INDONESIA: INDONESIANS REACT TO UNOFFICIAL VICTORY OF SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Record ID: 648688

  • Title: INDONESIA: INDONESIANS REACT TO UNOFFICIAL VICTORY OF SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
  • Date: 22nd September 2004
  • Summary: (W3)JAKARTA, INDONESIA (SEPTEMBER 21, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF CARS STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT; SLV NEWSPAPERS VENDORS SHOUTING "SBY PRESIDENT"; SCU VENDOR SHOWING FRONT PAGE OF NEWSPAPERS TO DRIVER INSIDE CAR; SLV VENDORS SELLING NEWSPAPERS ON STREET 0.25 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) YANTO, DELIVERY DRIVER, SAYING: "I think it is only fair that SBY (Yudhoyono) wins because he has a lot of support ranging from the lower to upper classes. My wish is, as part of the little people, that there will be change, especially in terms of the economy as well as politics." 0.47 3. MV NEWSPAPER BOY 0.52 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) SUPRIYADI, DRIVER, SAYING: "Well, I am very pleased." 0.59 5. WIDE OF NEWSPAPER STANDS; PEOPLE LOOKING AT NEWSPAPERS; SCU HEADLINES ABOUT YUDHOYONO AS NEXT INDONESIAN PRESIDENT 1.15 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) HELMI RAHMAN, JAKARTA RESIDENT, SAYING: "I myself want changes to be done in the fields of education and health care." 1.22 7. SCU MAN READING NEWSPAPER; SCU FRONT-PAGE ARTICLE; SLV ROW OF NEWSPAPER STANDS 1.36 8. SLV RUPIAH TRADERS; SCU EXCHANGE RATES BOARD; TRADERS 1.59 9. HAS STOCK MARKET; SCU SCREEN WITH GRAPH SHOWING YUDHOYONO IN THE LEAD; SCU MORE OF GRAPH TALLYING COUNT; SCU STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF YUDHOYONO WITH RUNNING MATE JUSUF KALLA 3.37 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 7th October 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVA35G7E0IQTMXMFL0HFAZ9OIW11
  • Story Text: Indonesians react to unofficial victory of Susilo
    Bambang Yudhoyono in presidential elections.

    An urbane former general who promises to fight
    terror and clean up the government is heading for an
    overwhelming victory against incumbent Megawati
    Sukarnoputri following Indonesia's first direct
    presidential election.

    Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Megawati's one-time chief
    security minister, has been projected by a coalition of
    independent survey groups to win 61.2 percent, with
    Megawati getting 38.8 percent.

    Indonesians on Monday (September 21) reacted positively
    to the projected results, the day after the election.

    "Well, I am very pleased," said Supriyadi, driver of a
    three-wheeled passenger vehicle.

    Asked what they expected of their first-ever directly
    elected future president, most answered that they would
    like see changes to be made for a better Indonesia.

    "I think it is only fair that SBY (Susilo Bambang
    Yudhoyono) wins because he has a lot of support ranging
    from the lower to upper classes. My wish is, as part of the
    little people, that there will be change, especially in
    terms of the economy as well as politics," said Yanto, who
    delivers drinking water for a living.

    Yudhoyono is affectionately known by his initials "SBY".

    "I myself want changes to be done in the fields of
    education and health care," said another Jakarta resident
    Helmi Rahman.

    Some 151 million people were eligible to vote Monday
    (September 20) in an election run-off, which capped a
    draining election season in Indonesia that began with
    parliamentary polls in April.

    Turnout was estimated at 80 percent.

    The direct ballots, a rarity in the Muslim world, showed
    Indonesia's democracy has matured six years since
    the downfall of longtime strongman Suharto and after
    predictions of violence between rival party supporters
    proved unfounded. Previously, a national assembly chose the
    country's leaders.

    The country's stock and currency markets, unnerved by
    political uncertainty leading up to the election, are
    expected to trade higher following the smooth and peaceful
    ballot.

    Meanwhile, by 0315 GMT on Tuesday (September 21),
    Indonesia's election commission had so far officially
    tallied more than 60 million ballots, nearly 50 percent
    of the estimated voter turnout, with Yudhoyono at 60.2
    percent and Megawati 39.8 percent.

    The final result is scheduled to be declared on Oct. 5,
    while the presidential inauguration is slated for Oct. 20.

    Indonesia's rupiah currency and stocks are expected to
    rally after Monday's peaceful second round presidential
    election and indications former general Susilo Bambang
    Yudhoyono had won.

    The rupiah had appreciated to 9,030 to the dollar as of
    late Monday trade, from 9,285 rupiah in late trading on
    September 9 after a bomb blast that day at the Australian
    embassy in central Jakarta.

    The stock market hit an intra-day record in early trade
    before losing some gains on profit-taking, while the rupiah
    currency was trading around a two-month high.

    Many hope Yudhoyono will retain Megawati's
    well-respected finance minister, Boediono, in his cabinet,
    although there has been no indication the soft-spoken
    economist wants to stay.

    In past elections, early counting has proved a reliable
    guide to final results and pre-election polls as well as an
    independent survey of Monday's vote also forecast a
    Yudhoyono victory.

    Given the custom among Indonesians from the main island
    of Java, home to Yudhoyono, to act with caution and to
    follow strict etiquette, he would probably prefer nearly
    all the vote to be counted or a nod from election
    commission officials before he announces victory.


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