Megawati may be questioned over riot<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While the government blamed the weekend riot
\nsquarely on the Democratic People's Party (PRD) yesterday, senior
\ngovernment figures did not rule out the possibility of
\nquestioning Megawati Soekarnoputri over the unrest.<\/p>\n
\"We may want to ask her why she allowed the free speech forum
\nto be used as a platform to bully the government,\" Attorney
\nGeneral Singgih said when asked by reporters about the probable
\nrole of the deposed chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) in the unrest.<\/p>\n
By law, the Attorney General's Office will need permission
\nfrom President Soeharto before it can question Megawati, because
\nof her position as a member of the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Singgih did not say if or when he would question Megawati.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General was one of several top officials summoned
\nby President Soeharto to Merdeka Palace yesterday to report on
\nthe weekend's violence. The others were Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman, Armed Forces
\nChief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo
\nWidodo, Justice Minister Oetojo Oesman and Cabinet Secretary
\nSaadilah Mursyid.<\/p>\n
The riot followed the forced takeover of the PDI headquarters
\nwhich had been occupied by supporters loyal to Megawati. The
\nmilitary said the free-speech forum held at the PDI office
\ncompound this past month has been used by certain parties to
\nmobilize support to topple the government.<\/p>\n
During the meeting Soeharto pointed his finger at the People's
\nDemocratic Party (PRD), an obscure group that has been behind
\nmany anti-government protests and workers' strikes over the past
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The PRD, according to the head of state, was \"riding\" on the
\nback of the PDI conflict. \"It (the PRD) is synonymous with the
\nold PKI,\" Soesilo said quoting the President as saying.<\/p>\n
The PKI, or the Indonesian Communist Party, was banned in 1966
\nafter it was blamed for staging a coup against President Sukarno,
\nMegawati's father, in September 1965.<\/p>\n
Soesilo said the PRD had grown from an \"organization without
\nform\" into a force with a network of sub-organizations very
\nsimilar to those under the PKI.<\/p>\n
He likened the Center for the Struggle of Indonesian Laborers
\nwith PKI's SOBSI, the Association of National Farmers with BTI,
\nthe Indonesian Students Solidarity for Democracy with CMNG, and
\nthe Artist Network with Lekra.<\/p>\n
Soesilo said that while the government had been watching the
\nPRD's activities, it has to act in accordance with the laws.<\/p>\n
\"We appeal to the public to be vigilant. Don't let this
\norganization extend its influence,\" Soesilo said.<\/p>\n
\"Don't be affected by baseless rumors. For example, some
\nforeign radio stations have reported 54 or 47 dead (from the
\nriot). There were only two deaths. Don't listen to foreign radio
\nstations that are always trying to set us against each other,\" he
\nsaid without mentioning any specific stations.<\/p>\n
Soesilo promised swift action against those responsible for
\nthe rioting. By Sunday afternoon, police had arrested 206 people
\nin connection with the unrest.<\/p>\n
Singgih said the Attorney General's Office and the police are
\nstill investigating the incident and could use the anti-
\nsubversion law if any rioters' offenses amounted to that.<\/p>\n
The 1963 law carries a maximum penalty of death.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Megawati expressed her regret over the violence and
\nsent her deepest condolences to the relatives of the people who
\ndied as well as those who were left injured.<\/p>\n
Megawati promised that she and the Indonesian Legal Aid
\nFoundation (YLBHI) will help find the whereabouts of people who
\nhave gone missing since the weekend.<\/p>\n
She called on all leaders to \"study the prime reason\" for the
\nviolence and stressed that the PDI under her leadership always
\nrespects peaceful actions based on law and constitution.<\/p>\n
The Forum for Democracy pinned the blame for the riot on the
\nraid against the PDI headquarters.<\/p>\n
\"This incident is a political tragedy that is deeply
\ndisturbing,\" Forum's chairman Abdurrahman Wahid said in a
\nstatement. \"We condemn and strongly protest at the violent
\nactions used to achieve political ends,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The YLBHI said blaming the PRD for the riots was an effort to
\nsidestep the core issue, to criminalize the group and other
\norganizations that have been active in advocating human rights,
\nand thwart the demands for political changes. (emb\/imn)<\/p>\n
Students -- Page 3<\/p>\n
Investment -- Page 10<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-may-be-questioned-over-riot-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }