[Nasional-e] Megawati says her support had nothing to do with Sutiyoso's win

[Ambon]

THe Jakarta Post
Sept. 14, 2002

Megawati says her support had nothing to do with Sutiyoso's win

CAIRO (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri has said the support she gave
to Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso had nothing to do with his reelection victory.
"If he was reelected as governor, it was not because of me. Never relate it
to me," she told a press conference here Thursday night, winding up her
state visit to a number of African and European countries.
Egypt is the last leg of her two-week tour, which also took her to South
Africa for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, as well as Algeria,
Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.
The president's entourage includes her husband Taufik Kiemas, chief economic
minister Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan
Wirayudha, State Minister for Environment Nabiel Makarim, and Industry and
Trade Minister Rini MS Soewandi.
During the press conference, she said Sutiyoso's reelection was the decision
of Jakarta's legislative council made on Sept. 11.
She said it was actually common to support someone to run for a certain
post.
"(If it is said that) supporting others is okay, then why are the newspapers
so noisy when I support a certain person?" she said as quoted by Antara as
saying.
Megawati, in her capacity as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic
Party-Struggle (PDIP), gave her support for Sutioyoso's reelection.
The move prompted one candidate from the party, Roy BB Janis, to negate his
bid for the gubernatorial race.
Paired with Fauzi Bowo as vice governor, Sutiyoso was reelected for the
2002-2007 term on Wednesday by 47 of 84 city councillors, despite outrage
and opposition from tens of thousands of demonstrators from various
organizations and student groups.
At least 25 students suffered serious wounds as they were hit by rubber
bullets, tear gas canisters and water cannons. Other demonstrators were
poisoned when an unidentified man handed out tainted food.
Sutiyoso is a suspect in the attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
headquarters on July 27, 1996, then occupied by Megawati's supporters. At
least four were killed and scores of others injured in the incident.