INDONESIA: FORMER AUTOCRAT SUHARTO IS BACK IN POLITICS WITH A PARTY THAT WANTS HIS DAUGHTER AS THEIR CANDIDATE IN NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Record ID: 584944

  • Title: INDONESIA: FORMER AUTOCRAT SUHARTO IS BACK IN POLITICS WITH A PARTY THAT WANTS HIS DAUGHTER AS THEIR CANDIDATE IN NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
  • Date: 5th December 2003
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (DECEMBER 3, 2003)(REUTERS) 1. MV FORMER INDONESIAN PRESIDENT, SUHARTO'S DAUGHTER, SITI HARDIYANTI RUKMANA, KNOWN AS TUTUT, ENTERING ROOM; MV JOURNALISTS WAITING FOR PHOTO OPPORTUNITY 0.09 2. MV TUTUT AND HER HUSBAND, INDRA RUKMANA, POSING WITH PARTY CHIEF, HARTONO, AND HIS WIFE; SCU TUTUT 0.21 3. (SOUNDBITE)(Bahasa Indonesia) PARTY CHIEF HARTONO,SAYING "For your information, Tutut was present at the meeting between myself and Suharto when he ordered me to establish a new party." 0.38 4. MV TUTUT WALKING TOWARD PODIUM 0.47 5. (SOUNDBITE)(Bahasa Indonesia) TUTUT, SAYING "We'll see whether I am considered capable or not (audience applauding) because it is not easy being the President. It is very very difficult. Don't think that it is nice to be the President, it is hard to spread prosper ity among the people, maintain unity and security as well." 1.20 6. MV TUTUT LEAVING THE BUILDING 1.36 (W3) JAKARTA, INDONESIA (FILE) (REUTERS) 8. MV SUHARTO AND TUTUT ARRIVING HOME FROM HOSPITAL (2 SHOTS) 2.00 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVABB7FP67B4QC9R1S30Z6NGKDJ7
  • Story Text: Indonesia's former autocrat Suharto is back in
    politics with a party that wants his daughter as their
    candidate in next year's presidential elections.

    On Wednesday (December 3) officials from the Duty
    and Concern for the Nation Party (PKPB) gathered at their
    national headquarters near former president Suharto's home
    in an elite Jakarta residential area, and voiced their
    support for business mogul Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, known
    as Mbak Tutut (Sister Tutut).

    Tutut was seen as the most politically astute figure
    among Suharto's six children but has been largely absent
    from public view since Suharto was forced to step down in
    1998.

    Suharto, 82, resigned the leadership following
    student-led protests and mass rioting in Jakarta and has
    been mostly confined to his home since, complaining of
    ill-health.

    Tutut, who briefly served as social minister, built her
    business empire under Suharto's 32 years tenure with the
    help of political connections, but no charges were brought
    against her.

    Suharto's policies helped take Indonesia from the brink
    of bankruptcy in the late 1960s to a booming economy but
    his iron-fisted rule drew heavy criticism for corruption,
    and many of his economic achievements quickly disappeared
    in the Asian crisis of the late 1990s.

    PKPB was formed when Suharto sought a new political
    vehicle after his removal five years ago, but the party was
    only officially established in November of 2002, its chief
    Hartono said.

    "For your information, Tutut was present at the meeting
    between myself and Suharto when he ordered me to establish
    a new party" Hartono said, adding that Suharto holds no
    position in the party.

    When asked whether she wanted to run for the
    presidential election, Tutut said, "We'll see whether I am
    considered capable or not because it is not easy being the
    President. It is very very difficult. Don't think that is
    nice to be the President, it is hard to bring prosperity
    among the people, maintain unity and security as well," she
    said.

    Hartono insisted Tutut was more than willing to be in
    the race next year.

    But many doubt that would translate into votes for
    family members as much as for politicians seen as strong
    leaders with a military background in his mold.


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