24th June 2003:
Arriving at the DPR building for work and being crowded around by the press, Chairman of the DPR Matori Abdul Djalil said that the PKPB Extraordinary National Congress was a matter for the the PKPB to resolve. From the DPR’s point of view, however, Matori hopes that the situation will be resolved soon because it is causing disruption to the DPR’s agenda and that the DPR is practically not in session because its PKPB members are out of Jakarta campaigning for whoever they are supporting at the PKPB Extraordinary National Congress.
At the Presidential Palace, President Try Sutrisno met with Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo. Ari spoke about his recent trip out of Jakarta which took him to Aceh, Irian Jaya, and East Timor over the last few weeks. He spoke of the “eerie silence” as far as any traces of the GAM, OPM, and FRETILIN in those three provinces were concerned. No acts of terror against local security apparatus or against the general community, no weapons being stolen in raids, no unofficial taxes being imposed on local populace, even the known FRETILIN presence in East Timor has been dormant and not attempted to do anything since the Singapore Settlement in 1999.
“It’s silence inside the country but it’s clear from what we know that something is being prepared from outside of the country”, the President said “Something doesn’t add up.”
25th June 2003:
Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo, Head of the BKPM Mari Pangestu and Junior Minister of Finance Darmin Nasution held a joint press conference after they emerged out of the meeting with the President. Siswono said that the government had received a letter from South Korea’s KIA Motors informing the government of its intention to terminate its partnership with car manufacturers PT. Timor Putra Nasional and to invest in Indonesia on its own accord rather than as part of a partnership with. Timor. Mari said that while the termination of the partnership between Kita Motors and Timor was a matter for the companies in question, the President has instructed that KIA Motors be accommodated accordingly so they can invest in Indonesia as a single actor rather than as part of a partnership.
When asked about what will happen to Timor, Siswono said that this was a matter for Timor to decide as a private enterprise but added that the only thing that is for certain is that the arrangement between KIA Motors and Timor is coming to an end.
Darmin added that another thing that is certain is that Timor still has outstanding debt to the state in the form of duties and taxes. Darmin pointed to the fact that in the period that Timor enjoyed National Car status, it had imported 40,000 units of cars from South Korea without having had to pay import duties, import VATs, and luxury goods VATs. While Timor has paid its obligations after it had lost its National Car status, it has not paid its obligations for the cars it imported while it had National Car status. Darmin said that the amount still owed to the state is Rp. 3,99 trillion.
The question everyone was keen to hear an answer for was what is the political significance of this decision and at this Siswono became thoughtful.
“Last week we saw matters related to the BLBI being officially settled and now this, I think it’s safe to say that something significant is going on”, Siswono replied “And that something is that the old way of doing things are fading away.”
26th June 2003:
Chairwoman of the PKPB Tutut Soeharto was in full flow at a PKPB event in Pademawu, Madura, East Java, the hometown of Vice Chairman of the DPR Hartono. Calling on all PKPB members to refuse to be beaten into submission, Tutut said that “all those” claiming credit for today’s economic growth and for today’s prosperity better remember that they stand on the shoulders of President Soeharto and that without Soeharto’s successes, the nation would not be where it is at today. She refused to take questions from the press about KIA’s request to terminate its partnership with Timor.
Heading out to depart from his office for an event, Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti was asked about the previous day’s United States Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts which has brought interest rates down to historic lows in that country. Dorodjatun said that the Federal Reserves are seeking to push the American economy into full recovery after the 2001 downturn and adds that the government is most definitely monitoring to see what effect this has on the Indonesian economy.
27th June 2003:
The Presidential Palace today played host to a ceremony attended by the top officials of the Department of Defense and Security and the top brass of ABRI. The President stood and watched proudly as he acted as witness to two signing ceremonies:
The first ceremony involved Minister of Defense and Security Wiranto and German Minister of Defense Peter Struck who had come from Germany to conclude what had been unfinished some weeks ago at the G-8 Summit. The deal which Wiranto and Struck signed off meant that the following will now be heading in Indonesia’s direction:
*94 Leopard 2 MBTs
*50 Marder IFVs
*12 MiG-29s aircrafts
*18 RM-70 rocket launchers
*3 Gepard-class fast attack craft
Then it was the turn of Junior Minister of Defense and Security Adwin Suryohadiprodjo, who signed an agreement with Texmaco’s Marimutu Sinivasan which would see the latter produce 300 Perkasa Trucks for ABRI to transport personnel and equipment.
The President in his speech said that the deals signed represented the effort Indonesia is making at strengthening its military capability by both procuring weapons from abroad as well as domestically by supporting the local defense industry. The speech started off routine though it featured comments that embassies in Jakarta took to be a shot at Malaysia, China, and Australia.
