Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04JAKARTA10111
2004-10-18 09:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
A WIN FOR YUDHOYONO IN PARLIAMENT: ARMED FORCES
how-toO 180925Z OCT 04 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4498 INFO ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY NSC WASHDC PRIORITY SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY XMT AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 010111
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2014
TAGS: PGOV MARR KDEM ID
SUBJECT: A WIN FOR YUDHOYONO IN PARLIAMENT: ARMED FORCES
COMMANDER HEARING DELAYED
REF: A. JAKARTA 9799 (SUTARTO REMAINS IN COMMAND)
B. JAKARTA 9750 (YUDHOYONO MEET AMBASSADOR)
C. JAKARTA 9664 (PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS ELECTED)
Classified By: Political Officer David R. Greenberg, reason: 1.4 (d).
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 010111
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2014
TAGS: PGOV MARR KDEM ID
SUBJECT: A WIN FOR YUDHOYONO IN PARLIAMENT: ARMED FORCES
COMMANDER HEARING DELAYED
REF: A. JAKARTA 9799 (SUTARTO REMAINS IN COMMAND)
B. JAKARTA 9750 (YUDHOYONO MEET AMBASSADOR)
C. JAKARTA 9664 (PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS ELECTED)
Classified By: Political Officer David R. Greenberg, reason: 1.4 (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) The House of Representatives (DPR) on October 15 voted
to slow-track President Megawati's appointment of Ryamizard
Ryacudu as Armed Forces (TNI) Commander. This decision marks
a victory for President-elect Yudhoyono, who recently told
the Ambassador he did not appreciate Megawati's nominating
Ryamizard in her final days in office (ref B). However, the
coalition of parties supporting Yudhoyono in parliament
remains fragile and could disintegrate if party leaders
disagree with Yudhoyono's cabinet choices. Yudhoyono likely
will revoke the presidential letter to the DPR that sought to
elevate Ryamizard, instead retaining Endriartono Sutarto as
TNI Commander. End Summary.
MAJORITY RESISTS PRO-MEGAWATI COALITION
--------------
2. (U) Members of the DPR decided in an October 15 plenary
session to defer action on President Megawati's letter
requesting DPR approval of Army Chief of Staff Ryamizard
Ryacudu's appointment as Commander of the Armed Forces (TNI)
(ref A). The debate over how to react to Megawati's letter
reflected a division along partisan lines. "National
Coalition" parties that had backed President Megawati's
reelection effort (minus the United Development Party -- PPP
-- which recently broke off) argued that the DPR should
establish a Special Committee (PANSUS) to hold hearings over
the weekend and pave the way for a change of command prior to
President-elect Yudhoyono's inauguration. The parties
outside of the National Coalition -- a loose grouping often
dubbed the "People's Coalition," currently aligned with
Yudhoyono -- argued that hearings could wait until the DPR
had established its commissions for the 2004-2009 period.
3. (U) After a break for closed-door consultations,
Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party - Struggle (PDI-P) and
its allies gave in to the majority position. (Note: The
National Coalition now consists of Golkar, PDI-P, the
Prosperous Peace Party (PDS),and the Reform Star Party (PBR)
-- representing a combined total of 264 of the DPR's 550
seats. End Note.) Presumably, once inaugurated, Yudhoyono
will send a new letter to the DPR, keeping TNI Commander
Endriartono Sutarto in place and rendering this issue moot.
4. (C) In the legislative battle over Sutarto's resignation
and Ryamizard's appointment, Yudhoyono and his allies
overcame opposition from a coalition that includes the two
largest political parties. However, the same pro-Yudhoyono
constellation failed during the vote for DPR leadership
positions (ref C),at least partly because of a split in the
National Awakening Party. On that occasion, parties' core
interests were at stake, and the National Coalition devoted
substantial resources to install its leadership slate. By
contrast, sparse attendance on October 15 -- barely more than
half the DPR's legislators showed up for the plenary session
-- indicated that few parliamentarians felt a personal stake
in the outcome of the TNI debate.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Despite its initial victory in the TNI leadership
controversy, the People's Coalition represents a collection
of odd bedfellows that could easily disintegrate. By October
17, officials from two Islamist parties, the Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS) and the Crescent Moon and Star Party
(PBB),threatened publicly to reevaluate their support for
the President-elect, depending on the choices he makes for
his cabinet.
