Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA1216
2008-06-23 08:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
CENTRAL JAVA -- OPPOSITION PARTY WINS GOVERNOR'S
how-toVZCZCXRO0868 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #1216/01 1750851 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 230851Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9356 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2667 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1066 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1030 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1936 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4683 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2124 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2764 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 2756 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 0900 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001216
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV KISL KDEM ID
SUBJECT: CENTRAL JAVA -- OPPOSITION PARTY WINS GOVERNOR'S
RACE
REF: A. JAKARTA 1185
B. JAKARTA 1076
C. JAKARTA 939
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001216
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV KISL KDEM ID
SUBJECT: CENTRAL JAVA -- OPPOSITION PARTY WINS GOVERNOR'S
RACE
REF: A. JAKARTA 1185
B. JAKARTA 1076
C. JAKARTA 939
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Preliminary results indicate that the
Indonesian Party of Democratic Struggle (PDI-P) has won the
Central Java gubernatorial election. The election in
Indonesia's third largest province by population took place
on June 22 and no problems were reported. The
Islamic-leaning PKS coalition came in third, a relatively
poor showing for the party given its recent track record.
The PDI-P victory is a boost to the party and its leader,
former president Megawati, a key contender in the 2009
presidential race. END SUMMARY.
PDI-P WINS
2. (U) Preliminary results indicate that PDI-P has won the
Central Java gubernatorial election held on June 22. (Note:
Central Java, which includes the major cities of Semarang and
Solo, is Indonesia's third largest province by population.
It has roughly 35 million residents.) Based on the ongoing
vote tabulation and the quick counts, PDI-P candidate Lt.
General (ret.) Bibit Waluyo and vice-governor candidate
Rustriningsih (one name only) are way ahead with a lead that
appears insurmountable. It will take several more days for
the Election Commission to finish the vote count.
3. (U) As of late June 23, the results are:
-- PDI-P 42%
-- Golkar/Nahdlatul Ulama 22%
-- Democratic Party/Prosperous Justice Party 17%
-- United Development Party/National Mandate Party 12%
ELECTION PROCEEDS WITHOUT PROBLEMS
4. (U) Voting proceeded peacefully and reportedly without
any problems. Mission team that was based in Semarang, the
capital of the province, spoke to various observers who said
there had been no incidents. The U.S. team witnessed voters
going to the polls peacefully during the course of the
election. Election observers estimated only a 54% turnout,
the lowest turnout among recent gubernatorial elections.
PDI-P RUNS A STRONG CAMPAIGN
5. (C) Observers agree that PDI-P ran a strong campaign.
PDI-P contacts asserted that it had a 55,000-strong
grassroots organization in Central Java, which was successful
in delivering a message of good governance and prosperity.
Some contacts asserted that Waluyo was not a particularly
strong candidate. His running mate, Rustriningsih, was
considered quite popular, however. She is also close to
former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, who contributed to
the win by campaigning heavily in the region.
6. (SBU) The Golkar coalition with 22% of the vote and the
coalition candidates of the PD (President Yudhoyono's party)
and Muslim-oriented PKS with only 17% fell far short of
expectations. Golkar,s strategy of meeting mainly with
small groups (as opposed to holding big campaign rallies) and
PKS, decision to align itself with a candidate tarnished by
allegations of corruption contributed to their defeat.
GOLKAR-NU ALLIANCE DOESN'T WORK OUT
7. (C) Golkar and its alliance with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),a
JAKARTA 00001216 002 OF 002
major Muslim group, did not do well in the election. Acting
NU Chair (Central Java) Abu Hofsin told us that NU,s
alliance with Golkar was based on a political calculation
that Golkar would win the Central Java governorship. Hofsin
said the local NU leadership believed National Awakening
Party (PKB)--NU's usual partner in elections--would not win
the election due to the party's internal divisions at the
national level. Hofsin said NU expected to re-establish its
political relationship with PKB once the party resolved its
internal conflicts.