“Around a month ago, a lot was made about certain procurements of weapons by a neighboring country and my response is the same now as it was then: I take note accordingly. And I say that because it would be exhausting if we were to worry about every single weapons procurement being made in the region and around the world. Rather than worry, I would much rather ask certain others to respect what is going on here. I have not made a fuss about what has been procured from where and with the encouragement of whom so I hope no fuss will be made about what ABRI has procured for itself here and throughout the course of my presidency.”
28th June 2003:
It was in the afternoon when the President begged leave from First Lady Tuti Setiawati and his family to have a meeting at a private corner of the Presidential Palace. Arriving on time and almost to the second as he promised to meet with the President was none other than State Secretary Edi Sudrajat.
“Well, how did it go?” asked the President when he was done with small talk.
“I met with Akbar Tandjung last night at Medan in the midst of his campaigning for support there, Mr. President” Edi reported “And we discussed many things.”
“How does he see his chances of winning now?” asked the President.
“He feels that he has better odds after this week, Mr. President”, Edi said “The completion of BLBI repayments, the sight of KIA requesting to end its partnership with Timor and a Soeharto crony like Marimutu signing a government contract with us has caused sentiment to begin to change in the PKPB. Within even the ranks of Tutut supporters, there’s a sense that maybe, just maybe, the Chairwoman’s time is finished and that time has run out for Soehartoism. For Akbar and his supporters, this has made them even more certain that they are doing the right thing.”
The President nodded his head as he processed what he had just heard.
“What about what I have proposed to him to solve the dilemma of not being able to support him openly?” asked the President.
“He has said that it will be more than sufficient, Mr. President”, Edi said “If you’re able to successfully use the means that you have at your disposal on Tutut, he will be more than happy to ensure the PKPB’s support for the Anti-Terror Bill. He also pledges to have a more constructive relationship with the government in the event of his election as Chairman of the PKPB though having said that, he hopes you will excuse him if the PKPB disagrees with the government from time to time and when the PKPB takes up the fight to the PKPI at the next election.”
“We’ll see about that”, the President said about the last part “But other than that it’s all good.”
“One more thing, Mr. President”, Edi said “He also said that because it will not be possible for you to support him openly, he begs leave to look for political support from other elements which may help him gain election to the chairmanship.”
“Other elements?” repeated the President “What or who do you suppose he means by that?”
“I would not know”, Edi said “But I have said on your behalf that given that you cannot support him openly, it’s not your place to stop him from gaining alternative sources of political support.”
“You speak with my voice and what you say is correct”, the President assured Edi even as he wondered whose support Akbar will be looking for.
“Thank you, Mr. President”, Edi said as he studied the President’s expression “And now the only question that remains to be answered is whether or not you are ready to do what you intend to do to Tutut.”
“You leave that to me”, the President said.
30th June 2003:
The President had his breakfast meeting with Vice President JB Sumarlin. Sumarlin reported that in the days after the Federal Reserve’s rate cut, the Rupiah had gotten stronger and has now reached $1= Rp. 3,983. But Sumarlin saw the serious expression on the President’s face and asked if he wanted to talk about something else. The President replied by pulling out the folder of documents which Attorney General Muchtar Arifin had given to him the week prior. Bemused, Sumarlin began opening the folder when the President pushed it across the table to him.
Sumarlin read only the executive summary before he felt that this was enough, closed the folder, and pushed the folder back to the President.
“Whatever you choose to do with this, I’m behind you every step of the way, Mr. President”, Sumarlin said “But for my own sake, I would like to know, Mr. President, what is your intention towards Tutut Soeharto?”
“I overcame her at the 2003 MPR General Session and now she is barely holding on, Mr. Vice President”, the President said “My intention now is to finish the job, make sure that she has no chance at political recovery and make sure that this is her political demise.”
“I understand, Mr. President”, Sumarlin said “It’s just that…”
The President watched as Sumarlin took off his glasses and reach for the tissues on the table to wipe away the tears streaming down his face.
“It’s just that without President Soeharto, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now”, Sumarlin said, slightly sobbing.
The President sat back and his mind wandered a few decades to the past.
---
Nearly three decades prior...
“Try, what’s this I hear about your son?” asked President Soeharto.
“I apologize, Mr. President”, Presidential Aide-de-Camp Try Sutrisno replied “It’s just that I don’t want such things to distract from my duties.”
“Your son can’t see because firecrackers blew up in his eyes, you’re already distracted, that much I can guarantee”, said the President.
“Sir, Yes Sir”, Try replied, looking down at the floor.
“There’s a hospital in Boston, United States that’s been recommended to me”, the President said “You need to take your son and get his eyes treated.”
“But the costs for the treatment…for everything”, stammered Try.
“I’ve got the costs covered, Try, you just focus on getting him treated”, the President said.
---
The President’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of rustling as Sumarlin pushed the tissue box across the table to him. Without realizing it, the President had also wept at the thought of his predecessor.
