head of Bulog Adang Ruchiatna reported to President Try today that rice imports have decreased from 1.8 million tons in 1999 to 870,,000 tons in 2000.

    The President met with Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, Commander of ABRI Wiranto, Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo, Chairman of BP-7 Agus Widjojo, Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro, Army Chief of Staff Luhut Panjaitan, and Chief of Police Yun Mulyana. All the participants were led into the Presidential Palace in a way that they would not be seen by the press.

    27th January 2001:
    The President had lunch with Vice President JB Sumarlin. Sumarlin reported that Indonesia’s treaty with Thailand is ready to be signed. The President said the he will come to Bangkok next month to sign the treaty.

    29th January 2001:
    Minister of Trade Anthony Salim, Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo, Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi, Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja, and Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu held a joint press conference. The ministers announced a Retail Sector Policy Package which covered the following:

    *Department Stores are now open for foreign investors with the condition that foreign department stores can only operate within a shopping mall.
    *Department stores may not expand into having a supermarket within its premises; supermarkets still closed to foreign investment.
    *Gas stations will no longer be the monopoly of Pertamina. Domestic, foreign, or joint ventures investments are welcome.
    *Application procedures to be a retailer in airports, ports, and railway stations to be simplied. Domestic and joint venture investments prioritized for domestic airport terminals, ports, and railway stations. Small business prioritized for railway stations.

    30th January 2001:
    It was 4 AM and reporters and cameramen alike were called to assemble, some still looking sleepy. In front of them, looking sleepy but grim were Wiranto, Ari Sudewo, and Soedjono C. Atmonegoro. Ari Sudewo began by going through the intelligence that he had (“We have reason to believe that there are persons living in Indonesia who are linked with international terrorists organizations and are seeking to form their own organizations here”).

    Wiranto spoke next saying that the President has authorized him to initiate Operation Sledgehammer. This operation was conducted and concentrated in South and Central Sulawesi with the Army Chief of Staff and the Chief of Police conducting direct supervision of the operations. Wiranto reported that during the operation, Agus Dwikarna and Parlindungan Siregar, two men with links to JI and Al Qaeda have been arrested. Operations were also conducted to apprehend members of the Sharia Enforcement Militia in Ujung Pandang. Most of the members of this organization has been arrested though some made escape. Wiranto further announced that Jafar Umar Thalib, the Head of a Salafist Islamic School in Yogyakarta has also been arrested and taken into Government custody.

    Last to speak was the Attorney General. Soedjono C. Atmonegoro said that the Government’s ground for taking this action is Presidential Resolution 11 of 1963 on Subversion. The people taken into custody, explained Soedjono, are those which are aiming to “overturn, undermine or abuse the state ideology of Pancasila…” and can thus be deemed to have committed the crime of subversion.

    As the nation woke up to this news, the Government deployed two spokespersons in the form of Quraish Shihab and Agus Widjojo. Throughout the day, the two appeared on various channels with Quraish allaying fears that this “had something to do with religion” while Agus said that this was a “an ideological as much as a security measure”.

    31st January 2001:
    Chairwoman of PKPB Tutut Soeharto held a press conference in which she said that while she agrees in principle with what the Government was doing against the “extreme right”, she believes that people were within reason to worry that this “had something to do with religion and the religion being persecuted.”

    The President met with Chairman of DPR Harmoko and then held a joint press conference afterwards. Harmoko declared the DPR’s support for the steps taken by the Government but all the attention was on the President who were asked various questions. He repeated Quraish’s assurance that operation had nothing to do with religion. Instead it had more to do with 3 dimensions.

    “There’s the economic dimension because the process of economic development can’t progress properly if there are those wishing to do damage to this nation still running about, there’s a security dimension because these people are for all intents and purposes terrorists and there’s an ideological dimension as well because these people are part of the Extreme Right”, explained the President.

    1st February 2001:
    The President met with JB Sumarlin, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Governor of BI Boediono, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, and Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman.

    Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti reported about the US economic slowdown and the fact that the US Federal Reserve had cut its rate twice in January to cope with this, the last rate cut being yeserday. Dorodjatun also noted Prime Minister of Japan Koichi Kato’s policies of wanting to cut back on spending having the short-term effect of further slowing down Japan’s economy in the short term. The President asked what would be the impact of this, Sumarlin said that it could mean less demand for Indonesian exports from these two countries and less tourists from these two countries.

    Boediono reported that in terms of inflation and interest rates, he prefers to see how the US economy will do in the next few months. There is strong aggregate demand as can only be generated by an economy growing at 11.4% but the risk here is that if interest rates are raised to keep inflation under control, the situation in the US and Japan being what it is, the economy risks becoming too slow.

    After discussions, the President said that the main aim for 2001 economically is to build on last year’s economic growth and not have last year being a fluke. He instructed for an economic policy package to be prepared.

    2nd February 2001:
    The President had his Friday prayers and lunch with Chairman of NU Abdurrahman Wahid and Chairman of Muhammadiyah Amien Rais. The two men publicly came out in strong support of the President. Privately they expressed strong support as well but cautioned the President against “repeatedly using such powers, excessively using such powers, or using such powers against those against who were not ideological extremists.” The President agreed.

    “He holds in his hands the same fearsome power that Soekarno and Soeharto once had”, said Amien as he held Wahid’s arm as they both waited for their respective cars.

    “Fearsome to those who might think of blindsiding him one day maybe”, said Wahid wrily “I’m just praying that he will be a better man than those two gentlemen.”

    4th February 2001:
    The Presidential Airplane landed at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea around noon and the President was welcomed by Papua New Guinea Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Somare. Immediately going into the Presidential car, President Try and First Lady Tuti Setiawati then went to Government House where they were welcomed by Governor-General of Papua New Guineas Silas Atopare. There were handshakes and then the playing of the two nations’ national anthems. There was a welcome lunch as well.

    After Atopare, it was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Mekere Morauta’s turn to meet with the President. Try and Morauta greeted each other warmly. There was a preliminary meeting before the two was seen taking a walk through one of Port Moresby’s supermarkets. With Morauta beaming beside him, Try posed for pictures holding packets of Indomie noodles. From there, he went to the Indonesian Embassy to Papua New Guinea where he had a meet and greet session with the Indonesian community in Papua New Guinea and answered questions from them.

    5th February 2001:
    Try, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Trade Anthony Salim, Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja, Edi Sudrajat, and Governor of Irian Jaya Jacob Pattipi had a breakfast meeting which turned into a long morning conference about cooperation in various areas. Across the table were Morauta, Minister of Finance Michael Ogjo, Michael Somare, and Minister of Industry and Trade Tukape Masani.

    At the joint press conference afterwards, Try and Morauta announced the various agreements the two Governments came to agreement to which included:

    *Increasing the frequency of Garuda Indonesia flights from Jayapura to Port Moresby from once a week to 3 times a week.
    *Papua New Guinea to rehabilitate its roads so that it can link Jayapura with the tourist town of Vanimo.
    *Papua New Guinea to set up tourism promotion offices in Jayapura and Tembagapura to attract foreigners residing in the province to visit Papua New Guinea. The Department of Tourism will similarly set up tourism promotion offices in Port Moresby and Lae to encourage tourism to Irian Jaya.

    On political matters, during the press conference, Morauta said that the way Indonesia has given special region status to East Timor and Irian Jaya has provided a model which Papua New Guinea could learn from in terms of its relationship to the Bougainville Province. When asked for his thoughts on the Papua New Guinea’s situation with Bougainville, the President just said “I’m not into the business of commenting on nation’s internal affairs.”

    The last engagement to the day for the President was a tour of the National Museum of Papua New Guinea where he was accompanied by Ginandjar and Edi Sudrajat while Morauta was accompanied by Somare. The museum was closed off so the small group had all the exhibits to themselves and all the opportunity to discuss the big issues.

    Morauta began by laying his cards on the table and expressed his desire that Papua New Guinea be accorded a membership or at least an associate membership in ASEAN because Papua New Guinea had been an observer long before Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar became members. Try said that he will consider this. Morauta added however that failing this, he would be all right having good bilateral relations with Indonesia where Papua New Guinea would utilize Indonesia as a “gateway” to Southeast Asia. Try welcomed this but joked that he hopes Australia, which provides most of Papua New Guinea’s aid, would not take closer relations with Indonesia the wrong way.

    It was then Try’s turn to lay his cards on the table. He said he would like Papua New Guinea to be Indonesia’s gateway for closer relations with Melaenesian nations. Morauta said that the likes of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands had sympathies for the Free Papua Movement (OPM) and he wondered if Indonesia would be welcome there. Speaking frankly, Morauta asks what were Indonesia’s strategic ambitions towards Melanesian nations. Try said that Indonesia’s ambitions were only for economic and cultural links to nations immediately to its east and that its “real ambitions” were in Southeast Asia.

    “Failing to have economic and cultural links towards the Melanesian nations, I’d settle for good bilateral relations with Papua New Guinea”, joked Try to which Morauta laughed.

    6th February 2001:
    The morning was spent making farewell calls to Atopare and Morauta. When he shook hands with Morauta, the latter said said that he believes what Try is saying about “Indonesia’s ambitions” is true and that he will “watch Indonesia’s back” as far as the Melanesian nations and the remnants of the OPM were concerned. He only asks for continued Indonesian investment and economic cooperation with Papua New Guinea though progress on Papua New Guinea being a member of ASEAN would be “good”. Try shook hands with Morauta and thanked him before departing and heading for the Jacksons International Airport.

    The President was just starting to relax and settle for a flight when Edi returned to his side and informed him that Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has announced at the UMNO General Assembly that he will be resigning the prime ministership with the formal handover subject to an UMNO Presidential Election being held within the week. Try massaged his temples.

    Some 7 hours later, at 4 PM local time, the Presidential Airplane touched down at Canberra Airport in Australia. He was welcomed at a ceremony at Government House where he stood next to Governor-General William Deane as the Indonesian and Australian National Anthems played. He shook hands with Prime Minister of Australia Peter Costello and Opposition Leader Kim Beazley and engaged with small talk with them. Costello congratulated him and told him that he was the first Indonesian President to visit Australia since Soeharto in 1975.

    ---
    2001 is going to be busy ladies and gents. Both domestically and in foreign affairs.

    The legal grounds the Government used for taking action against the radicals was Presidential Resolution 11 of 1963 on Subversion which was formulated by Soekarno and ratified by Soeharto. Its infamous because it’s very prone to abuse. It says that undermining the State Ideology is considered to be subversion but it doesn’t specify what undermining the State Ideology is. This Presidential Resolution can be found here (http://hukum.unsrat.ac.id/pres/penpres1963_11.pdf)

    So the Government got the guys linked with Al Qaeda and Jafar Umar Thalib who OTL formed Laskar Jihad. Abu Bakar Bashir is in hiding in Malaysia (He went back into Indonesia with Soeharto’s fall). The guys involved with the OTL Bali Bombings are in hiding ITTL after Amrozi assassinated Chairman of BP7 Soegiarto on 9th February 2000. I’m going to explore the “There were no terrorists in Soeharto’s time” that gets put forward about by OTL Soeharto Nostalgics in this TL.

    The developments in the US Economy at this stage is as OTL.

    ITTL Malaysia in case anyone hasn’t noticed is going through something similar to OTL Indonesia though not as bad. It officially hasn’t recovered yet from the economic crisis, it’s been hit by a terrorist attack (Sipadan Hostage Situation), and its leadership is unstable with Mahathir being replaced in 1998 and now Badawi resigning.
     
    113: The Religion Card
  • 7th February 2001:
    President Try Sutrisno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, State Minister of National Security Soerjadi, and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat sat across the table from Australia’s Prime Minister Peter Costello, Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Foreign Affairs Philip Ruddock, Minister for Defense Peter Reith, and Attorney General Daryl Williams. The following were discussed and agreed upon:

    *Regarding the general international situation: Try and Costello agreed that regardless of what happens between the United States and China/Russia, the best thing for Indonesia and Australia is to keep channels of open communication. To that end, the President and Prime Minister agreed to have annual consultations between both nations’ ministers of foreign affairs and defense.

    *The topic of Indonesia increasing its defense spending was broached. The conversation turned a bit testy with Reith saying that this could make some elements in Australia nervous. Wismoyo retorted by asking whether Indonesia should be worried about Australia as well since it just produced a Defense White Paper the previous year. Try explained that defense spending had been neglected in the past 3 decades under Soeharto and he would like to make a shift on this. Try also said that the defense spending was so that Indonesia’s military capabilities would not fall behind “others in the region”. Ruddock immediately understood this to mean China.

    *On China itself, Costello said that politically Australia remains aligned with the United States but says that increasingly Australia’s economic future will depend on its ties to China so that was Australia’s dilemma. Try said that his concern with China is that it is throwing its weight around in Southeast Asia and says that it effectively has two seats in ASEAN if it manages to consolidate its ties with Cambodia and now potentially Malaysia.

    The two’s joint press conference at the Prime Minister’s courtyard at the New Parliament House went well but for a protester carrying a sign saying “Free East Timor and Irian Jaya!”.

    After midday, Try gave an address to the Australian Parliament. His speech, which included him saying that was in Indonesia’s interest to have a close and productive relationship with Australia was very well-received. One member of the Australian Parliament, Laurie Brereton, boycotted the speech due to his pro-East Timor independence sentiments.

    Together with Chief of Australian Defence Force Chris Barrie, the President visited the Royal Military College Duntroon. He ended the day with an official dinner at the Parliament House.

    8th February 2001:
    Breakfast was with Opposition Leader Kim Beazley and Opposition Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Lindsay Tanner. The President and Ginandjar discussed largely similar issues. Beazley, a former Minister for Defense in the Hawke Prime Ministership sent his regards to Benny Moerdani.

    After a meet and greet at the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, the President and his delegation hopped on the Presidential Airplane and arrived at Sydney. The first item on the agenda was lunch with the Australia Indonesia Business Council where the President delivered a speech where he expressed his desire that Indonesia’s “Great economic year in 2000 does not become a one time thing”. Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Minister of Trade Anthony Salim, Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu joined him for this leg of the trip, mingling, promoting, and receiving investments in business prospects in Indonesia. The evening and night saw the President visiting the Sydney Opera House and climbing the Centrepoint tower.

    Back in Jakarta, Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas and Minister of Legal Affairs Marzuki Darusman announced that the PNI’s application to become a political party has been accepted.

