Smear Factor

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

A domestic matter turned into a political dispute. Former DPR Deputy Speaker Zaenal Ma’arif revived a rumor which was spreading just before the 2004 General Elections, when future President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was accused of getting married before joining the military academy—something unallowable for cadets. Zaenal’s evidence is a VCD with a video testimony of a woman speaking about Yudhoyono’s purported marriage.

Although far from convincing, the video has become a hot topic. Those near the President feel that Zaenal is spreading cheap gossip. Others are enthusiastically trying to bring the matter to court. Here is a tale of political gossip and the politics of “thorny isssues.”

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THE file made its way from the hand of presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng to the President’s adjutant. Nearing nightfall, the adjutant gave it to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). At that time, on Friday two weeks ago, the President’s entourage was staying at the Westin Hotel in Denpasar, Bali.

The President stayed the night there after visiting several countries over the previous week. It was in this city that the Indonesian h

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