Tutut was at Ujung Pandang, South Sulawesi to attend an event held to show support for her re-election as chairwoman and she was at the airport when a call came in on her mobile phone. It was her brother Bambang Trihatmodjo.
“
Mbakyu, I have been summoned by
Mas Try to the Palace”, said Bambang “I just wanted to let you know.”
“You’re not getting arrested right?” joked Tutut as she shared a laugh with Bambang before becoming serious “Well, your Head of State summons you…go to him.”
Tutut caught the flight back to Jakarta and it was evening when she arrived; riding in her car back to Cendana Street. When she walked inside, Bambang was already waiting for her and looking a bit pale.
“
Mbakyu, please be honest with me” Bambang said without bothering with the small talk “Those Scorpion Tanks that were purchased in
Bapak’s last few years, did you or did you not take a commission from that?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” asked Tutut “What did you talk about with
Mas Try?”
“It absolutely has everything to do with anything,
Mbakyu”, Bambang said “The Attorney General’s Office, they’ve found a lot of material on you and the tanks and…”
“Whatever it is he thinks he’s found on me, he’s just playing a political game and trying to score political points, you know that right?” Tutut asked angrily though something in her voice hinted at panic.
“I don’t know and could care less about political games right now”, Bambang countered “The only thing I know for certain is that he thinks he's found dirt on you, enough dirt that he thinks you might be interested in what he has to offer you."
Tutut kept a poker face but her heart was beating fast.
"What does he want to offer me?" asked Tutut.
“He’s offering to turn a blind eye to whatever it is that the Attorney General’s Office has found on you and the Scorpion Tanks but that in exchange, you would have to fulfill three specific conditions.” Bambang said.
“And what are those conditions?” asked Tutut.
“First, that you withdraw your candidacy as Chairwoman of the PKPB at the Extraordinary National Congress and not back any other candidates for chairman at the Extraordinary National Congress”, Bambang replied “Second, that you and any others related to you will retire from politics and political activity at the conclusion of the Extraordinary National Congress.”
“And the third condition?” demanded Tutut.
“That you publicly declare and acknowledge that he is not only the President of the Republic of Indonesia but that he is also our father’s one true constitutional successor”, said Bambang.
Tutut scoffed slightly at this last condition.
“And if I don’t fulfill these conditions?” she asked.
“Then whether you win, lose, draw or whatever at the Extraordinary National Congress will not matter because it is his intention to make sure you are prosecuted should you choose to ignore his conditions”, Bambang replied.
---
This was going to be a giant chapter but I decided to split it into two, the previous chapter and this one.
In OTL, KIA Motors’ proposal was to restructure Timor Putra Nasional and continue cooperation, provided that Tommy is no longer involved
https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timor_(mobil)#Pasca_sengketa_WTO
In a way Timor does better ITTL because even without the National Car status, Indonesia has survived the Asian Financial Crisis and is growing strongly so there’ll be more of a market for it. But this is KIA’s ITTL way of saying that they don’t want to be associated with Tommy anymore.
The amount of Rp. 3,99 trillion is based on OTL though I’m not sure whether or not this has been successfully collected.
https://www.google.co.id/books/edit...1&dq=ppn+bm+timor&pg=PA29&printsec=frontcover
If anybody’s wondering, the division of labor between Wiranto and Adwin is that the latter is mostly concerned with equipment that’s produced in Indonesia. Adwin is unofficially the minister of defense industries. In OTL, Adwin was close to Habibie and was the CEO of PT. PAL though it’s unclear when his tenure ended.
Texmaco claims that because it did not own a bank, it has not received BLBI. In practice, it did borrow a lot of money from banks during the Asian Financial Crisis and the collection of the debt is often related to the BLBI. As of 2022, this debt has not been settled yet (
https://kumparan.com/ryanghiff23/menteri-keuangan-texmaco-harus-bayar-utang-1xcteDNHZq4). We can say here that because everything related is BLBI is settled, Texmaco has also settled its debts. Basically, Try waited until everything was settled before it approves of the Perkasa Trucks.
The other significance is that according to Laksamana Sukardi, Texmaco was close to Soeharto and was able to get the loans that it got because Soeharto facilitated it (
https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/marke...-dengan-soeharto-gus-dur-hingga-terlilit-blbi), so we have here a Soeharto crony “switching sides” to Try.
Sumarlin getting teary-eyed about Soeharto is a reflection of his OTL self crying when he was first appointed as a minister by Soeharto
https://bisnis.tempo.co/read/1304436/air-mata-jb-sumarlin-ketika-ditunjuk-soeharto-jadi-menteri
For the OTL story of Try’s son nearly going blind because of firecrackers and Soeharto ordering for treatment and paying for the bills, check out
https://www.google.co.id/books/edit...ufik+dwi+cahyono&pg=PA117&printsec=frontcover