    9th February 2001:
    After a breakfast meet and greet with the Indonesian community in Sydney at the Sydney Consulate-General, the President stopped by the residence of former Prime Minister Paul Keating. In the small press conference afterwards, Try said that he came to thank Keating for his contributions in Indonesia-Australia relations. Keating said that Indonesia was in good hands with Try at its helm.

    After Friday Prayer, the President and First Lady Tuti Setiawati headed to the Prime Minister’s Sydney residence at Kirribilli House where they had lunch with Costello and Prime Ministerial Spouse Tanya Costello. Lunch was served and afterwards, while the ladies toured the place, the President and the Prime Minister chatted with the spectacular views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House as their background. Costello broached the topic of Indonesia’s policy towards Southeast Asia in recent times.

    “During the Cold War there were 5, later 6 with Brunei, nations in Southeast Asia and we moved as a bloc. When the Cold War was over, 6 became 10 and now we’re back in what looks to be another Cold War so we need to be sure that we move as a bloc again, Mr. Prime Minister”, said Try “Going from a first among equals to leader status in Southeast Asia is a happy byproduct. I'm more concerned about borrowing the other 9 nations in Southeast Asia's combined strengths to stand up to China. I know we can't do this by ourselves.”

    “So you are standing up to China?” asked Costello.

    “It’s a geographical accident that Indonesia’s seen as standing up to China”, replied Try “They just happen to be the ones trying to expand their influence into Southeast Asia and we’re trying to prevent that.”

    “I suppose I could ask you to drift closer to the United States”, said Costello “But I know you probably still remember the fact that they made you choose between immediate exit from the IMF program and tilting the balance of the IMF Managing Directors’ Vote.”

    Try just smiled. After some more discussions, Try bid farewell to Costello. He called on Governor-General Deane next door to farewell him as well. At Kingsford Smith International Airport, he was joined by his ministers.

    As the plane took off, the President asked Soerjadi for an analysis of the visits to Papua New Guinea and Australia.

    “Papua New Guinea should be okay so long as we keep strengthening our economic ties with them. Australia doesn’t want to jeopardize its economic relationship with China by being too overtly pro-US so it will allow us to do the dirty work of putting a check on China's growing power”, said Soerjadi “I’d say you’re good to go in Southeast Asia, Mr. President.”

    10th February 2001:
    The President, now back in Jakarta, placed a phonecall of congratulations to newly sworn in Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak. Najib thanked the President and said that he will see him at the D-8 Summit.

    12th February 2001:
    State Minister of Poverty Alleviation Hemas emerged from a meeting at the Presidential Palace. She announced that President Try has approved of a new poverty alleviation program to replace the Left Behind Vilages Inpres. Hemas explained that this will involve upgrading the District Development Program within the Department of Home Affairs into a cross-departmental cross-ministerial integrated program. Details will follow in the coming months.

    Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Oka Mahendra issued a letter announcing that the magazine Salafi which was run by the now arrested Jafar Umar Thalib is now banned. A similar ban will now be applied to As-Sunnah magazine operating out of Solo. Printing and distributing of the magazine will cease immediately. Oka Mahendra also said in the letter that the Department of Information, Post, and Telecommunications will be working together with ABRI to ensure the ban was in place.

    13th February 2001:
    The President and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat today joined Chairman of BP-7 Agus Widjojo and a P4 Training Batch to pay their respects at the tomb of former Chairman of BP-7 Soegiarto at the Heroes Cemetery in Kalibata, Jakarta. Soegiarto was assassinated by Jemaah Islamiyah operative Amrozi last year. Fronting the cameras, Edi Sudrajat and Agus Widjojo both said that the ideological struggle against Pancasila’s opponents is a very much a real and ongoing one.

    At a conference at Megawati Soekarnoputri’s private residence, the provincial leaders of the PNI agreed on the following leadership composition to lead the PNI to the 2002 Elections.

    *Chairwoman: Megawati Soekarnoputri
    *Secretary: Alex Litaay
    *Treasurer: Laksamana Sukardi

    In her first act as Chairwoman of the PNI, Megawati appointed Sutjipto as the PNI’s Chairman of the Election Campaign.

    14th February 2001:
    With Minister of Employment and Small Business Fahmi Idris and Governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso by his side, the President opened the Small Business Expo at the Jakarta Convention Center. It was an exhibition where some of the the nation’s successful small businesses were selected to have a stand so that they can show off their products and network with each other. After delivering a speech extolling small businesses, the President toured the stands at hand.

    Try walked and asked questions, hearing stories about how people set up their businesses. Invariably it begins with an office worker being laid off or a university graduate not being able to find work. They use family members or friends or friend of friends as business partners and they find themselves with a new business. These businesses started off being smalltime operations but as they became good at what they did and the economy recovered, these businesses grew and became their permanent source of income. As these businesses grew, its owners began to make real investments, and many businesses which in 1998 started out as something they ran from their bedroom or living room or kitchen were now cake shops and cafes, language courses, printing shops, clothing stores, tutoring centers and many others being run out of the nation’s shop-houses.

    “They rode the wave of economic recovery to become real businesses, Mr. President”, said Fahmi Idris “And they’re inspiring many others around the nation to become entrepreneurs.”

    Try shook hands and had his photo taken with many of these small businesspeople; the more politically vocal among them telling him not to “lose to Tutut.”

    15th February 2001:
    The President met with Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo. Ari Sudewo reported that the move against Agus Dwikarna, Parlindungan Siregar, the Sharia Enforcement Militia, and Jafar Umar Thalib and its Islamic school has caused shockwaves. It has shown Al Qaeda and JI that Indonesia is not ripe for its world view and to be on the receiving end of an attack though vigilance will still be required.

    Based on intelligence chatter, Al Qaeda Second-in-Command Ayman Zawalhiri has been in contact with Hambali telling him that unless the situation in Indonesia “suitable” and unless there is a clear “opportunity”, then Al Qaeda would have to leave JI to its own devices. The President asked what was Al Qaeda going to do now, Ari said that Al Qaeda was just going to focus “its existing operations”.

    “This is all good but do keep your eyes on what JI is doing or isn’t doing”, said Try “Keep track as well on what Al Qaeda’s doing especially the guy you said has been in Indonesia, attended the terrorist summit in Kuala Lumpur and is now in the United States.”

    “The guy taking the flying lessons, Mr. President?” asked Ari.

    “Yeah, that guy”, replied Try “Keep a watch on him.”

    16th February 2001:
    It was a good day for the DPR as Chairman of DPR Harmoko presided over the passing of the President’s 2001/2002 Budget. There was a loud applause from the PKPI members when Harmoko declared that the Budget had been passed.

    The final say that day belonged to the PKPB. Leader of PKPB Hartono held a press conference. With all of PKPB’s members standing with him, Leader of the PKPB in the DPR Hartono announced that the PKPB members in the DPR will be using their constitutional right proposing the following bills:

    *The Zakat Bill which will seek to give legal acknowledgement, protection, and management of Zakat.

    *The Wakaf Bill which will seek to give legal acknowledgement, protection, and management of a Wakaf endowment.

    At the State Secretariat, Edi Sudrajat watched this unfold on the television. He buzzed into the President’s office but the President’s Aide-De-Camp Col. Budiman said the President’s going through paperwork and doesn’t want to be disturbed. Edi told Budiman not to bother the President.

    “Well these bills don’t have anything to do with anything except for the fact it concerns the majority of Indonesians”, said Hartono to the press “And as we said in our statement, it should be no problem at all to pass these bills.”

    “The religion card...”, muttered Edi.

    ---
    I’ve got Australia here borrowing Indonesia’s “hand” to put a check on China because it doesn’t want to be seen to be standing up to China and lose their economic relationship.

    As-Sunnah magazine' being in the same boat as Salafy magazine is as found at https://books.google.co.id/books?id...6AEILDAA#v=onepage&q=As Sunnah salafy&f=false

    Note that while Jafar Umar Thalib is not in favor of violence, the point that is being made ITTL is that ITTL Indonesian Government is not distinguishing between groups. What it considers the Extreme Right, it will go after.

    Megawati's Secretary and Treasurer for the PNI here are her OTL Secretary and Treasurer when she was Chairwoman of PDI from 1993-1996. It's supposed to show that Mega sees her being Chairwoman of the PNI as a continuation of being Chairwoman of the PDI.

    Just wanted to show a glimpse of how people are doing ITTL. Essentially people who have become unemployed as a result of the crisis turn to running businesses from home and then when the economy recovered, it became real businesses because they have a good economic condition with which to expand.

    The religion card…as popular ITTL as it is OTL in Indonesia.
     
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    Tidbits of Try's Indonesia: Film and Books
  • Kuldesak (Cul-De-Sac):
    While Daun Di Atas Bantal (Leaf On A Pillow) became the Government’s darling and promoted by its embassies overseas, Kuldesak was seen as rain on an otherwise sunny day. In July 1998, the Government was made aware of the movie Kuldesak, a movie taking an anthology format with 4 joint directors; Riri Riza, Nan Achnas, Mira Lesmana and Riza Mantovani. It was finished, it was looking for distribution, and then it was found that its production had not been registered with the Department of Information, Post, and Telecommunications. The 4 directors had decided to disclose in part because they wanted to see whether or not “Try was the same as Soeharto”. The Department frowned that the movie had not been registered with it before it was being made but Ginandjar allowed the movie to be released but only as a direct-to-VCD release where it gained a cult following through watch parties held by university students.

    Film Industry:
    The film industry was going through a process of struggle and stagnation during the first few years of the Try presidency. In part this was due to a barrier of entry in the shape of a requirement for aspiring directors to serve as assistant directors in 5 movies before they could become directors. It was also in part because of an inefficient distribution system which was pretty much a monopoly and tended to favor imported over national films in the nation’s cinemas. While established studios and actors, to not say anything about studios which produced what was essentially softcore porn, were able to steer their way through the industrial maze, aspiring directors struggled.

    First-time director Rudi Sudjarwo blazed a trail when he made an unlikely partner out of CEO of TVRI Roni Sikap Sinuraya. The former wanted a channel to distribute his film and the latter wanted to freshen up TVRI in the face of competition from the other channels. Thus it was that Rudi’s first movie Bintang Jatuh broadcasted on TVRI in February 2000 on TVRI’s Saturday Night timeslot with 7 more repeat broadcasts of the movie all of which were responses to the audience’s demand. The movie was shown uninterrupted by advertising with the advertising itself being run on tickers at the bottom of the screen.

    It was an arrangement that got other aspiring directors and moviemakers knocking on TVRI’s door. To the point where by the middle of 2000, the TVRI had formed a selection committee to decide which aspiring directors can have their movies broadcasted in what became TVRI’s Filmmakers’ Cinema; the term “filmmakers” being used in this case so that TVRI could get around regulations because the regulations only referred to directors rather “filmmakers”.

    Despite the cozy arrangements, the Indonesian film industry knew that its arrangements with the TVRI were temporary. The aim was always for Indonesian films to flourish and be shown to audiences on the big rather than the small screen otherwise it was thought that the industry would never grow.

    Though she received critical acclaim for her starring role in Bintang Jatuh, the state of the film industry was such that Dian Sastrowardoyo thought that she was better of concentrating on her Management Degree at the University of Indonesia so she could become a journalist and maybe getting into business to help pay for her education.

    For the first 18 months or so of Try’s Presidency, the film industry was confused over who had responsibility over it. Regulation of the film industry was under the Department of Information, Post, and Telecommunication but its promotion fell under the Department of Tourism. The President rectified this somewhat by creating a Junior Ministry of Arts and Culture and appointing Subrata to the position of junior minister.

    Subrata’s first real exposure to the film industry since becoming minister came at the Bandung Film Festival in April 2000. There he was able to gauge the opinions of those within the film industry be they producers, directors, and actors as they reported the problems they faced. These problems were underlined when the Film Festival failed to name a Best Indonesian Movie. When asked they told Subrata that they had not named a best movie since 1992.

    Through patient lobbying, Subrata was able to gain approval from the President to hold the first Indonesian Film Festival since 1993 and successfully asked the President to attend. Gaining the appreciation of the film industry, Subrata told his stakeholders to make their case about the film industry to the President at the Indonesian Film Festival in March 2001.

    Books:
    The Buru Tetralogy by Pramoedya Ananta Toer remained banned by Attorney General’s Office, which is in charge of banning literature. In May 1998, Pramoedya’s publishers Hasta Mitra wrote a letter to the Attorney General’s Office asking if there was going to be a change of policy on the Buru Tetralogy. A letter came back stating that there was no plan on the part of the Government to change the policy anytime soon on the Buru Tetralogy or on any works of Pramoedya’s deemed to be spreading Marxism-Leninism. Pramoedya himself only muttered cynically that he “Expected nothing less from Soeharto’s Successor”.

    One book that is widely available was President Soeharto: The Final Years by former Vice Chairman of the DPR Abdul Gafur. It was released in 1999 and acted as a sequel to Soeharto’s 1989 Autobiography. The book advanced the thesis, widely accepted among Tutut supporters, that Soeharto laid down the foundations for Indonesia’s economic recovery and that President Try “merely” built upon what Soeharto had begun. Though it was a book which tried to highlight Soeharto at the expense of Try, there was not much the Government could do if it wanted to because the foreword was written by the President himself during his period of “fake peace” with Tutut.

    One reader who was not satisfied with the thesis the book put forward was Soedradjad Djiwandono. Recently resigned as Minister of Economics and National Development Planning, Soedradjad finally got around to reading it and decided that he was going to write a book to counter the arguments countered in Gafur’s book.

    ---
    Some more tidbits this time focusing on film and books. I'm intending for some of the information placed here to be a backstory for some of the things that happen in the main timeline.
     
    114: A Lot On His Plate
  • 17th February 2001:
    “The President’s just taken a strong stance on the Extreme Right and they come up with this?!” asked State Secretary Edi Sudrajat “It can’t be a coincidence.”

    “It’s not. It’s designed to put him in a tricky situation”, said Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas “Pass these bills into law and it can be taken that there is a chink in the President’s stance towards the Extreme Right.”

    “It’s not the first time they’ve done this”, interjected Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo “2 years ago when the Banking Law was being amended, they made a fight out of getting Sharia Banking to be recognized in the law though it ended up not being recognized.”