6. (C) Efforts to elevate Ryamizard in the final days of
Megawati's administration seemed driven by a degree of petty
vindictiveness on the President's part. Megawati appears to
have decided against explicitly conceding her election
defeat, meeting with Yudhoyono prior to her leaving office,
or attending his inauguration.
BOYCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2014
TAGS: PGOV MARR KDEM ID
SUBJECT: A WIN FOR YUDHOYONO IN PARLIAMENT: ARMED FORCES
COMMANDER HEARING DELAYED
REF: A. JAKARTA 9799 (SUTARTO REMAINS IN COMMAND)
B. JAKARTA 9750 (YUDHOYONO MEET AMBASSADOR)
C. JAKARTA 9664 (PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS ELECTED)
Classified By: Political Officer David R. Greenberg, reason: 1.4 (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) The House of Representatives (DPR) on October 15 voted
to slow-track President Megawati's appointment of Ryamizard
Ryacudu as Armed Forces (TNI) Commander. This decision marks
a victory for President-elect Yudhoyono, who recently told
the Ambassador he did not appreciate Megawati's nominating
Ryamizard in her final days in office (ref B). However, the
coalition of parties supporting Yudhoyono in parliament
remains fragile and could disintegrate if party leaders
disagree with Yudhoyono's cabinet choices. Yudhoyono likely
will revoke the presidential letter to the DPR that sought to
elevate Ryamizard, instead retaining Endriartono Sutarto as
TNI Commander. End Summary.
MAJORITY RESISTS PRO-MEGAWATI COALITION
--------------
2. (U) Members of the DPR decided in an October 15 plenary
session to defer action on President Megawati's letter
requesting DPR approval of Army Chief of Staff Ryamizard
Ryacudu's appointment as Commander of the Armed Forces (TNI)
(ref A). The debate over how to react to Megawati's letter
reflected a division along partisan lines. "National
Coalition" parties that had backed President Megawati's
reelection effort (minus the United Development Party -- PPP
-- which recently broke off) argued that the DPR should
establish a Special Committee (PANSUS) to hold hearings over
the weekend and pave the way for a change of command prior to
President-elect Yudhoyono's inauguration. The parties
outside of the National Coalition -- a loose grouping often
dubbed the "People's Coalition," currently aligned with
Yudhoyono -- argued that hearings could wait until the DPR
had established its commissions for the 2004-2009 period.
3. (U) After a break for closed-door consultations,
Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party - Struggle (PDI-P) and
its allies gave in to the majority position. (Note: The
National Coalition now consists of Golkar, PDI-P, the
Prosperous Peace Party (PDS),and the Reform Star Party (PBR)
-- representing a combined total of 264 of the DPR's 550
seats. End Note.) Presumably, once inaugurated, Yudhoyono
will send a new letter to the DPR, keeping TNI Commander
Endriartono Sutarto in place and rendering this issue moot.
4. (C) In the legislative battle over Sutarto's resignation
and Ryamizard's appointment, Yudhoyono and his allies
overcame opposition from a coalition that includes the two
largest political parties. However, the same pro-Yudhoyono
constellation failed during the vote for DPR leadership
positions (ref C),at least partly because of a split in the
National Awakening Party. On that occasion, parties' core
interests were at stake, and the National Coalition devoted
substantial resources to install its leadership slate. By
contrast, sparse attendance on October 15 -- barely more than
half the DPR's legislators showed up for the plenary session
-- indicated that few parliamentarians felt a personal stake
in the outcome of the TNI debate.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Despite its initial victory in the TNI leadership
controversy, the People's Coalition represents a collection
of odd bedfellows that could easily disintegrate. By October
17, officials from two Islamist parties, the Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS) and the Crescent Moon and Star Party
(PBB),threatened publicly to reevaluate their support for
the President-elect, depending on the choices he makes for
his cabinet.
6. (C) Efforts to elevate Ryamizard in the final days of
Megawati's administration seemed driven by a degree of petty
vindictiveness on the President's part. Megawati appears to
have decided against explicitly conceding her election
defeat, meeting with Yudhoyono prior to her leaving office,
or attending his inauguration.
BOYCE