POSITIVE FOR MEGAWATI
8. (C) The results are very positive news for Megawati, who
is planning to run for president again in 2009. It is the
case, however, that the PDI-P has been quite strong in the
Central Java region historically and the party basically
performed at a level expected of it. The Central Java result
ends the string of recent positive news for the Islamic
leaning PKS, which won earlier gubernatorial races in West
Java and North Sumatra and performed well in the East
Kalimantan race. The results do nothing for the case of
President Yudhoyono and his Democratic Party (PD),and
Golkar, the country's largest party--both PD and Golkar
underperformed.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV KISL KDEM ID
SUBJECT: CENTRAL JAVA -- OPPOSITION PARTY WINS GOVERNOR'S
RACE
REF: A. JAKARTA 1185
B. JAKARTA 1076
C. JAKARTA 939
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Preliminary results indicate that the
Indonesian Party of Democratic Struggle (PDI-P) has won the
Central Java gubernatorial election. The election in
Indonesia's third largest province by population took place
on June 22 and no problems were reported. The
Islamic-leaning PKS coalition came in third, a relatively
poor showing for the party given its recent track record.
The PDI-P victory is a boost to the party and its leader,
former president Megawati, a key contender in the 2009
presidential race. END SUMMARY.
PDI-P WINS
2. (U) Preliminary results indicate that PDI-P has won the
Central Java gubernatorial election held on June 22. (Note:
Central Java, which includes the major cities of Semarang and
Solo, is Indonesia's third largest province by population.
It has roughly 35 million residents.) Based on the ongoing
vote tabulation and the quick counts, PDI-P candidate Lt.
General (ret.) Bibit Waluyo and vice-governor candidate
Rustriningsih (one name only) are way ahead with a lead that
appears insurmountable. It will take several more days for
the Election Commission to finish the vote count.
3. (U) As of late June 23, the results are:
-- PDI-P 42%
-- Golkar/Nahdlatul Ulama 22%
-- Democratic Party/Prosperous Justice Party 17%
-- United Development Party/National Mandate Party 12%
ELECTION PROCEEDS WITHOUT PROBLEMS
4. (U) Voting proceeded peacefully and reportedly without
any problems. Mission team that was based in Semarang, the
capital of the province, spoke to various observers who said
there had been no incidents. The U.S. team witnessed voters
going to the polls peacefully during the course of the
election. Election observers estimated only a 54% turnout,
the lowest turnout among recent gubernatorial elections.
PDI-P RUNS A STRONG CAMPAIGN
5. (C) Observers agree that PDI-P ran a strong campaign.
PDI-P contacts asserted that it had a 55,000-strong
grassroots organization in Central Java, which was successful
in delivering a message of good governance and prosperity.
Some contacts asserted that Waluyo was not a particularly
strong candidate. His running mate, Rustriningsih, was
considered quite popular, however. She is also close to
former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, who contributed to
the win by campaigning heavily in the region.
6. (SBU) The Golkar coalition with 22% of the vote and the
coalition candidates of the PD (President Yudhoyono's party)
and Muslim-oriented PKS with only 17% fell far short of
expectations. Golkar,s strategy of meeting mainly with
small groups (as opposed to holding big campaign rallies) and
PKS, decision to align itself with a candidate tarnished by
allegations of corruption contributed to their defeat.
GOLKAR-NU ALLIANCE DOESN'T WORK OUT
7. (C) Golkar and its alliance with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),a
JAKARTA 00001216 002 OF 002
major Muslim group, did not do well in the election. Acting
NU Chair (Central Java) Abu Hofsin told us that NU,s
alliance with Golkar was based on a political calculation
that Golkar would win the Central Java governorship. Hofsin
said the local NU leadership believed National Awakening
Party (PKB)--NU's usual partner in elections--would not win
the election due to the party's internal divisions at the
national level. Hofsin said NU expected to re-establish its
political relationship with PKB once the party resolved its
internal conflicts.
POSITIVE FOR MEGAWATI
8. (C) The results are very positive news for Megawati, who
is planning to run for president again in 2009. It is the
case, however, that the PDI-P has been quite strong in the
Central Java region historically and the party basically
performed at a level expected of it. The Central Java result
ends the string of recent positive news for the Islamic
leaning PKS, which won earlier gubernatorial races in West
Java and North Sumatra and performed well in the East
Kalimantan race. The results do nothing for the case of
President Yudhoyono and his Democratic Party (PD),and
Golkar, the country's largest party--both PD and Golkar
underperformed.
HUME