    “The Banking Law was crucial for economic recovery, we had to work through that regardless of the obstacles they placed”, explained President Try “But these 2 bills they’ve just proposed…”

    “It doesn’t have to become law, make it tough for them in the DPR. It has to line up behind more high priority bills, right, Mr. President?” asked OCDS Sugeng Subroto.

    “Sure, Sugeng”, said the President “But that’ll just play into the hands of our opponents. It’ll give them ammunition to try and get the support of those who think I’m leading an anti-Islam government, including those who have a grievance with that incident involving the two of us at Tanjung Priok.”

    “Gentlemen, you’re really being party poopers here”, interrupted First Lady Tuti Setiawati as she appeared from behind Try.

    Trying to forget his job for the moment, the President stood up and mingled with the guests at the event he was attending, shaking hands and having his photo taken.

    Though her birthday was last week, it was Susi Susanti’s 30th birthday party and the female badminton gold medal winner had invited the President and the First Lady as well. When the President was about to leave she and her husband, fellow badminton gold medal winner Alan Budikusuma, saw him off. Try had a special bond with the pair; between 1985 and 1993, as the Chairman of the All-Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), Try oversaw the preparations that led to the pair’s famous runs at the 1992 Olympic Games.

    On the way back to the Presidential Palace, the First Lady showed the President some giftbags. In addition to being Susi’s birthday party, the party Try attended was also Susi and Alan’s 4th Wedding Anniversary. Tuti reminisced about how she and Try, who were then still Second Lady and Vice President, attended the reception.

    As much as he tried, the President remembered at the time of their wedding, in spite of the fact that they had won gold medals for the nation, Susi and Alan had suffered administrative difficulties on account of them being of Chinese ethnicity. Susi was unable to produce a Proof of Indonesian Citizenship Letter (SBKRI), a letter which Chinese-Indonesians had to have and for which it was complicated (ie. bribes were requirred) to obtain. It took Susi publicly complaining about bureaucratic hurdles for her to finally be able to obtain her SBKRI.

    Try thought deeply about this situation.

    19th February 2001:
    The President’s mood did not improve. His first meeting for the week was with Edi Sudrajat and Deputy State Secretary Soedibyo Rahardjo. The 3 sat down to discuss the matter of the divestment of Freeport shares to Indonesia which the President ordered the State Secretariat to study into the previous month. Soedibyo explained everything on the table about the contract.

    The Contract of Work signed between the Indonesian Government and Freeport in 1991 stipulated that Freeport will divest 9.36% of its shares to an Indonesian entity (be it Government, state-owned enterprises, or private enterprise) within 10 years of signing of the contract. Considering the Indonesian Government began with 9.36% in 1967, this will double Indonesia’s share in Freeport. Then starting from 2001, Freeport was to divest 2% of its shares in the mine each year to the Government until Government stake in the mine reaches 51%.

    Things went awry in its implementation. In 1992, the second 9.36% of Freeport which was Indonesia’s share was purchased by Aburizal Bakrie’s PT. Indocopper. But then Bakrie sold 49% of his shares in Indocopper to Freeport. In 1997, Bakrie followed this up by selling his remaining shares to Bob Hasan, a close associate of Soeharto’s. Bob Hasan in turn is still in the process of selling his shares to Freeport, a process which will be completed in 2002.

    “So we’re back at 9.36% shares in Freeport”, said Edi “What about the annual divestment of 2% of shares they’re suppose to begin this year?”

    Soedibyo explained Contract of Work signed between the Indonesian Government and Freeport in 1991 stipulated that in the event of the Government enacting a divestment policy that was more “lenient” than the one in the contract, it can choose to adhere to the more lenient policy.

    “Does this more lenient policy exist that Freeport could say that they feel they don’t have to divest anything?” asked the President.

    “It does Mr. President”, explained Soedibyo “They cite a regulation from 1994 signed by President Soeharto allowing foreign investors to hold 100% shares in their companies. The rules apply to mining companies as well.

    "So they actually do have grounds for not divesting their shares", said Try.

    "Correct, Mr. President", replied Soedibyo.

    20th February 2001:
    Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab was overseeing some of the final departees for the Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia when he received questions about the Zakat and Wakaf Bills. Quraish said that such bills must be studied carefully.

    Head of BSN Ardiansyah Parman came out of a meeting with the President saying that it will be compulsory for toys made for children under 14 years old to adhere to the Indonesian National Standards (SNI). Toys were widely produced, sold, and bought for both domestic consumption and exports the previous year. But some incidents of lead poisoning amongst children in 2000 led to the Government deciding to take action.

    21st February 2001:
    Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman announced today that the President had issued a Presidential Instruction regarding General Strategy of Obtaining and Utilizing Foreign Currency Reserves For The Sake of Economic Development. It contained the following instructions:

    *The Minister of Economics and National Development Planning to conduct overall supervision and coordination as to the obtainment and utilization of foreign currency.
    *The Minister of Finance to place barriers on non-essential goods coming into the country.
    *The Minister of Trade to identify new markets for Indonesia’s exports.
    *The Minister of Industry to, without sacrificing quality and, identify cheaper sources of imports for the purposes of increasing Indonesia’s industrial production. Imports does not lessen the necessity for Indonesia to increase industrial production.
    *The Minister of Agriculture to increase agricultural production so Indonesia can redirect its foreign currency as well. At the same time, the agricultural sector must be directed to add value so that agricultural exports can be increased.
    *The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to direct the fisheries sector to fully utilize the nation’s fisheries sector and direct the fisheries sector to add value so that fisheries exports can be increased.
    *The Minister of Tourism to identify new tourist markets and establish new tourism place.
    *The Head of the BNP2TKI to conduct an “internal clean up” to ensure returning migrant workers could hold on to the money earned overseas.

    “The goal is to build upon economic growth from last year, make sure economic growth is sustainable, and continue to be on our way to prosperity”, said Hayono when explaining the goals of the Presidential Instruction.

    22nd February 2001:
    The President today swore in the following at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace:

    -Maj. Gen. Slamet Kirbiantoro as Governor of Central Sulawesi
    -Prof. Juwono Sudarsono B.A., M.S., M.A., Ph.D as Ambassador to the United Nations
    -Prof. Dr. Bambang Sudibyo M.A as an Inspector General of Development to fill the slot left behind by the now Junior Minister of Cooperatives Cacuk Sudarijanto.

    After the ceremony, the President accompanied by Vice President JB Sumarlin, fronted the press which had gathered to record the event.

    “The Government is studying the Zakat and Wakaf Bills. I'm certain an answer after I get back from my trip”, said the President.

    ---
    Try's comments to Sugeng Subroto refer to Sugeng being Try's second in command at the Jakarta Regional Military Command during the Tanjung Priok Incident.

    Susi Susanti’s birthday is 11th February 1971. Her wedding anniversary is 9th February 1997. There’s a movie recently about her in Indonesia in which Try Sutrisno is played by the actor Farhan.

    Freeport has landed on Try’s plate. Information given here is drawn from CNBC Indonesia’s website https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20180112160028-4-1350/riwayat-divestasi-freeport-ke-indonesia

    The Presidential Instruction is fictional and represents Indonesia’s economic target for 2001 which is not wanting the strong economic performance of 2000 to be a one-time thing.
     
    115: Largest In The Islamic World & Largest In Southeast Asia
  • 23rd February 2001:
    At 9 AM Egyptian time, the Presidential Airplane bringing President Try Sutrisno landed in Cairo, Egypt. Prime Minister of Egypt Ateif Ebeid and Minister of Foreign Affairs Amr Moussa welcomed the President on the tarmac. The first stop was the Heliopolis Palace where President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak gave Try a warm embrace prior to the playing of the national anthems.

    After lunch, Try was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat while Mubarak was accompanied by Moussa and Chief of the Egyptian General Intelligence Services (EGIS) Omar Suleiman. Mubarak congratulated Try on the latter’s move against Al Qaeda and JI elements in Indonesia and said that “Egypt draws strength from it”. Try granted Mubarak’s request for intelligence sharing and cooperation as it relates to “Extremism”.

    Ginandjar asked for information about what the situation in the Middle East is. Moussa and Suleiman gave their explanation. Among the information that Try received was that after the Camp David Summit in July 2000, the United States was increasingly focused on containing Russia’s influence. In the Middle East so far that meant being wary of President of Russia Yevgeny Primakov’s knowledge of the Arab world and what he was going to do with that knowledge.

    The Israel-Palestinian conflict got less priority, at least for now and it had largely been Egypt and the other members of the Arab League who were handling the situation. Mubarak said that for the moment he’s glad Prime Minister Ehud Barak had continued to hold on to power. Despite enjoying support within Israel, the hawkish Opposition Leader Ariel Sharon was handicapped by his Russian Jewish origin and Barak took advantage of this and McCain’s suspicion of “Anything Russian” to hold on to the prime ministership while inviting Sharon into the Government.

    There was a state dinner at the Heliopolis Palace that night. Mubarak in his toast hailed Try’s “coming of age as a statesman” saying that Try had matured in his comprehension of foreign affairs.

    24th February 2001:
    Try, First Lady Tuti Setiawati, and their delegation went out early to witness sunrise at the Pyramids of Giza. The bus trip there was a chance for an informal meeting with Minister of Trade Anthony Salim reporting that there was a market for Indonesian coffee in Egypt.

    From the pyramids, the President and his delegation attended the opening session of the Developing 8 (D-8 Summit). When it came time for him to make his speech, Try called for economic cooperation so that economies recovered from recent crises can have sustained economic growth and those still recovering to be given assistance and leniency.

    Though primarily an economic cooperation organization, the main insight Try got from the trip was that there was support for his actions against Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah. Amidst talk of exchanging trade delegations and an expression of support for Bangladesh to host the Non-Aligned Movement that year (“Now the NAM is more important than ever”), Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina said that she “wished” she could take action like that which Try took; Hasina expressing concern that the Opposition in Bangladesh was making a coalition with Islamists.

    President of Iran Mohammad Khatami, from a country led by a theocracy, expressed approval with what he had done though perhaps it was a Shia expressing approval of action being taken against Sunni extremists. Khatami however was grim saying that Iran would be forced to drift to Russia and China if McCain will do what he pledged to do as a candidate with the rogue state rollback. Try said that he hoped it would not come to that.

    What concerned Try was Turkey. Prime Minister of Turkey Bulent Ecevit spoke of the Lira losing its value, increase in unemployment and the IMF’s conditionalities. Worst, Ecevit had fallen out with President of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer over the handling of the economy. After he left the meeting, Try wondered whether things would’ve gone like that in Indonesia if he had mishandled the economy upon assuming power. Concerned, Try sent Ginandjar to travel to the other delegations and lobby for Turkey’s concerns to be taken on board in the D-8’s communiqué.

    25th February 2001:
    With a warm handshake and embrace, President Try greeted Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak. The former was accompanied by Ginandjar and Edi. The latter accompanied Malaysia’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs Rais Yatim. The initial conversation went well. Najib said that Indonesian officials were welcome to conduct further study of Malaysia’s Highway Network and Try said that Malaysian students were welcome to come to study medicine in Indonesia.

    It was when they got to strategic matters that the two clashed. Najib said that whatever issues Indonesia has, it can be worked through ASEAN. Try said there’s nothing wrong with ASEAN it’s just in the current environment it needs to work as one unit instead of being beholden to one of the world’s great powers. Najib, feeling that Try was accusing him of taking Malaysia into China’s orbit, countered that China is not a threat to Malaysia or Indonesia or Southeast Asia. Try warned that China already has most of Northeast Asia in its influence and Southeast Asia is the logical place to expand its power, influence etc. The meeting ended with Try and Najib realizing that they will differ on the big issues.

    In between meetings, Try bumped into President of Nigeria Olesegun Obasanjo in a hallway. Obasanjo had met with a smaller delegation comprising of Edi Sudrajat and Anthony Salim. Anthony Salim said he would prepare a collection of businesspeople Obasanjo can talk to when he comes to Jakarta for the G-15 Summit. Try also talked with Chief Executive of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf. Much as the previous meeting at the OIC, Try enjoyed Musharraf’s company but resisted making commitments to anything especially military cooperation knowing that the Pakistani Army was compromised by Islamists.

    The D-8 Summit came to an end today and a communiqué was released. Indonesia’s input in the communiqué was a call for “international organizations in the field of finance to give leniency to nations in the process of economic recovery so that fulfillment of the organization’s conditionalities does not come at the expense of the nation’s unique internal situation and dynamics”.

    After farewelling Mubarak, Try boarded on the Presidential Airplane for an overnight flight.

    26th February 2001:
    Morning saw the plane touched down on the tarmac at Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Welcoming the President on the tarmac were Deputy Prime Minister Barnharn Silpa-Archa and Minister of Foreign Affairs Surakiart Sathirathai. There were smiles with Try thanking Barnharn for his negotiations with Vice President JB Sumarlin.

    From the airport Try and First Lady Tuti Setiawati got into their car. Bangkok was bedecked with banners with the Thai and Indonesian flags on it. The motorcade made it a quick drive and before he knew it, they had arrived at Government House, the offices of the Prime Minister of Thailand. Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra gave the President an official welcome where the national anthems were played.

    In their initial talks, Try talked about his conversation with Najib. Thaksin said that the best way to interpret this was that “Malaysia belonged to China”. Try asked whether the United States will be all right with what they’re about to go ahead with. Thaksin said the United States is in no place to complain. It had other priorities so Thailand had to look after its own interests and currently those interests correspond to Indonesia.

    Much to the disappointment of reporters, there was no joint press conference. Try went to the studios of Channel 7 to record an interview to be broadcast in Thai television during primetime.

    “Indonesia has not come to dominate Thailand or Southeast Asia”, said Try “I’m here to ask for help. I wouldn’t need to ask for help if I came to dominate. In this current international environment, Southeast Asia needs to stick together.”

    That night, together with Ginandjar, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti and Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo, and Edi Sudrajat, Try attended and addressed a Thai Chamber of Commerce event.

    27th February 2001:
    The road to the Government House where the Prime Minister of Thailand has his offices had schoolchildren on either side waving Indonesian and Thai flags. Try waved out to them. At the entrance to the Government House, Try stood with with his ministers. There were Ginandjar and Edi as well as Dorodjatun and Siswono but there were more as well. Anthony Salim was there and with him were Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Tanto Kuswanto, Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja, Minister of Tourism Soeyono, Minister of Education Fakry Gaffar, Minister of Social Affairs Meutia Hatta, State Minister of the Development of Eastern Indonesia and Special Development Zones Jusuf Kalla, and Junior Minister of Arts and Culture Subrata. Dressed in his uniform bedecked with medals was Commander of ABRI Wiranto. Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu, Indonesian Ambassador to ASEAN I Gede Awet Sara & Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand Subagyo HS rounded up this large delegation, most of which did not come with Try to Egypt but had joined him for his trip to Thailand.

