Megawati defies police summons over gathering<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri defied a police summons yesterday to
\nanswer charges of hosting an illegal political gathering on Jan.
\n10.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas defied the same
\nsummons.<\/p>\n
Their lawyers, led by R.O. Tambunan, told the police yesterday
\nhis clients refused to appear because the summonses had legal
\ndefects and were \"incomplete\".<\/p>\n
\"Our clients have been summoned to attest for an alleged crime
\nin which the suspect is not mentioned,\" Tambunan told reporters
\nshortly after a meeting with the police to explain why his
\nclients did not show up.<\/p>\n
He argued that the summons should have mentioned which law his
\nclients had broken and who the suspect was.<\/p>\n
About 50 Megawati supporters noisily demonstrated their
\nsympathy outside the South Jakarta police precinct. They
\ndispersed peacefully after four hours of futile waiting.<\/p>\n
Shouting pro-Megawati slogans and singing patriotic songs
\nwhose lyrics were twisted to suit the situation, they also
\nunfurled banners.<\/p>\n
\"Soerjadi masterminded the bloody July 27 riots but why is he
\nnot questioned? Why Megawati???\" one banner said.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi was the politician who replaced Megawati at a
\ngovernment-sanctioned rebel congress in June last year. The
\nviolent takeover of the PDI headquarters on July 27 triggered a
\nmajor riot in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Dozens of riot police and mobile brigade officers closely
\nwatched the protest.<\/p>\n
The police charged that Megawati and Taufik, both of whom are
\nmembers of the House of Representatives, violated Article 6 of
\nLaw No. 5\/1963 which states that political gatherings need an
\nofficial permit. They face a maximum jail term of five years.<\/p>\n
According to their lawyers, the use of the 1963 law is no
\nlonger relevant.<\/p>\n
\"The law made under the Old Order regime was meant to secure
\nthe Indonesian Revolution as had been dictated by the already-
\nrevoked Provisional Peoples Consultative Assembly Decree No.
\nI\/MPRS\/1960 on the Indonesian Political Manifesto,\" Tambunan said
\nin his reply to the police.<\/p>\n
The team also said that if the law was still applied, it would
\nmean that all political activities in the country nowadays were
\ncrimes because they violated the law.<\/p>\n
On explaining their clients' stance, the team also questioned
\nPresident Soeharto's authorization letter for the police to
\nquestion the two legislators. It was only signed by
\nMinister\/State Secretary Moerdiono.<\/p>\n
\"It would not be too much to ask the President to sign the
\nauthorization letter himself instead of only the minister\/state
\nsecretary in view of the fact that our clients are both House
\nmembers,\" the lawyer said.<\/p>\n
The team of lawyers also questioned why the police have failed
\nto question Soerjadi and his 200 supporters who invaded the party
\nheadquarters and sparked the riot.<\/p>\n
In response to the lawyers' inquiry, South Jakarta Police
\nChief Lt. Col. Sisno Adiwinoto said the summonses had been made
\nin accordance with the prevailing procedures.<\/p>\n
He also insisted on using the law because to his knowledge, it
\nhad not been revoked.<\/p>\n
Sisno said the police would issue a second summons to the
\ncouple but he declined to say when. (08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-defies-police-summons-over-gathering-1447893297",
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