Susilo leading in the polls . . . a new dawn for Indonesia?
Catholics divided over the results.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) With 26 per cent of the ballots counted, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (aka 'SYB') is leading with 59.5 per cent against 40.5 for President Megawati Sukarnoputri. According to international observers the election was conducted "without problems" despite the September 9 attack against the Australian Embassy which had led many to fear similar actions by Jemaah Islamiah, a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda.
In a statement Mr Susilo said early results were "promising" and thanked President Megawati for conducting the election in "a peaceful and democratic manner". He called on other political leaders to continue the reform process in order to "develop democracy in Indonesia".
Many leading Indonesian figures, including human rights activists, congratulated Susilo; among them former President Abdurrahman Wahid and human rights activist Marsillam Simandjutak who also met Susilo to express their satisfaction with the early results.
Through one of its leading member, even the powerful Sino-Indonesian community expressed its support for Susilo as "the best choice". "Megawati's government was a setback in the fight against corruption," said Lin Chen Wei, a Sino-Indonesian financial analyst.
In fact, many Indonesians were put off by her decision not to prosecute rich Sino-Indonesians who had embezzled millions of rupiahs. They were further appalled by her inability to repatriate capital illegally transferred abroad.
Surveys had predicted Susilo's victory with at least a 52 per cent support. For many analysts his image as a western-educated former military man, untouched by corruption, was his winning car in a campaign dominated by two issues: the fight against terrorism and the eradication of corruption. By contrast, Megawati was unable to redistribute the benefits of economic growth to larger segments of Indonesian society. After projecting an image as the "the mother of the nation" and the friend of the poor in the 2001 elections, she came to be seen as the friend of the rich and powerful, an ally of the top army brass.
Megawati's corruption fighter image was dealt a serious blow when her husband Taukik Kiemas was appointed head of an Indonesian delegation sent to China to negotiate a gas deal. His reputation is still tarnished by allegations of corruption.
Susilo's victory does not come without some worrying signs, at least for Catholics. His candidacy was in fact backed by Islamic parties like the National Mandate Party and the Crescent Party whose leading figures want to see Islamic law bolstered in the country.
Budi Handoyo, a catholic from St Bernadette parish in Cileduk told AsiaNews: "I am a bit anxious. Is SYB the right choice for us since he is supported by Islamic parties?" However, for Father Franz Magnis-Suseno, a Jesuit priest and professor at the Driyarkara Philosophical Institute, "people chose Susilo for his programme which is more explicitly anti-corruption. Voters tend to look at the best offer and, based on his programme, Susilo seems to be it."
Still, there are shadows in Susilo's past. In 2000 he resigned as Security Minister from then President Wahid's administration refusing to proclaim a state of emergency to stop Indonesia's parliament from impeaching the president. In March 2004, after antagonising President Megawati and her husband, he resigned from the same post. For local observers Susilo used both actions to claim that he was a victim of presidential intrigue.
Unlike his political career, his service in the army has not been spotless. In 1999 as Chief of Territorial Affairs he would have reported directly to General Wiranto, the former head of the armed forces who is now accused for the war crimes committed by Indonesian troops during the period of transition that led to the referendum on East Timor's independence. He did not however raise any concerns about the violence.
Despite Susilo's silence over what happened in the erstwhile Indonesian province, there has never been any attempt to bring charges against him. (MH)
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11/08/2017 20:05