    Welcoming Try and his ministers were Thailand’s political elite. Thaksin brought his entire cabinet to the event. Clapping and nodding when Try made eye contact with him was Opposition Leader Chuan Leekpai. In their own uniforms were the Thai military elite, part of an Armed Forces that had a history of intervening in politics. The King was represented by President of the Privy Council Prem Tinsulanonda. It was later said that “the people of Thailand was left under no illusion that there was a consensus in the political elite on this issue.”

    After both nations’ national anthems were played, Try and Thaksin sat at a table and what looked like sheets of paper in a luxurious looking folder with the Indonesian and Thai flag on it were placed in front of them. This was the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation which contained amongst others the following provisions:

    *Indonesia and Thailand will consult and cooperate with each other on strategic issues effecting Southeast Asia to the mutual benefit of both nations.
    *Both nations will conduct its individual foreign policies within the framework of the first point especially on issues effecting the other.
    *Both nations will cooperate with each other on security issues including but not limited to military ties, maritime issues, anti-terrorism and anti-radicalism, and anti-narcotics.
    *Both nations will cooperate with each other on economic and social issues including but not limited to agriculture, industry, rural development, arts and cultural exchange.
    *This treaty will become effective upon its signature.

    Try and Thaksin stood up after signing both copies of the treaty and shook hands to applause from all present in the room. Cameras snapped and cameras recorded. Experts would say that the real agreement was not the one explicitly mentioned in the treaty: Thailand would acknowledge Indonesia’s leadership in the region while Indonesia would acknowledge Thailand as its right hand in the region.

    In their joint press conference, Thaksin hailed the treaty as a “coming together” of Southeast Asia’s two largest nations. Try was more circumspect saying that closer cooperation was required so that the region could maintain an independent course.

    That night, Try held a banquet for the Thai Government at his hotel where he and Thaksin toasted each other.

    28th February 2001:
    Try’s final official engagement in Thailand was an audience with King Bhumipol Adulyadej where in a small ceremony, the latter decorated him with The Most Auspicious Order of Rajamitrabhorn. This was followed by a short meeting with Thaksin. Thaksin told Try that “their friend” is waiting at the hotel and farewelled him. Try left Thaksin after inviting him to come to Jakarta.

    When Try returned, waiting in his suite with Ginandjar and I Gede Awet Sara keeping him company was none other than Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nong Duc Manh. Try remembered Nong from when the latter visited Indonesia last year. Nong said that that he is the guest of Speaker of the Thai House of Representatives but that this was the “unofficial part” of the visit. He complimented Try and said that Try has his “admirers” in the Vietnamese Communist Party’s Politburo. Try countered by saying that unfortunately the VCP’s Party Line at the moment was to drift closer to Beijing.

    “We hope not, Mr. President. This drift to Beijing is an aberration in policy and it’s not popular with the party or the people. At the same time we can’t really side with the United States, either. President McCain is not a fan of ours after languishing in our prisons. There’s the Russians, but we’re worried that they’ve signed an alliance treaty with China”, explained Nong “The Party line can change, Mr. President. I have enough support to put my name up as General Secretary at the next Party Congress and if elected, I will ensure that there wil be improved relations between our 2 nati…”

    “It’s not my place to intervene in another country’s internal affairs”, interrupted Try “Just that on a person to person level, I hope things will work out for the best for you and our nations.”

    Try and Nong chatted for a few more minutes before Nong farewelled Try. Try watched as Nong disappeared.

    “What do you think?” asked Try to Ginandjar.

    “We need Vietnam, Mr. President”, said Ginandjar “Nothing says that we’re on nobody’s bloc better than having a nation that doesn’t get along with the US, China, and Russia on our side.”

    “The VCP National Congress is due in 2-3 months subject to political lobbying”, said I Gede Awet Sara “Until Nong can emerge victorious, though, things are out of our hands.”

    “Well it’s not like we don’t have anything to do for the next few months back home”, said Try.

    The Presidential Airplane arrived in Jakarta that night. Vice President JB Sumarlin welcoming the President home at the tarmac and congratulating him on a successful trip.

    ---
    There’s 2 aspects of Indonesia’s status on the world stage that Try is experiencing here: as the world’s largest Islamic country and the largest Southeast Asian nation. OTL Egypt under Mubarak was repressive towards the Muslim Brotherhood. OTL Bangladesh was also anti-Islamist and there was an assassination plot directed at Hasinah in 2000.

    Of course as it relates to ITTL Indonesia and the Islamic world the question is, what effects would there be to Islamic radicalism and to the Islamic world as a whole in a world where the largest Muslim nation in the world comes down hard on radicalism.

    OTL Thailand under Thaksin aspired to be a regional leader at a time when Indonesia was still struggling with the effects of the Asian Financial Crisis and Malaysia. ITTL, Indonesia originally wanted Malaysia to be its second-in-command in the region but Badawi lost in the power struggle with Najib Razak (OTL Najib Razak is also pro-China) rather than Thailand.

    OTL Vietnam was drifting closer to China during this time period under a leadership seen to be incompetent and not liking it because it had a tradition of being hostile to China (it was at one point in history part of the Chinese Empire).

    Of course, ITTL Indonesia can afford a more active foreign policy because by this stage, it had gotten out of the economic crisis and had fully recovered.
     
    116: Turning The Tables On Tutut
  • 1st March 2001:
    In a small ceremony attended by Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, the PDI flag is lowered for the final time at its National Headquarters. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Chairman of PDI Soerjadi went to the residence of Chairwoman of PKPB Tutut Soeharto to announce that the PDI has dissolved itself and has merged with the PKPB. In a statement of her own, Tutut said that she welcomes the PDI members, encourages them to make themselves at home at the PKPB and calls on them to mobilize for the 2002 Legislative Elections.

    After a light day, President Try Sutrisno accompanied by Minister of Tourism Soeyono and Junior Minister of Arts and Culture Subrata attended the Indonesian Film Festival. The highlight was not the President’s opening of the event or Rudi Sudjarwo’s Bintang Jatuh’s winning of the Best Movie Award. Rather, it was the fact that the President sat on the edge of the stage as directors, film stars, and other film industry stakeholders and complained about the film industry to him. The President took note.

    2nd March 2001:
    At the DPR, PKPB Leader in the DPR Hartono issued a statement calling for the Zakat and Wakaf Bills to be discussed immediately in the DPR and for the Government to issue support for the bills. Hartono said that it is the PKPB’s desire that the two bills be passed by consensus.

    The President met with Junior Minister of Housing Bobby Suhardiman. He instructed the minister to work together with Perumnas and property developers to push the construction of housing, in this instance apartment blocks in cities and social housing in suburbs. The President also asked Bobby to simplify permits for the construction of shop houses since small businesses are now “graduating” from their homes to shop houses.

    3rd March 2001:
    A commercial by PT Freeport Indonesia aired on Saturday Night Prime Time on all the television networks. Freeport promoted the amount of tax it has paid throughout the years, how many people it has employed, as well as life inside the city of Tembagapura for its employees. It ended with the tagline: Freeport- Here For Indonesia

    5th March 2001:
    Involved as he was with Eid al-Adha festivities, the President was asked about the Zakat and Wakaf Bills including the PKPB’s request for consensus. Much to the smiles of Tutut and her supporters who were watching at home, the President avoided giving a clear answer and had to have State Secretary Edi Sudrajat clear the way for him.

    6th March 2001:
    The President today attended the 40th Anniversary of the foundation of Kostrad. He wore a green beret, being at the commander of an Engineers’ Battalion in Kostrad 3 decades earlier. Flanked by Commander of ABRI Wiranto and Army Chief of Staff Luhut Panjaitan, he took the salute of Commander of Kostrad Djaja Suparman who marched in a small parade in front of him. The President delivered a speech calling on Kostrad to be the spearhead of the Army and ABRI as it improves its capabilities.

    At Kostrad’s snackroom, the President took the opportunity to meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Tanto Kuswanto, State Minister of National Security Soerjadi, Edi Sudrajat, Wiranto, Luhut Panjaitan, and Navy Chief of Staff Indroko Sastrowiryono. The topic of discussion was the President’s talks with Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak. It was agreed that land and maritime borders with Malaysia alike will have patrols tightened. The President also instructed Ginandjar to go “As hard as possible” in the case of Sipadan and Ligitan Islands’ disputes.

    Approached by the press as he left the Kostrad Anniversary function, Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi said that the Indonesian Government’s only wish is for PT Freeport to fulfill its obligations. “Commercials are good” but Freeport’s contractual obligations is what is important.

    7th March 2001:
    Chairman of KPU HBL Mantiri attended a work meeting with the DPR today. He said that organizationally the KPU has consolidated itself. Real preparations will begin in the new financial year starting with making sure the voters are registered and the procurement of such things as ballot papers and boxes.

    The President made a short visit to Yogyakarta today. Accompanied by Minister of Tourism Soeyono, Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja and Governor of Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono X at Natour Hotel Yogyakarta, the President inaugurated the following projects:

    *The Jogja Expo Centre
    *Completion of Natour Hotel Yogyakarta Refurbishment and 4 Star Status
    *Completion of renovation work of Mirota Batik Souvenir Shop
    *Adisutjipto Airport being upgraded to international status

    “Tourism is as much about the supporting facilities as it is about the tourist destinations themselves and I look forward to many more tourism supporting facilities in Yogyakarta to attract more tourism to this great city and province”, said the President. After touring the hotel’s facilities and visiting the Jogja Expo Centre, the President departed back for Jakarta.

    8th March 2001:
    The DPR had a busy day today as Chairman of DPR Harmoko banged the gavel on the passing of some laws:

    *Plant Varieties Law: This law outlines the registering, licensing, and royalty procedures for plant breeders wishing to register new plant varieties. In essence, this law gives legal protection for those wishing to create new plant breeds that could be used for the nation’s agriculture.

    *Industrial Design Law: This law outlines the registering, licensing, as well as legal rights relating to industrial design. This law gives legal protection for industrial designers.

    *Trade Secrets Law: This law acknowledges the existence of trade secrets and provides legal protection for trade secrets.

    In a press conference, Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman said that these laws were the work of an interdepartmental team spanning the Departments of Legal Affairs, Industry, Agriculture, and Trade with the State Ministry of Research and Technology driving the coordination and synchronization work. State Minister of Research and Technology Indra Bambang Utoyo said that he wants Indonesia to be a nation where it’s safe for people to have ideas and create the environment for an even more competitive economy.

    The only rain on this parade was the PKPB members calling for the Zakat and Wakaf Laws to be discussed.

    9th March 2001:
    The President and Vice President JB Sumarlin paid their final respects to Sumitro Djojohadikusumo at the latter’s residence. The former Minister of Trade and father of Chairman of the PKPB Campaign Team Prabowo Subianto passed away today.

    Chairwoman of PNI Megawati Soekarnoputri visited the offices of Tempointeraktif.com for an interview. Megawati said that her goal was to be a legitimate third force in Indonesian politics since everything seems to be centered around the President and Tutut at the moment. When asked if she was going to make a run for the presidency, Megawati would not commit and said that the PNI has got to win enough votes at the 2002 Legislative Elections first.

    The PDI officially “died” today when the Leader of the PDI Budi Hardjono declared the official dissolution of the PDI’s DPR fraction which will heretofore be part of the PKPB. Vice Chairwoman of the DPR Fatimah Achmad also resigned from her position. In the voting that followed, PKPI’s RS Museno overcame PKPB’s Mahadi Sinambela 340 votes to 160 to become Vice Chairman of the DPR.

    10th March 2001:
    The President and Edi Sudrajat breakfasted with Chairman of DPA Rudini and discussed various issues, most notably the Zakat and Wakaf Bills. Rudini said that the problem with the two bills here was mainly political. Namely, that the President is being tested on how “Islamic or anti-Islamic he was”. The President smiled sheepishly in agreement.

    “You need to give them a taste of their own medicine, Mr. President and put them in an awkward situation”, said Rudini “Otherwise they’ll continue to pull these tricks on you.”

    After Rudini departed, the President was deep in discussion with Edi.

    “What do you suppose he mean when he said you need to give them a taste of their own medicine?” asked Edi “He wants you to play the religion card, too?”

    11th March 2001:
    At Kemusuk Village, the hometown and birthplace of Soeharto, Tutut Soeharto accompanied by family and friends laid the foundation stone for a Soeharto Museum. Her uncle and Soeharto’s brother Probosutedjo said that it would be poetic for Tutut to lay the foundation for this museum as a private citizen and inaugurate it as the Fourth President of the Republic of Indonesia. All present clapped and yelled “Amen!” to this.

    12th March 2001:
    In the morning, the President met with JB Sumarlin, Harsudiono Hartas, Minister of Legal Affairs Marzuki Darusman, Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab, Edi Sudrajat, and Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro. The 5 ministers did not come up to issue an announcement but waited as more guests arrived.

    First to arrive were Harmoko accompanied by the 4 Vice Chairmen of the DPR: Hari Sabarno (ABRI), RS Museno (PKPI), Theo Sambuaga (PKPB), and Ismail Hasan Metareum (PPP). Then DPR delegations representing PKPI, PKPB, PPP, and ABRI arrived at the Presidential Palace. Something of a mini-conference was happening.

    Leader of the PKPB in the DPR Hartono, representing his party, was the first one allowed to give a statement on the 2 bills. Hartono said that the bills will give legal recognition to “something that is already common practice amongst the majority of Indonesia’s people” and called upon the bills be passed by consensus.

    Next was Leader of the PKPI in the DPR Basofi Sudirman. He said that the PKPI did not have any problems with the 2 bills in principle. The PKPI only adds that the emphasis should be on the technical aspects of Zakat and Wakaf not on “appealing to religious sentiment”. Leader of the PPP in the DPR Zarkasih Nur expressed the PPP’s support for the bills whilst echoing the PKPI’s concerns. Leader of ABRI in the DPR Fachrul Rozi said that ABRI wil defer to the Government on what stance to take.

    The President then spoke. He said that he feels the Zakat and Wakaf Bills submitted by the PKPB are in order and that any amendments, based on the advice of the Minister of Religion and as the PKPI mentioned, will be of the technical aspects of how Zakat and Wakaf were to be implemented. The President also agreed that the bills should be agreed upon by consensus. Accordingly, said the President as he turned to Harmoko, he will be requesting the Chairman of DPR to put priority on the bills.

    There were cheers and handshakes among the PKPB delegation. Hartono had a quiet smile as he continued looking at the President, enjoying the fact that the President had just made a concession to the PKPB. The PKPI delegation looked less than happy as did Harmoko. The ministers who attended the meeting earlier, however, were looking at the President as though things were not over yet.

    “However…” began the President causing the PKPB delegation to stop celebrating.

    “However what, Mr. President?” asked Hartono.

    “I’d like your support for something I am working on”, replied the President “All of your support will be valuable but the PKPB’s above all.”

    “What are you working on, Mr. President?” asked Hartono.

    The President shuffled in his seat.

    “I am intending to lift the ban on public celebrations of Chinese holidays and cultural events, make Chinese New Year to be a national holiday, Confucianism to be an acknowledged religion, lift the ban on the usage of Mandarin both spoken and written, abolish the requirement that citizens of Chinese ethnicity be made to have Indonesian names, abolish the requirement to have an SBKRI”, said the President “In short, anything discriminatory towards the Chinese-Indoesians, I would like to abolish.”

    The shock of what the President wanted support for caused a few audible gasps to be heard. But the shock quickly turned to curiosity as to how Hartono, representing Tutut, would respond.

    “Why ask us, why ask for our support?” asked Hartono unable to hide his surprise “The passing of laws need your signature that’s why we need your support for these two bills. On the other hand, what you would like the PKPB’s support for, Mr. President, require only your immediate signature. You can enact al that this very second if you want to.

    “Nevertheless, I want your support”, said the President with a poker face “For the sake of consensus.”

    “I believe this is a perfectly legitimate request”, interjected Harmoko who had not being told about what the President was up to but playing along “It will show the Government to be generous to both the majorities and minorities.”

    There were murmurs of agreement from the PKPI and ABRI delegations, the PPP delegation looked like they were thinking things carefully while the PKPB delegation looked like they were not ready for this.

    “I…I…”, said Hartono not sure what he wanted to do before deciding on a course of action “I would have to consult with the Chairwoman.”

    “Fair enough”, said the President “You may give her a message from me while you’re at it.”

    “Yes, Mr. President?” asked Hartono.

    “You can tell her that if she doesn’t want to support the steps I’m proposing, I’m not going to help with the Zakat and Wakaf bills”, said the President “Even if for some reason the bill manages to pass the DPR, I’m not going to sign it into law. Do you understand me?”

    Hartono mumbled a yes. The Zakat and Wakaf Bills were designed to put the President into an awkward spot: agree to the two bills or risk looking like he’s anti-Islam. It would seem though that the President had reversed the situation and that he has now made it awkward for the Chairwoman. And awkward for her in 3 ways.

    If the Chairwoman refuses the President’s proposal, it would make it seem like she was against minority rights and could risk that minority diverting its support, not to mention its funds, to the President’s cause.

    If the Chairwoman refuses the President and the bills do not become law, it would make her look awkward in front of those who had came to her cause on account of religion. Nurmahmudi Ismail’s group not to mention Yusril Ihza Mahendra’s would not be happy.

    If the Chairwoman agrees to the President’s offer, the bills would get passed into law but she would be partaking in overruling of a policy her father had enacted.

    ---
    As with most of the projects inaugurated ITTL, the projects in Yogyakarta occurred earlier than their OTL counterparts because of better economic conditions and the crisis being nowhere near as bad as OTL. Adisutjipto Airport did not get international status until 2004. Natour Yogyakarta (OTL Grand Inna) took longer to reach 4 star status. Jogja Expo Center arrives a year early. Mirota Batik required a fire before the owner renovated it OTL.

    Perhaps this is a good time to explain about Hartono and Try’s relationship with him. OTL, Hartono entered Soeharto’s radar when he became Commander of the East Java Regional Military Command. Hartono’s tenure coincided with the formation of ICMI in 1990 and event to hold the formation of ICMI was to be held in East Java. Try, who was then Commander of ABRI, ordered Hartono not to support the event. Hartono, knowing that Soeharto was supporting the formation of ICMI, ignored it saying that he “feared Soeharto” a lot more than Try. On the eve of assuming the vice presidency in 1993, Try and the then Army Chief of Staff Edi Sudrajat transferred Hartono to become the Commander of the ABRI Staff and Command College which was a dead end position. Soeharto however intervened. He resurrected Hartono’s career culminating in Hartono’s appointment as Army Chief of Staff despite Try and Edi’s objections. So Try definitely is not a big fan of Hartono both in OTL and ITTL.

    As Army Chief of Staff Hartono proved to be a loyalist. He allowed Prabowo Subianto expand the size of Kopassus, implied that ABRI was subordinate to Golkar (he once wore a yellow jacket over his uniform), and had a special relationship with Tutut which may or may not have become “more”. In 1997, he succeeded Harmoko as Minister of Information when the latter was preparing to become Chairman of DPR and became a member of ICMI, making him a dark horse candidate for the vice presidency in 1998. As it was he became Soeharto’s final Minister of Home Affairs.

    After Soeharto’s fall from power, he helped form and became Chairman of OTL PKPB. Famously claiming during the 2004 Elections that he was proud to be “Soeharto’s henchman”.

    ITTL, he got a DPR seat as a peace offering by Try to Tutut in the aftermath of the 1998 MPR Session having no idea how things would unfold in the coming years. How he behaves ITTL is based on how he behaved in OTL and as you can see, he is always in the thick of things whenever Tutut is maneuvering her supporters in the DPR. He is presently he Leader of the PKPB in the DPR.
     
    117: Construction Sites, Cabinet Meetings, and Command Shuffles
  • 13th March 2001:
    Appearing together at the NU’s Headquarters, Chairman of NU Abdurrahman Wahid and Chairman of Muhammadiyah Amien Rais declared that they supported both the Zakat and Wakaf Bills as well as the President’s proposal on overruling policies considered discriminatory for Chinese Indonesians and asks that Chairwoman of PKPB Tutut Soeharto support it. Wahid in particular said that President Try Sutrisno is a president for “all Indonesians.”

    Minister of Education Fakry Gaffar came out of a meeting to announce that the President had approved of expanding the construction of state kindergartens across the nation. When asked if this will intervene with the goal of reaching Universal 9 Year Education by 2004, Fakry smiled and said that the President said that what goes on before primary school is important as well because it shapes the foundation of Indonesia’s future and human resources. Fakry also said that the President has also called for speed given there was less than 2 years left in the term.

    14th March 2001:
    The President, accompanied by Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad and Director General of Taxation Darmin Nasution, inspected the Menteng Tax Office. After submitting his tax returns, the President praised the tax officials behind the counter and instructed Mar’ie to implement his reforms to tax office structure carefully.

    Asked for comments about developments regarding the Zakat and Wakaf bills as well as the President’s proposal for abolishing discriminatory policies, Chairwoman of PNI Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed her support. Visiting the Bengkulu Province where her mother had come from with PNI cadres accompanying her, Megawati added that the nation could do better than having to decide who their leader should be out of the squabbling President and the Chairwoman of PKPB.

    15th March 2001:
    Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Anthony Salim came out of a meeting with the President. They said that the Government is keeping a close eye on the Food and Mouth Disease out of UK. They announced that that for the moment any meat imports from Europe and Argentina are banned from entering Indonesia and that they will be letting in more imports of beef and stud bulls from Australia. The latter will be used to breed with Indonesian cows and increase bovine population in Indonesia.

    A reporter asked Anthony about the President’s proposal that the Mandarin language should be able to be widely taught. Anthony said he agreed to the President’s proposal if not to get rid of racial discrimination then at the very least for the practicality of Indonesians being able to speak Mandarin and trade with China and Taiwan.

    16th March 2001:
    The President welcomed the visit of Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong who came for a 1-day visit. While Goh’s delegation met with respective counterparts around Jakarta, The President, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, met with Goh, accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Lee Hsien Loong, had a 1-on-1 meeting. Goh said that China is trying to sell the idea that Malaysia is at risk of being “surrounded” by Indonesia and Thailand. Try asked what did Singapore think. Goh said that Singapore agreed with the notion of an independent foreign policy for Southeast Asia and pointed to Singapore’s close economic relations with China but also wanting the United States to maintain a presence in Southeast Asia. Goh concedes Indonesia’s point that China has gotten stronger while the United States has other focus but says that it would keep its options open until it has sufficiently established water self-sufficiency (it has 2 water plants due to open next year and another whose construction has been moved forward) from Malaysia. Goh felt that Try’s crackdown on radicals was the correct step and the two agreed that intelligence sharing and cooperation between BAKIN and Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs will be stepped up.

    After a press conference, Try and Goh visited Plaza Indonesia together. There they visited the first Breadtalk outlet in Indonesia. Though it was not even a year since it opened in Singapore, Breadtalk had immediately set its sights on expanding towards Indonesia and had been gladly facilitated by Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu.

    That very same day, it was the one week anniversary of Soemitro Djojohadikusumo’s death. Tutut attended though she awkwardly had to avoid questioning from the press on her way in and out of the event about whether she supported the President’s proposal.

    17th March 2001:
    In a special primetime event on RCTI, Tutut had a sit-down interview live from Cendana Street in which she announced that she will support the President’s proposal: the Zakat and Wakaf Bills to be submitted and to go through the processes in the DPR and support for the PKPB for the abolition of all discriminatory regulations towards Chinese-Indonesians.

    “I find this notion that I’m somehow against minorities that others are beginning to promote to be nonsense. I’m not against minorities. The PKPB’s Vice Chairman of DPR, Mr. Theo Sambuaga, is a Christian”, said Tutut “At the same time it is also true that there are pious members of the majority faith who had come over and become supporters of mine.”

    With a primetime audience, Tutut went on to outline her concerns about the lack of rice self-sufficiency, the abolition of the Left Behind Villages Presidential Instructions and the lack of focus towards rural development by the current Government.

    18th March 2001:
    The President, accompanied by Minister of Public Works Rachmat Witoelar, State Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Bacelius Ruru, Edi Sudrajat, Governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso, and Governor of West Java Muzani Syukur, inaugurated the following:
    *Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR) Section W1, Completion of Section W2,
    *Tangerang Serpong Toll Road
    *Ulujami Pondok Aren Toll Road

    “In times of crisis, these projects created employment. In good economic times, they will facilitate economic activity”, said the President in his speech.

    As he toured the JORR sections, the President was asked about Tutut’s interview the previous night. He only said that it was good to have the Chairwoman of PKPB on board.

    19th March 2001:
    The President spent the morning touring two construction sites that had become a feature of Jakarta’s city life today. The first construction site was just behind the Hotel Indonesia. With Edi Sudrajat, Bacelius Ruru, and Sutiyoso, the President donned a construction workers’ hat and walked around the project that was begun late the previous year. Bacelius explained that this project at its conclusion will result in a mixed use development project featuring a renovated an expanded Hotel Indonesia, an office building, a large shopping center comprising of 7 storeys and two wings.

    The President disappeared underground into a project that was begun before he took office. It slowed down during the President’s first months in office as it waited to see if its state and private investors have the capability to continue. Under the guidance of Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja, State Minister of Urban Development Giri Suseno, and Sutiyoso, development of the project have continued offering Jakartans the view of an elevated track on pillars above roads that disappear underground at the Bendungan Hilir Area. The two men joined the President as he toured what was already looking like a train station that would not look out of place in Singapore.

    “Just spending some time doing a walkabout in Jakarta”, said Try to the media as he emerged above ground “I’ve spend so much time inspecting the regions, I’ve neglected to check out a large mixed use development project and a public transportation project.”

    20th March 2001:
    The President chaired a Cabinet Meeting attended by Vice President JB Sumarlin, the Cabinet and the Heads of Agencies. The following were discussed:

    -In his opening remarks, the President welcomed all the new ministers from the reshuffle 2 months prior. He reminded all ministers to make breakthroughs in this respective fields, reminding them that there were 2 years left in the term before going on to the cabinet meeting’s agenda.

    -The President instructed all the abolition of the Chinese-Indonesians related regulations to be proposed and coordinated through the Cabinet Secretariat so that it can be determined which regulations are going to be abolished. He asks that Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab and Minister of Legal Affairs Marzuki Darusman to prepare the Government’s input for the Zakat and Wakaf Laws.

    -Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi reported that he’s still struggling to get Freeport to divest its shares. Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo asked if it was possible to change regulations regulating how much shares a foreign mining company could own. Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu said that it would make it look like the Government changes its investment regulations when it does not get its way with foreign investment. The idea that was approved by the President was offered by Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas who suggested that Freeport can divest its shares to the Irian Jaya Provincial Government instead of the Central Government.

    -Minister of Trade Anthony Salim and Minister of Tourism Soeyono reported continuing declining exports and tourist arrival numbers from the United States while Mari Pangestu reported that there will be a decline of foreign investment this year as well. Sumarlin and Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti advised that it’s best to act as though the United States was in recession. The President agreed with this and instructed his ministers to find ways in their respective fields to off-set the impact of the weakening US economy including by fulfilling the Presidential Instruction he issued a few weeks back. With regards to investment, he instructed Mari to facilitate ongoing foreign investments in the process of being approved and encourage domestic investment.

    21st March 2001:
    Commander of ABRI Wiranto emerged out of a meeting with the President to announce a command shuffle, the highlights of which were the following:

    -The only prominent members of the Class of 1971 left were Commander of ABRI Academy Kiki Syahnakri (since August 2000), Inspector General of ABRI Endriartono Sutarto (since May 2000), and Deputy Army Chief of Staff Djamari Chaniago (since December 1999)

    -Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ally Maj. Gen. Cornel Simbolon appointed ABRI Assistant of Operations and brother-in-law Erwin Sudjono promoted to major general and appointed Commander of Kostrad’s 1st Infantry Division. Yudhoyono classmate Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya becomes Commander of the West Java Regional Military Command.

    -Wiranto former subordinate Prijanto promoted to major general and appointed as Commander of the Jakarta Regional Military Command. Wiranto ally Djaja Suparman becomes the new Commander of the Army Education and Training Command after nearly 2 years as Commander of Kostrad.

