WIRANTO LAUNCHES NEW PARTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 013577

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KISL ID
SUBJECT: WIRANTO LAUNCHES NEW PARTY

REF: A. JAKARTA 13526 (POLITICAL GOSSIP QS 3&4)


B. 05 JAKARTA 12416 INDONESIAN OPPOSITION GROUP

C. 04 JAKARTA 6446 FEAR OF VIOLENCE FROM WIRANTO

D. 04 JAKARTA 3696 WIRANTO WINS GOLKAR NOMINATION

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Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER ERIC W. KNEEDLER, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND
(D).


1. (C) Summary. Retired General Wiranto unveiled his new
political party, the People's Conscience Party (Hanura),on
December 21. Flanked by several prominent political and
military personalities, the failed 2004 presidential
candidate announced his new party would help serve as a
vehicle for the disenfranchised, develop a new generation of
leaders, enforce the rule of law and protect human rights.
Despite the heavy presence of retired military figures on the
party's central board, Wiranto denied that Hanura was a
military party. Wiranto's announcement marked the first step
in what will undoubtedly be another attempt to capture the
presidency, though most analysts dismissed his prospects.
End Summary.

WIRANTO'S NEW PARTY
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2. (C) Wiranto unveiled his Hanura party on December 20 and
immediately announced the party's leadership structure, a
veritable who's who of old order military figures. Wiranto
will chair the party, while insurance businessman Yus Usman
Sumanegara will serve as the party secretary-general.
According to media reporting, the party's central board
included: former Army Chief of Staff General Subagyo, former
Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Bernard Ken Sondakh, former Army
Deputy Commander General Fachrul Razi, and former military
Chief of General Affairs Lieutenant General Suaidi
Marasabessy. The board also included former Suharto era
Finance Minister Fuad Bawazier, former Women's Affairs
Minister Tuti Alawiyah, and a few actors.


3. (C) Several high profile political personalities attended
the ceremony announcing the party's creation, a group that
closely resembled the senior political figures opposed to the
Yudhoyono administration who have informally met in the past
(Ref B). These included: former President Abdurrahman Wahid
(Gus Dur),former Golkar Party Chairman Akbar Tandjung,
former Vice President Try Sutrisno and former Army Chief of
Staff Ryamizard Ryacudu. Following the ceremony, Gus Dur
praised Wiranto's leadership capabilities and endorsed the
Hanura party's prospects in the 2009 elections.

WIRANTO REACHING FOR THE BRASS RING, BUT DOES ANYONE CARE?
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Ref A reported on Wiranto's aggressive pursuit of a
vehicle for his presidential ambitions. Though Wiranto has
not spoken publicly of Hanura's potential to serve as a
platform for a 2009 bid, our contacts tell us he clearly
believes he can use the party to become a viable candidate.
One of Hanura's central board members, Suaidi Marasabessy,
told us Wiranto created the party as part of a comprehensive
strategy to position himself for a competitive bid for the
presidency in 2009.


5. (C) When we asked noted Indonesian political activist
Hariman Siregar about the new party, Hariman dismissed it as
"a money laundering tool for the old order generals." The
former close associate of Wiranto told us Wiranto created
Hanura because he wanted to replicate SBY's success in
establishing his own political party to become president.
Hariman laughed off Wiranto's chances of reproducing SBY's
success, sarcastically telling us that Wiranto's plan was
perfect, "save for the fact that he does not enjoy SBY's
popularity."


6. (C) Wiranto's party launch was not covered all that
extensively by the mainstream Indonesian media, reflecting
perhaps the conventional wisdom that Wiranto's best chance at
the presidency has already passed.

COMMENT
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7. (C) Wiranto most likely created the Hanura party to serve
as a vehicle for his 2009 presidential bid after coming to

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terms with the fact that he did not have a realistic chance
of running as a major party candidate. Though most of our
contacts dismiss Wiranto's presidential prospects out of
hand, noting his very poor showing in 2004 and widespread
concerns about his human rights record, Wiranto remains a
charismatic, highly recognizable political figure with deep
pockets. Wiranto is nothing if not ruthlessly ambitious and
calculating and given the paucity of credible presidential
candidates for 2009 at this early stage, it is easy to see
how he could once again emerge as a serious presidential
contender.
HEFFERN