Megawati faces fresh police questioning<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri is facing a fresh round of police
\nquestioning for holding a \"political meeting\" without an official
\npermit at her residence on Jan. 10.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who was grilled last year as a witness in the case
\nof the well-known July 27 riots in Jakarta, will be questioned
\nwith her husband Taufik Kiemas.<\/p>\n
Chief of the South Jakarta Police Detective Capt. Ricko
\nAlmenza said here yesterday the police have received a letter
\nfrom the Attorney General's office authorizing them to question
\nthe two politicians.<\/p>\n
\"We received the letter this afternoon and we are going to
\nmeet tonight to decide when to summon them,\" Ricko told The
\nJakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
Megawati and Taufik will be questioned as witnesses to the
\nevent on Jan. 10 when, with hundreds of Megawati's supporters,
\nthey celebrated the PDI's 24th anniversary at their house in
\nSouth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Megawati \"disguised\" the gathering as a breaking of the fast
\ndinner, at which she issued a political statement attacking the
\ngovernment-backed Soerjadi who toppled her at a rebel congress in
\nMedan last year. She also criticized the government for meddling
\nin the PDI's internal affairs.<\/p>\n
The anniversary party was held in defiance of Armed Forces
\nCommander Feisal Tanjung's threat to take punitive action if it
\nwas held without an official permit.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office announced Monday it had been
\ngiven the green light by President Soeharto to take legal action
\nagainst Megawati and Taufik, who are both members of the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
Under Indonesian law, the President's approval must be sought
\nfor the police to question a House member.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Megawati's lawyer R.O. Tambunan said he had not
\nreceived notice from police about the planned questioning.<\/p>\n
\"We will find out before we determine our stand,\" he told the
\nPost.<\/p>\n
Megawati and her husband are liable to prosecution under Law
\nNo. 5 of 1963, which stipulates that official permits are
\nrequired for political activities. It carries a maximum penalty
\nof five years imprisonment. (08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-faces-fresh-police-questioning-1447893297",
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