    -The highlight of this command shuffle came in the person of Tubagus “TB” Hasanuddin. He was transferred from his position as Commander of the Regional Military Command to his new posting as Commander of Kostrad. In the process he was promoted to lieutenant general. TB Hasanuddin served as Try Sutrisno’s aide-de-camp between 1996 and 1998, covering the final 18 months of his vice presidency and first 3 months of presidency.

    Wiranto arrived at ABRI Headquarters where a working lunch with Army Chief of Staff Luhut Panjaitan awaited.

    “Yudhoyono will not like this command shuffle”, commented Luhut referring to ABRI General Chief of Staff Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

    “Bambang’s classmates and brother-in-law are doing well”, said Wiranto before Yudhoyono even began to speak “The only reason he’ll complain is because his prospects to be your successor just took a hit.”

    “How did the bargaining go in there with Tubagus going to Kostrad?”asked Luhut.

    “I told the President there will be resistance from the officer corps if his son-in-law were to be promoted to Commander of Kostrad and be in contention for the Army Chief of Staff’s position in the future but that there are precedents for former presidential aide-de-camps being advanced to prominent positions, namely his and my career paths”, said Wiranto.

    There was silence as Luhut chewed on his lunch.

    “You’re not surprised he tried to nominate Ryamizard for Commander of Kostrad?” asked Wiranto referring to ABRI Assistant of General Planning Ryamizard Ryacudu who also happened to be the President’s son-in-law.

    “I had an inkling that he would” said Luhut “But he’s aware of the consensus you and I had built among the officer corps that there would be no more Prabowos. The only reason the President would offer Ryamizard is so that he could open up the way for Tubagus.”

    “That’s precisely what he did”, replied Wiranto “He made ABRI choose between his son-in-law or his former aide-de-camp and we had to choose the latter because we can’t accept the former.”

    “It had to be between the son-in-law or the former aide-de-camp, Commander”, said Luhut “The classes of 1971 and 1973 are already taking up too much of the lieutenant general’s slots that it would piss the officer corps off if somebody from one of those two classes to took the Kostrad slot.”

    “It can’t very well be from the class of 1972 because Djaja had a pretty long run”, added Wiranto.

    “This is very well-played”, said Luhut while nodding his head thoughtfully “Straight out of the Soeharto Playbook of Miitary Factional Balancing.”

    ---
    The food and mouth outbreak and the coming 2001 Recession are as OTL. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_United_Kingdom_foot-and-mouth_outbreak
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recession_2000s

    Yes ladies and gentlemen, that’s ITTL’s version of Grand Indonesia and the MRT being inspected by Try.

    Something mindblowing I found out during researching for this. The MRT began early stages of construction in April 1997 and was scheduled for completion in August 2001. It would have had the same route as OTL’s Jakarta MRT except that it goes underground at Benhil rather than after ASEAN Station and would extend all the way to Monas and then to Kota Tua. The original plan was for the Bunderan HI Station to be integrated with the shopping center above it. See https://koran.tempo.co/read/metro/29173/mimpi-yang-terkubur-krisis?

    Only OTL Asian Financial Crisis derailed plans for the MRT. Given that the crisis was not as bad and there was a much quicker recovery, I make the assumption here that the MRT has simply continued on the background. For the moment TransJakarta is butterflied away.

    I had Try here showing some cunning as far as military command shuffles and promoting an aide-de-camp goes because he would have had 4 years as Presidential Aide-De-Camp and 5 years as Commander of ABRI to learn how Soeharto manipulates and maneuvers military promotions which I would think is not a farfetched assumption to make. Try’s move to give to promote a former aide-de-camp is certainly something borrowed from Soeharto.
     
    118: "We're Just Getting Started, We Can't Slow Down Now"
  • 22nd March 2001:
    In a press conference, Minister of Health Azrul Azwar announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared Indonesia to be free of polio. Azrul said that this was due to the Government’s commitment to giving polio vaccines to children, a policy started under President Soeharto and continued under President Try.

    Governor of Bank Indonesia Boediono answering questions at an economic lecture said while demand is still strong in the economy and could lead to overheating and inflation, the Government must be cautious when it considers measures to prevent overheating and inflation from a monetary policy standpoint. The US Economy is slowing down and the Government does not want to repeat the mistake of the US of going for a “Soft landing” with its interest rate rises and ending up with a recession.

    23rd March 2001:
    State Secretary Edi Sudrajat and Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman announced that the President had issued a Presidential Instruction on “Safeguarding Meat Supply in the Aftermath of Suspension of Meat Imports from Europe and Argentina”. The following were instructed:

    *The Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to promote the consumption of alternative sources of animal protein.
    *The Minister of Trade to look for urgent supplies of beef imports.
    *The Chief of Police to take action against those hoarding meat in particular beef.

    At the DPR, the Zakat and Wakaf Bills are officially introduced to be discussed.

    27th March 2001:
    Departing early from Jakarta in the early hours in the morning, President Try and his entourage arrived at Warung Jeruk Village close to Purwakarta, West Java. There, accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, State Minister of Poverty Alleviation Hemas, Edi Sudrajat and Governor of West Java Muzani Syukur, the President cut some paddy plants in a field to signal the harvest season.

    After the ceremony, the President chatted with villagers who reported to him that Warung Jeruk is electrified. He stepped inside the house and flicked on switches to see if this was the case. There was a frown on his face when the locals present at the time said that the place would be teeming with middlemen and bureaucrats asking for bribes to process administrative documents if the President were not there. He then inspected the clean water facilities at the village before leaving back for Jakarta.

    Back at Jakarta, Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro announced that his office has prepared the cases for “those supporting Extreme Right subversion in the country” who were arrested two months prior such as Agus Dwikarna and Parlindungan Siregar. They will be tried in their respective localities except for Agus Dwikarna and Parlindungan Siregar who will be tried in Jakarta.

    28th March 2001:
    In a wideranging press conference at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita announced that an economic and social-cultural delegation from East Timor led by Governor of East Timor Clementino Dos Reis Amaral will go to Europe and visit Portugal to help explain the situation in East Timor and build closer ties between Indonesia and Portugal.

    More closer to home, Ginandjar congratulated Laos on their recent Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) National Congress and their completed National Assembly Session which re-elected Khamtai Siphandon as General Secretary of the LPRP, as the new President of Laos and Boumhang Varachith as the new Prime Minister of Laos.

    When asked if the new leadership line up benefitted Indonesia at the expense of China, Ginandjar would not be drawn. He just said that things “have a way of balancing themselves out” and that it was not really a case of who is benefiting or who is losing.

    In a meeting, State Minister of National Security Soerjadi said that this was definitely to Indonesia’s advantage as all 3 of the elected figures tended to be pro-Vietnam rather than pro-China though Vietnam itself right now tended to orbit in China’s direction.

    29th March 2001:
    Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Oka Mahendra and Junior Minister of Arts and Culture Subrata came out of the President’s office to announce a “Film Industry Package” which included the following:

    *Abolition of the requirement for aspiring directors to be assistant directors in 5 movies before they can direct their own movie.
    *Abolition of the requirement to submit scripts to the Department of Information, Post, and Telecommunications prior to shooting. Censorship to be conducted post-production.
    *Movies with a strong sexual content to be “Direct-to-VCD” or “Direct to video” instead of heading for the big screen.
    *Enforcement of a rating and classification system for films and television.
    *Continuation of the TVRI’s policy of broadcasting movies by aspiring directors.

    30th March 2001:
    President Try opened and attended The Regional Development Exhibition at the Jakarta Convention Center. Accompanied by Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, State Minister of Regional Autonomy Oemarsono, Edi Sudrajat and Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu, the President toured large stands set up by all 27 Provincial Governments designed to promote investment by Jakarta in the provinces and investment between the provinces.

    The exhibition also served to show what had been achieved in the various provinces thus far. Some provinces which caught the President’s eye were:

    *East Java’s economy was booming across various sectors in its bid to “catch up to Jakarta”.
    *West Nusa Tenggara attracting investment in tourism and tourists as it sought to promote itself as a more “untouched” version of Bali.
    *South Sumatra’s economy starting to flourish as Sriwijaya Air flights brought with them those seeking to do business and travel with Jambi expecting the same as Sriwijaya Air seeks to expand operations there.

    “You’re in a thoughtful mood today, Mr. President”, said Harsudiono as the visit was coming to an end.

    “This nation’s just got out of the crisis, had one great year, and we’ve got a downturn in the US that is either on the horizon or has arrived”, replied Try with a frown.

    1st April 2001:
    In a small event at the Presidential Palace but covered by the nation’s media, the President and First Lady Tuti Setiawati had their details recorded in the Electoral Roll. It was reported by Chairman of KPU HBL Mantiri that the President and the First Lady only had their address updated, from the Vice Presidential Residence to the Presidential Palace. Harsudiono Hartas and Edi Sudrajat were also on hand to watch the event.

    “The date of the Election will be in 2002 and obviously there will be time to spare between the Election and the inauguration of the new DPR/MPR on 1st October 2002” said the President “For the moment, I urge all eligible voters and those who have become eligible to vote to register or upgrade their details when the KPU comes around to record their names to ensure your participation at the 2002 Elections.”

    2nd April 2001:
    The President had his lunch with Vice President JB Sumarlin. The latter reported about his visit to Western Europe the previous week. Sumarlin joked that Try’s visit the previous year was well-remembered because it came at the end of the football season. Try laughed but grew serious and asked how the Western European economies were doing.

    “I think the recession in the US is going to hit them soon, Mr. President”, said Sumarlin “Even Germany, who had a good year last year.”

    Try winced at that.

    “They’re keen to get on with existing investment plans in Indonesia carried over from last year but as far as this year goes Indonesia expect less investment, revenue from exports, and tourists from their end, not to mention from the United States and Japan”, said Sumarlin “It’s a global downturn, economic slowdowns are to be expected, including in Indonesia.”

    “A slowdown…a down turn…is something I have trouble stomaching if we don’t put up a fight, Mr. Vice President”, Try said shaking his head “This nation is just getting started, I can’t accept us slowing down again.”

    The two sat in silence for some time.

    “2 months ago, you instructed the economic team to prepare a policy package to make sure the economic growth of 2000 is sustainable in 2001, Mr. President”, said Sumarlin “The Minister of Economics and National Development Planning tells me the policy package is nearly completed.”

    “Review it, fine tune it, and make sure it’s completed in 2 weeks, Mr. Vice President”, instructed Try "This nation's only just getting started again, make sure we don't slow down unless we have to."

    ---
    A “Government gets to work” chapter but focusing on the effects of the food and mouth outbreak and the 2001 Recession.

    OTL Indonesia had a pretty good 2000 (economic growth 5%) considering how bad things were in 1998 and despite the fact that things had not recovered fully yet. Then they ran into the 2001 Recession, political instability domestically leading to Wahid’s fall from power, and 9/11. So it's one good year and then Indonesia started to struggle again. Let’s see how they’ll do in ITTL’s 2001…
     
    Last edited:
    119: Ginandjar
  • 3rd April 2001:
    President Try Sutrisno and his entourage arrived by airplane at Silangit International Airport, North Tapanuli, North Sumatra in the process becoming the first group of passengers to use the new airport. Upon alighting and after being welcomed by Governor of North Sumatra Syamsir Siregar, the President inaugurated Silangit International Airport. Located 30 minutes from Lake Toba, President Try expressed his hope that this will increase traffic to North Sumatra and Lake Toba more specifically. Try instructed Syamsir to make sure that there were buses to and from the Airport and Balige.

    After the short ceremony and touring the airport, the President and his entourage went to Balige. Accompanied by Minister of Tourism Soeyono, Minister of Transportation Soerjadi Soedirja, and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, the President toured the souvenir shops there before visiting the Lumban Bul Bul Beach at the edge of Lake Toba. He shook hands and had his pictures taken with locals and tourists alike.

    From Toba, it was back to Silangit and a flight to Medan. There the President sat with Syamsir and the top officials of the North Sumatra Provincial Government. He urged North Sumatra to focus on infrastructure so that it can become an attractive place to invest in.

    4th April 2001:
    With Commander of ABRI Wiranto and Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar flanking him, the President hit the gong to signal the opening of the 2001 ABRI Leadership Meeting. In his speech, the President called on ABRI to prioritize strengthening its human resources rather than its weaponry in anticipation of the slowing world economy and its effect on Indonesia. After this speech, the President flew to Jakarta.

    Speaking to a group of PKPB Cadres who came to visit her house in Jakarta, Chairwoman of PKPB Tutut Soeharto said that the Government could not rest on the laurels of economic growth figures of 2000 because the US economy is slowing down with all of its effects including in Indonesia. She said that the Government should consider it as an opportunity to manage an economic problem in its own right rather than riding on President Soeharto’s coattails.

    5th April 2001:
    Minister of Trade Anthony Salim in a press conference said that he’s been able to secure beef and live cattle imports from Australia and Brunei Darussalam to compensate for the ban of beef imports from Argentina and elsewhere affected by the food and mouth disease. He joked that since Brunei’s beef and cows are farmed in Ausralia, Indonesia will be getting a double dose of Australian beef.

    Interviewed by the press on his way out of the DPR building Chairman of DPR Harmoko said that Indonesia will be facing economic challenges in 2001 but regrets that Tutut has to say things “As though she wished the President to fail”.

    6th April 2001:
    In a meeting with Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Minister of Mining and Energy Djiteng Marsudi, State Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Bacelius Ruru, and Edi Sudrajat the President discussed Freeport.

    Harsudiono said that the Governor, Regents and Mayors in Irian Jaya are interested in being the Indonesian entity purchasing shares in Freeport’s mine but at the same time are scared to “push too hard” because Freeport is pretty much the entire Timika economy. Mar’ie and Bacelius said that the alternative would be if the Government purchase shares in Freeport whether through the budget or through a state-owned enterprise like Pertamina but cautioned the President it could not be large shares all at once.

    Djiteng seemed unhappy throughout the meeting and this was not lost on the other attendants of the meeting. The President instructed Djiteng to look for alternative ways for the Government to gain shares in Freeport. He could not wait to get out of the meeting.

    8th April 2001:
    For the past month, the RRI had been interviewing ministers as they marked the 3rd Anniversary of their tenures as ministers. Today was Djiteng’s turn. Amidst talk about about the Exor Refineries, the electricity generators sprouting out, Djiteng expressed frustration about Freeport.

