Megawati supporters sue Soerjadi over takeover<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri supporters are suing the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) government-recognized top
\nexecutives for ordering the violent takeover of the party's
\nheadquarters last year.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit was filed Thursday at the Central Jakarta District
\nCourt by 124 Megawati supporters who were prosecuted last year
\nfor defying a police order while they were defending the party's
\noffice on July 27.<\/p>\n
The defendants includes the PDI's chairman, Soerjadi, its
\nsecretary-general, Buttu Hutapea, and four other party officials.<\/p>\n
The suit also names the Central Jakarta police chief for
\nallowing Soerjadi's supporters to attack the office. They did not
\nname the officer but Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira held the
\nposition at the time.<\/p>\n
The plaintiffs are seeking Rp 12.4 billion (US$5.2 million) in
\ndamages.<\/p>\n
Chanting slogans and unfurling banners, about 150 Megawati
\nsupporters marched about a kilometer to the court from their
\nlawyers' office.<\/p>\n
The chanted: \"Mega will win\", \"Take Soerjadi to court\" and
\n\"Mega our president\".<\/p>\n
Soerjadi supporters raided the party's headquarters a month
\nafter he toppled Megawati in a government-backed rebel congress
\nin Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The takeover sparked a riot.<\/p>\n
The National Commission on Human Rights says at least five
\npeople were killed and 124 injured in the riot. It says 23 people
\nare still missing.<\/p>\n
The plaintiffs said Soerjadi and his colleagues prepared and
\nled the raid.<\/p>\n
Last November, 115 of the 124 were sentenced to between one
\nmonth and four months in jail while 8 were acquitted.<\/p>\n
Their chief lawyer, R.O. Tambunan, said Soerjadi committed
\npolitical crime.<\/p>\n
Tambunan said the civil lawsuit was filed because their
\ncomplaint to the Jakarta city police was not heeded.<\/p>\n
\"We will see if there is justice,\" he said.<\/p>\n
On Thursday night Hutapea said Megawati's supporters had the
\nright to sue.<\/p>\n
\"But what are the grounds for their lawsuit? The fact that
\nthey were convicted by the court proves that it was they who were
\nguilty,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We did not raid the headquarters, we just took it over,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The PDI, under Soerjadi's leadership, was the rightful owner
\nof the headquarters, he said. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-supporters-sue-soerjadi-over-takeover-1447893297",
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