{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1533603,
        "msgid": "megawati-supporters-protest-office-handover-1447893297",
        "date": "1997-01-20 00:00:00",
        "title": "Megawati supporters protest office handover",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Megawati supporters protest office handover JAKARTA (JP): Supporters of the ousted Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri, protested yesterday the handover of the party's headquarters to the state, saying it would hamper a police probe into the July 27 riots.",
        "content": "<p>Megawati supporters protest office handover<\/p>\n<p>JAKARTA (JP): Supporters of the ousted Indonesian Democratic<br>\nParty (PDI) chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri, protested<br>\nyesterday the handover of the party's headquarters to the state,<br>\nsaying it would hamper a police probe into the July 27 riots.<\/p>\n<p>Alex Litaay, secretary-general of Megawati's executive board,<br>\ntold a press conference at Megawati's home last night that the<br>\nhandover was illegal because no court had handed down a verdict<br>\non the building's status after the riots which left five people<br>\ndead and 23 reportedly missing.<\/p>\n<p>Central Jakarta Police gave the damaged headquarters to the<br>\nState Secretariat on Thursday for renovation, which is expected<br>\nto be completed within two months.<\/p>\n<p>\"The handover will obscure evidence concerning the forced<br>\ntakeover of the building (by the government-backed rebel group<br>\nunder Soerjadi),\" Alex said.<\/p>\n<p>Megawati was visiting her colleague Aberson Marle Sihaloho,<br>\nwho will stand trial next week for defaming the President, when<br>\nAlex met the press.<\/p>\n<p>The riots were triggered by a brutal takeover of the building<br>\nby supporters of Soerjadi, who regained the party's chair after a<br>\ngovernment-recognized rebel congress in Medan last June.<\/p>\n<p>No Soerjadi supporters were arrested after the riots, but 115<br>\nMegawati supporters were tried for resisting a police order.<\/p>\n<p>Alex said the police's decision offended the public's sense of<br>\njustice: \"This clearly proves that the police did not have the<br>\ncourage to professionally investigate the case.\"<\/p>\n<p>Chief of the Central Jakarta Police, Lt. Col. M. Ibrahim, said<br>\nearlier that the handover of the PDI headquarters marked the end<br>\nof investigations into the takeover and subsequent riots.<\/p>\n<p>Alex said the police had disobeyed a recommendation of the<br>\nNational Commission on Human Rights that the building should<br>\nremain status quo pending a court ruling. (35\/amd)<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-supporters-protest-office-handover-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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