    “I’ve probably been at them for nearly 2 years. At first just soft written reminders and the like but they had their arguments which they have continued up until now. Last year I began meeting them in person and they just repeated the same arguments except these arguments were made to me in person rather than made on paper. I told them the President will be getting involved soon and I’m thankful that he’s been backing me on this though not a lot had changed from Freeport’s end.”

    But the fact of the matter is this contract we have now, signed in 1991, is not good for Indonesia. Freeport is supposed to start divesting 2% annually since 2001 but with legal technicalities and what not, it turns out that legally they’re entitled not to divest 2% each year. Then you got other things as well like contract extensions. The contract ends in 2021 but they have the right to extend until 2041. Can we reject the extension? Not really. If they feel we’re being unreasonable,they have the right to take us to international arbitration and God knows what’s going to happen if it comes to that.

    It’s not a good contract. We’re supposed to have a 20% share in that mine but now we only have 9.36% because the private company who took on the shares have ended up selling it and those shares are making their way back to Freeport. It’s not a good contract, it’s a faulty contract and the Minister of Mining and Energy who presided over the formulation of the contract is also faulty.”

    Edi Sudrajat was playing tennis but caught the ball and stopped the game when he heard what Djiteng had said. The Minister of Mining and Energy in 1991 when the contract was signed was none other than Ginandjar Kartasasmita, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs.

    By afternoon, the President and his Four Horseman had gathered at the Presidential Palace. Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas chuckled to himself, saying that what Djiteng said was “not politically very smart but very ballsy”. Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo and OCDS Sugeng Subroto shook their heads. Edi was not happy at all and let his displeasure.

    “I would not have taken you to be a Ginandjar fan”, said Sugeng.

    “I sit with the guy each time the President meets a foreign leader and believe me he’s good”, replied Edi “That and the fact that if we somehow lose him as minister because of this, he and Sudharmono will go to the other side.”

    “Right now him going over to Tutut should be the concern” added Ari “In the overall scheme of things, if you’d have to lose someone, you’d want to lose Djiteng rather than Ginandjar because Ginandjar is the more significant political actor.”

    “I disagree”, said Sugeng “The President loses Djiteng and the Government loses a key feature of its energy policy: that you can’t just mess around with Indonesia’s oil and electricity and get a way with it. I mean I’ve got the data, people in the mining sector are afraid of…”

    The President held his hand up and walked out on the conversation, looking deep in thought.

    9th April 2001:
    The Monday morning newspapers featured headlines like “Dissension in the Ranks” and “Djiteng Goes After Ginandjar”. It was a difficult situation, because Djiteng had spoken on an open forum, the press could not be accused of spreading rumors though the fact that Djiteng did not think highly of Ginandjar had been common knowledge in the Jakarta rumor mill for some time.

    PT Freeport Indonesia did not help matters with a company spokesperson appearing on television saying that the company remembering Ginandjar as a Minister of Mining and Energy who was friendly towards foreign mining companies.

    After lunch, Djiteng arrived at the Presidential Palace to meet with the President. He came out 2 hours later with small smile on his face. He would not answer the barrage of questions which included such things as “Are you going to remain as Minister of Mining and Energy?” Djiteng went in his car without saying nothing.

    The final word of the day belonged to former Vice President Sudharmono. As Ginandjar’s mentor and patron, Sudharmono called on the President to express support for the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the face of criticism by Djiteng.

    10th April 2001:
    Ginandjar Kartasasmita held a press conference while in Bhutan en route to Japan. Ginandjar said that he had not been in contact with the President since his departure on this trip and that he will meet with the President on his arrival back in Jakarta. That said, Ginandjar said that he’s been following developments in Jakarta. After goodnaturedly saying that Djiteng probably misspoke, Ginandjar said that he supported the President’s policy on Freeport divestment and that it was why he was coming to Japan though he would not specify what his mission was.

    Back in Jakarta, the President shot an ad with Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Tanto Kuswanto. The ad would feature Sarwono calling on Indonesians to eat meat other than cow while Tanto would ask Indonesians to try fish instead, the aim being to get Indonesians to try another animal protein other than beef. While Tanto shot his lines Sarwono went over to Edi and asked for some time with the President. Edi asked what did Sarwono wanted to talk about.

    “Sudharmono wanted it conveyed again to the President that he defend Ginandjar from Djiteng”, said Sarwono.

    “The President will respond when he decides the time is right to respond”, said Edi before asking back “You’re pretty close to Sudharmono right?”

    “He was Chairman of Golkar and I was Secretary of Golkar once upon a time so in that sense, I was close”, said Sarwono “But I’m not as close as Ginandjar is, otherwise I would be the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

    Both laughed.

    “The President’s told Djiteng to continue on as minister but not without a hell of a reprimand against speaking about another minister like that”, said Edi “You can tell Sudharmono that.”

    “He still won’t be happy, he expects the President to publicly come to Ginandjar’s defense”, cautioned Sarwono.

    “He’s really being insistent, isn’t he?” asked Edi, annoyed.

    “Ginandjar’s his golden boy”, replied Sarwono “Sudharmono feels he’s too old to become an active political player but if he has any ambitions, it will be Ginandjar who will realize it for him.”

    11th April 2001:
    The President, accompanied by Wismoyo Arismunandar, Minister of Tourism Soeyono, and Governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso, today inaugurated the Balai Sarbini Function Hall and Plaza Semanggi Shopping Center. It was while he was touring the shops that he took questions about Djiteng and Ginandjar.

    “I think the Minister of Mining and Energy is passionate about what he’s doing though it doesn’t justify what he’s said. I think the Minister of Foreign Affairs is an energetic member of the Cabinet and the person implementing our assertive foreign policy. Both are equally important members of the cabinet”, said the President as he walked through the various shops.

    Elsewhere, interviewed as he attended a function, Djiteng said that he believed that regardless of past policies Ginandjar is behind the current policy the President is pursuing regarding Freeport and that’s what matters. Djiteng apologized that his comments “came out as it did”.

    12th April 2001:
    Arriving first thing in the morning from Tokyo, Ginandjar immediately headed to the Presidential Palace to report the result of his visit. Most notably, Ginandjar said he had conveyed the President’s message to Prime Minister of Japan Koichi Kato requesting the Japanese Government’s assistance to lobby the American Government to pressure Freeport to divest its shares in its mine in Irian Jaya. The President thanked Ginandjar for that.

    “I would like to end by saying how thankful I am for your continuing support in me, Mr. President”, said Ginandjar.

    “Not a problem”, replied the President “I hope that a misunderstanding like the one this week would not make you work any less harder.”

    Watching this exchange in front of him, Edi could not help but think that there was something in the air between the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

    “Like they were trying to look into each other’s minds”, said Edi at the end of the day as he paid a visit to Harsudiono’s office.

    “I think that’s what they were doing”, said Harsudiono as he ate some sate “Try told Djiteng not to say anything about what’s happening until he himself had made a comment, right?”

    “He did”, replied Edi.

    “That’s because he wants to see if Ginandjar could be trusted in these kinds of situations”, explained Harsudiono “He wants to see if Ginandjar would continue to support him or try to advance his agenda.”

    “He’s not afraid that Ginandjar’s going to walk out on him?” asked Edi.

    “You mean resign as Minister of Foreign Affairs? Absolutely not”, replied Harsudiono “The best way for Ginandjar to advance his agenda is by remaining as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Tutut and Megawati are Presidential daughters, they’ve got their fathers to point to as an achievement. Ginandjar’s got something more powerful than that: an actual track record he can actually point to.”

    “What you’re saying is, the President sees Ginandjar as a challenger for the presidency?” Edi blurted out, shocked at all this.

    “It’s the only reason why he’s putting effort to see what Ginandjar is thinking”, said Harsudiono.

    “If that’s the case Ginandjar’s hitting the right notes” replied Edi “He’s said he supports the President and the President’s policies. Certainly that’s enough to reinforce the President’s trust in him.”

    “For now”, muttered Harsudiono.

    ---
    Ginandjar arrived at the Department of Foreign Affairs and sat on his desk where a letter awaited him. Ginandjar opened it.

    My boy,

    Keep to the road that you’re walking on. Keep your head down and work for President Try’s goals and you’ll be too valuable for him to replace.

    When the time comes, they’ll all come looking for your support and that’ll be the time to show the world what your real ambition is.

    Sudharmono


    ---
    Always found Ginandjar to be something of an interesting figure. OTL, as Coordinating Minister of Economics, he famously got 13 other ministers to abandon Soeharto. At the same time however, he managed to build enough credibility with the IMF that they liked dealing with him. This at a time when the IMF and Soeharto was clashing about how Indonesia’s economy should recover. Cunning, opportunistic, but was always seen as capable.

    ITTL, there’s something about Ginandjar that makes Try reluctant to trust him fully despite the fact that Ginandjar had proven to be a capable Minister of Foreign Affairs.

    When push comes to shove Try trusts Harmoko more than he trusts Ginandjar. If you look back in the TL, Try forbade Ginandjar to nominate as Chairman of Golkar in the lead up to the 1998 Golkar National Congress. For his part, Ginandjar thinks Try owes his election in 1998 to Ginandjar bringing over supporters to vote for Try instead of Habibie (Try winning over Habibie 503 to 497 votes).
     
    120: The April 2001 Policy Package
  • 16th April 2001:
    It was early in the morning but all the ministerial cars had already flocked to the Presidential Palace. It was a Cabinet Meeting called early enough in the morning that a breakfast was served. To the applause of all those present, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Minister of Mining and Energy shook hands. After a short breakfast buffet, the ministers and the heads of agencies took their seats and the Cabinet Meeting began when President Try and Vice President JB Sumarlin took their seats.

    Some 3 hours later they emerged. Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas, Minister of Legal Affairs Marzuki Darusman, Minister of Information, Post, and Telecommunications Oka Mahendra, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Minister of Finance Mar’ie Muhammad, Minister of Trade Anthony Salim, Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo, Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Djiteng Marsudi, Minister of Forestry and Environment Barnabas Suebu, Minister of Employment and Small Business Fahmi Idris, Minister of Civil Service Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, State Minister of Regional Autonomy Oemarsono, Junior Minister of Finance Marzuki Usman, Junior Minister of Housing Bobby Suhardiman, Governor of BI Boediono, Head of BKPM Mari Pangestu, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat, and Cabinet Secretary Hayono Isman.

    “Is that everyone? Sit down, it’s going to be a long one” asked Edi as he sat in the middle of the desk before solemnly making the announcement “The President has today approved a set of policy decisions which the Government will seek to implement.”

    Thus it was over the next 3 hours, the announcement and question and answer session taking so long that ministers and the press alike were eating from their cake boxes, the Government announced the April 2001 Policy Package which consists of the following components:

    Consolidating Fiscal Position:
    -A maximum of 2 working days required for registration for Taxpayer Number whether individual or corporate.
    -Focusing Tax Office Reorganization by prioritizing building new tax offices in Jakarta, West Java, East Java, Bali, and Batam.
    -Abolish moratorium on the import of luxury cars but impose maximum duties on luxury cars.
    -Abolish subsidies of avtur and avigas
    -Establish code of ethics for Tax and Customs Officials

    Infrastructure For The Present and Future:
    -Prioritize toll roads which links cities and provinces rather than toll roads within cities
    -Prioritize airports in areas with tourism potential
    -Expansion of existing oil refineries to improve capacity and energy self-sufficiency
    -Approval of Nusantara 21 Project which will see a fiber optic cable network both underwater and onshore to provide internet access for Indonesians
    -Creation of a State-Owned Infrastructure Insurance Corporation.
    -Strengthen Infrastructure Planning Committee

    Increasing the Nation’s Capacity:
    -Lower import duties to minimum rates for spare parts of heavy machinery
    -Provide tax breaks for investment and expansion of businesses related to electrical components, spare parts of motor vehicles, and spare parts of heavy machinery
    -Simplify and set a maximum days for processing building permits especially for new house-shops, house-offices, houses, and apartment blocks
    -Creation of a Deputy Head of BKPM for Domestic Investment and Deputy Head of BKPM for Foreign Investment to promote investment at home and abroad

    Adding Value and Utilizing Natural Resources:
    -Creation of Directorate General of Agroindustry and Agribusiness at the Department of Agriculture
    -Imposition of export Tax of 60% for export of Rattan, this is a reversal of the agreement with the IMF in April 1998
    -The Minister of Trade to announce a new export strategy
    -A 1-year amnesty period starting from July 2001 for the forestry industry to be used by those in the industry to comply with rules and regulations.

    Legal Certainty:
    -Limited liabilities and limited partnerships only require ratification at regional offices of the Department of Legal Affairs rather than at the head office.
    -Introduction and passing of a new Manpower Law
    -Conduct review of regulations in the regions and overrule those which contradict or overlap with regulations made by the Central Government.
    -Abolish levies and fees of the regions with an emphasis on the abolition of levies and fees related to the slughter
    -Mergers, acquisitions, and consolidations of banks to be permitted on the conditions of maintenance of Capital Adequacy Ratio and continuing compliance with BLBI repayments.

    The large scope and length of the announcement meant that television channels ended up allocating large chunks of their day to covering and analyzing the announcement. Sumarlin and the ministers appeared on various channels to explain the policies.

    At 8 PM, the President appeared on television from his desk.

    “Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

    Earlier today cabinet ministers announced a collection of policies related to our economy. I will add no more to what has been announced other than to say that what they announced, I have approved. Rather I’m here to explain to you what the policy package today mean for the nation.

    The first thing is that it means that we are trying to protect our nation from a worldwide downturn and recession.

    The United States of America have for the first time in a decade ceased to grow during a quarter and may already be in a recession. What downturn the United States is experiencing will effect nations around the world whether that be Japan or Singapore and Malaysia in region. In fact this recession may already be effecting various nations.

    The Government has, as has been the case in the past when a crisis or a potential crisis had occurred., taken decisive steps to minimize the impact of the crisis. We are not taking anything for granted or feel that the crisis would not have impact on Indonesia. As we all remember, we all thought that our economy was strong enough to face the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997

    The second thing is that it means that we are trying to sustain economic growth.

    Last year our economic growth was 11.4% and it underlined the fact that we have overcome what economists have called the Asian Financial Crisis. But just as we have gotten out of the crisis, we are faced with an international downturn which threatened economic growth.

    We need economic growth. We need it to ensure that our men and women are employed; we need it to ensure that there is opportunity for businesses to establish itself and expand; and we need it to lift our fellow countrymen out of poverty. For these reasons, it would simply not do for our Nation to have one excellent year economically and then have less economic growth the next year. Our economic growth from year to year must be sustainable.

    The third thing is this Government is deepening the process of national development which this nation has undertaken for 3 decades.”

    Camera pans out to reveal that the President has a tea leaf and a “Teh Botol” on his table.

    “Last year, I visited Sri Lanka. What struck me the most about that visit was how successful Sri Lanka is when it comes to tea. It’s their largest export and probably their most important commodity. I spent a bit of time in their tea facilities and by the end of it, something became entirely clear.

    We in Indonesia are still focused on exporting raw goods (lifts tea leaves) rather than things that are value added (lifts Teh Botol).

    Indonesia is a larger economy than Sri Lanka and I dare say more prosperous and yet they are more successful at tea than we probably are with rice. They’ve got flavored tea, organic tea, tea bags…you name they’ve got it. They’ve even value added the packaging by having packaging standards which adheres to international standardization.

    There is an approach towards economic development here that we need to change and that’s not just limited to agriculture and tea. We have an electronics industry and export these electronics for which we should be proud of. But we still need to further develop our electronics component industry to provide spare parts for the electronic manufacturers. The same way we still need to develop our spare parts industry to provide more spare parts from within the country where it be for cars, motorcycles, or fishing boats.

    There’s a shift here that needs to occur with our mindset. We’re still at point where we focus too much on the numbers. If the numbers are good, we don’t feel like we need to do anything more We focus too much on rice production or how many electronics are produced instead of how to add value to our agricultural commodities or how to strengthen our industry. This shift of mindset could be applied elsewhere. In education, we’re still focusing on increasing participation rates at primary and secondary schools but not nearly enough on the kinds of human beings being produced in those schools.

    I’m not saying we need to ignore numbers, I’m saying that we need to look at the broader picture. And looking at the broader picture means not relaxing or being complacent or going back to things as they were before.

    My fellow Indonesians wherever you may be,

    Our nation’s economic position is strong. But the mistake here would be to underestimate what is happening in the world beyond our borders, to not take any steps to protect the hard work that has been done in the last few years, and for us to grow complacent. Instead, we must use our current economic position to become even stronger, even better, and even greater. Because it is my belief that we have it in us to be great.

    Thank you very much.

    Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.”

    ---
    I took a lot of policies from all over the place here. There’s bits of Habibie (Avtur and Avgas subsidies being abolished), Megawati (Tax office reorganization), and SBY (Only need to go to the Regional Office to register your corporation). Try's overall goal however is to sustain economic growth so that Indonesia can continue to develop.

    Nusantara 21 is the precursor of the Palapa Ring (Yes, ladies and gents it’s one of those projects that were on the agenda but then got sidelined by the Asian Financial Crisis).

    There’s some policies here that’s fictional (amnesty to ensure compliance by forest concessionaires) but this is in response to existing ITTL conditions. There’s mention in a past update, for example, that businesses that were run from home during the Asian Financial Crisis and became successful were now looking to move into ruko and rukan and so the policy for building permits is in response to that.
     
    121: In The Eyes of the World
  • 17th April 2001:
    At the Presidential Palace today, President Try Sutrisno welcomed the arrival of Prime Minister of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith who was freshly elected to the office at the Laos National Assembly Session. Bounnhang, accompanied by new Laos Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongloun Sisoulith both came to introduce themselves.

    After a meeting with the President, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita, and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat to discuss Indonesian-Laos relations, Try and Bounnhang held a joint press conference. When asked about the delay in the holding of the Vietnamese Communist Party National Congress, the President said that that’s a matter for the Vietnamese. What’s concerning is that it seems to be the case that the delay is due to pressure from the Chinese Communist Party. When asked about his thoughts on Indonesia, Bounnhang said that Indonesia goes from strength to strength.

    “First one out of the crisis, impressive growth figures last year…surviving this downturn and sustaining its economic growth will be icing on the cake”, said Bounnhang.

    18th April 2001:
    Overseeing preparations for the 2002 Elections at the PNI Headquarters, Chairwoman of PNI Megawati Soekarnoputri said to the press interviewing her that the policy package announced by the President would be unnecessary if the Indonesian economy was self-sufficient. Such a policy package only goes to show how integrated, instead of self-sufficient, the Indonesian economy has become in the world economy.

    Minister of Forestry and Environment Barnabas Suebu held a press conference to explain the “Forestry Amnesty” policy. Barnabas said that essentially the Government’s giving the forestry industry 15 months to get itself in order. 3 months to inform “everybody” about the policy and 12 months for people to get themselves in order.

    “If we look at every illegal logging case, illegal sawmills, smuggling whatever, that would take too much time”, said Barnabas “So we’re going to give them time to sort themselves out so they’re not shocked when we do take action.”

    19th April 2001:
    At Bandung, West Java today at the Sate Building, the President opened a Work Meeting with the nation’s Governors, Regents, and Mayors. With Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas and State Minister of Regional Autonomy Oemarsono, the President delivered a speech calling on the regional officials to have a twin priority over the next 24 months: the successful implementation of the 16th April Policy Package and the maintenance of security and stability to create a conducive situation for the 2002 Elections.

    From this event, he then went went to tour the head office of PT Pindad, the State Owned Army Industry company. There, accompanied by Commander of ABRI Wiranto, Army Chief of Staff Luhut Panjaitan, State Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Bacelius Ruru and State Minister of Research and Technology Indra Bambang Utoyo, the President inspected Pindad’s project, in particular a prototype of a light personnel carrier called the APR 1V.

    The President, however was more interested in the conversation going on behind him between Minister of Defense and Security Wismoyo Arismunandar and State Secretary Edi Sudrajat. Wismoyo said that when he purchased the Sukhoi back in Moscow, he did not get face time with President of Russia Yevgeny Primakov or Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin. Wismoyo felt like “they didn’t really care about us”.

    20th April 2001:
    The President held a luncheon at the Presidential Palace for the nation’s most prominent businessman. Vice President JB Sumarlin, Chairman of KADIN Aburizal Bakrie, and Chairman of Apindo Sofyan Wanandi sat beside him as he explained the 16th April Policy Package. The policies were generally well-received though the President detected a few frowning faces in the crowd, especially those with interests in forestry or as Edi Sudrajat joked later “those with luxury cars”.

    As the luncheon came to an end, the Try chatted with Sofyan Wanandi. Sofyan joked that the Government was still missing its best policy to ensure continuing economic growth. When Try asked what it was, Sofyan said the best Government policy to ensure continuing economic growth would be if the President announced that he would like to stand for re-election. Try smiled.

    23rd April 2001:
    Agus Dwikarna and Parlindungan Siregar, two men arrested in relation to their links to Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah, begin to have their cases heard at court in closed sessions. Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro said that the closed sessions were to avoid situations that are not conducive. Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo and Commander of Jakarta Regional Military Command Prijanto kept tabs on the movement of a group of demonstrators throughout the day and managed to keep them as far away as possible from court.

    24th April 2001:
    The President accompanied by State Minister of Youth and Sports Hajriyanto Thohari and Chairman of KONI IGK Manila visited the Gelora Senayan Stadium where the Indonesian National Football Team were training. He shook hands with the Manager Glenn Hoddle with the team. The team asked the President for his attendance during their 2002 World Cup Qualifying matches.

    “I’m saving up my appearance for the big match”, said the President.

    25th April 2001:
    OCDS Sugeng Subroto and Inspectors General of Development Moetojib, Sintong Panjaitan, Irsyad Sudiro, Baharuddin Lopa, and Bambang Sudibyo came out of a meeting with the President. Sugeng said that the President instructed all of them to be more vigilant when conducting supervision of Government projects, calling on them not only to ensure speed but that the funds are used properly without being pocketed by officials.

    Minister of Education Fakry Gaffar and Chairman of BP-7 Agus Widjojo in a joint press conference said that the President has approved of Budi Pekerti taking over the place of Pancasila Moral Education for kindergarten to 6th grade starting from the next educational year. Fakry said that the BP-7 has been involved so that Budi Pekerti would still be linked to the P4 Training but he said the emphasis now will be getting the “morals” right first for younger students as a preparation for them being ideologically sound.

    26th April 2001:
    Discussions about the Zakat and Wakaf Bills in the DPR today turned heated today as Minister of Religion Quraish Shihab introduced the Government’s amendments to the Zakat and Wakaf Bills:

    *For the Zakat Bill, the Government proposed an amendment which would see management of zakat be be entrusted to a National Zakat Agency. This is contrary to the initial bill proposed by the PKPB which would allow non-governmental and societal groups to establish their own Zakat institutions.

    *For the Wakaf Bill, the Government proposed an amendment that all references to “Sharia financial institutions” in the bill proposed by the PKPB be replaced to “profit-sharing banks”. This caused more of a stir with Leader of the PKPB in he DPR Hartono saying that “The Government is allergic to the term Sharia”.

    27th April 2001:
    After Friday Prayer, the President, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita, State Minister of National Security Soerjadi, Edi Sudrajat, and Governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso inspected the Jakarta Convention Center’s readiness to hold the G-15 Summit the next month. Ginandjar said that all of the heads of states/governments will be in attendance, some even coming in days prior to the event. Ginandjar also pointed out that the summit will be the largest gathering of non-aligned nations since John McCain and Yevgeny Primakov took office in the United States and Russia.

    The President’s ears were listening to the conversation of Edi and Soerjadi behind him. Edi talked about Wismoyo’s experience in Moscow when purchasing the Sukhois. Soerjadi explained that Primakov came to the Russian Presidency with the mindset that it will take an alliance of Russia, China, and India to stand up to the United States. The President kept a poker face as Ginandjar guided him around the building.

    30th April 2001:
    Try’s guest today, arriving for a visit was Vice President of the United States George W. Bush. After welcoming him at the Presidential Palace, they went in for talks. Try accompanied by Sumarlin, Ginandjar and Edi while Bush was accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Paul Wolfowitz.

    Bush began by going over the McCain Administration’s strategic goals. Dismissing the Clinton Administration for failing “to stand up to China” and allowing for the “emergence of Primakov”, Bush said that the McCain Administration will provide leadership the world needs and would not be soft like the previous one. It became something of a lecture.

    Regarding Southeast Asia, Bush said that the US is focusing on Northeast Asia saying that it was a bad year when the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of Taiwan tends towards China. The US wanted to correct this, strengthen links with South Korea, and encourage Japan and Taiwan to “rebalance” their relationship towards China.

    The conversation first went tense when they began discussing about the international economic situation. Bush said that developing counries seeking assistance during economic times should unconditionally adhere to IMF’s conditions. The change between the Clinton and McCain Administrations, Bush said, will also include stronger support for the IMF in enforcing its conditions. In this regard, Bush argued, he regrets Indonesia’s role in calling for leniency for Turkey at the D-8 Summit. Try said that the misfortune for the IMF here is if because the IMF’s conditions are too strict, Turkey collapses.

    “Your and a few other nations’ cases are aberrations and we want to keep it that way”, snapped Bush “We’d like to ask you not to urge other nations to ask for the special favors you got.”

    The next tense conversation was Bush saying that the McCain Administration had gotten the message from the Japanese Government about “applying pressure” to Freeport about divesting shares in its mines at Irian Jaya. Bush said that Freeport had made their case to him and his office had conducted a review of the situation and had determined that Freeport in Indonesia has no legal obligations to divest its shares to Indonesia. Bush said that if Indonesia had a problem with that, it was free to take Freeport to international arbitration but Freeport is equally free to take Indonesia to international arbitration if it felt that the Indonesian Government was trying to force the issue with Freeport.

    At each opportunity, Wolfowitz, former Ambassador to Indonesia as he was tried to soften the blow but Bush would insist on delivering the news in the bluntest way possible. Try, Sumarlin, and Ginandjar managed to remain calm though Edi could not hide the fact that he was not liking what was happening.

    Try managed to smile his way through a press conference with Bush and then to sit next to Bush and deliver speeches during dinner with the American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia. Privately he was dejected, feeling that he had failed on many aspects with Bush, especially with regards to Freeport.

    1st May 2001:
    As television screens showed Bush, Sumarlin, and Ginandjar having a business breakfast with KADIN at Bush’s hotel, the President, Edi Sudrajat, and Soerjadi watched all this on television.

    “So Freeport’s a no go for now”, said Try massaging his head “That and the fact that the McCain Administration’s Southeast Asia policy is to focus on Northeast Asia.”

    “I’m surprised he didn’t mention anything about the treaty the President signed in February with Thailand”, said Edi.

    “That probably shows the extent of how much they’re focusing on Northeast Asia instead of our part of the continent”, said Soerjadi.

    There was silence in the room as Bush cracked a joke in his keynote address.

    “So the US doesn’t see us as a priority, the Russians don’t see us as part of the equation…” began Try “I suppose the next question is how the hell do we look from China’s point of view?”

    “China’s ambivalent towards us, Mr. President”, said Soerjadi “Premier Zhu Rongji thinks China should take us seriously and treat us as a friend, Chairman of NPC Li Peng thinks China has bigger fish to fry in the United States, and President Jiang Zemin is somewhere in between.”

    Try continued to watch Bush make his speech. The other two officials watching the television with him.

    “If they want to count us out and not want us to be part of the equation, then let’s just enjoy the ride”, said Try “We’ll work on our agenda when they’re not looking and then they’ll be surprised at how strong we’ve gotten when they realize what’s going on.”

    ---
    Megawati Soekarnoputri’s comments here shows the difference between ITTL and OTL’s Megawati. OTL Megawati found herself implementing the IMF’s reforms during her presidency and seems to be quite pragmatic in terms of economic policy. ITTL Megawati, who still has a relatively politically outsider status is in a position to be more Soekarnoist.

    Primakov and the notion of a strategic triangle may be found at: https://www.rbth.com/blogs/2015/06/27/primakov_the_man_who_created_multipolarity_43919

    Essentially this update is about ITTL Indonesia’s stature in the ITTL world. It’s a dominating presence in Southeast Asia, it’s attracting respect from the third world, but it’s underrated and perhaps underestimated in the eyes of of the likes of the United States and Russia.
     
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